145 cyclists signed on in Bar Voodoo Letterkenny for the 5th Annual Poison Glen Tour.

Leaving Letterkenny Main Street the group headed for Kilmacrennan via Trentagh at a steady controlled pace of app 15 mph. With the full field staying together the bunch travelled through Glenveagh National Park before turning right and tackling the first climb of the day, The Muckish Gap. Riding steady everyone made it over the climb at their own pace, with the racing cyclists holding back to mingle and help the more leisurely cyclist over the climb. At the top all were glad of the long windy descent down into Falcarragh.

With the field now strung out over a few miles the leaders slowed back down to a steady pace allowing most of the cyclists to re-group. Strong head winds on the back road of Errigal made it tough for the back markers to gain any ground, but most of the field were back together before reaching the feed station at An Chuirt Hotel in Gweedore.

An Chuirt must be thanked for the great spread of food that was laid on and as long as the cyclists kept eating they kept making sandwiches. Nothing was a bother.

After a 20 minute stop the group where once again back on the road. With lactic legs everyone suffered to get back into the rhythm before the toughest climb of the day through the Poison Glen and up the side of Errigal Mountain. With everyone now strung out over a few miles it was decided to let everyone cycle the remainder of the route at their own pace. Strong gusting head winds made the climb over Errigal very tough and the run back to Letterkenny was the toughest section on the run.

Back in Letterkenny everyone enjoyed a well deserved feed, laid on by Michellle Connolly from Castle Cafe in Raphoe, and all event participants received a well deserved Certificate of Completion.

Well done to everyone who attempted this tough event. A big thank you must go out to Seamus Connolly, Seamus O Donnell and Michael O'Shaunnessy for the back up on the road, to Michelle Connolly for the superb spread at Bar Voodoo, Jason Black for the use of Bar Voodoo, An Chuirt Hotel in Gweedore, and all the other clubs who had support vehicles on the route.

THE PICS OF THE TOUR BY MARTIN BIRNEY FROM SPORTACTIVE AND SEAMUS CONNELLY FROM FOUR MASTERS CAN BE VIEWED BY CLICKING THE LINKS BELOW

VIEW GALLERY OF POISON GLEN TOUR 2010 BY MARTIN BIRNEY FROM SPORTACTIVE

VIEW GALLERY OF POISON GLEN TOUR 2010 BY SEAMUS CONNELLY FROM FOURS MASTERS

VIEW GALLERY 2 OF POISON GLEN TOUR 2010 BY SEAMUS CONNELLY

Report Liam Tinney Four Masters
Pics Seamus Connelly Four Masters
Martin Birney SportActive