An Post Rás na mBan is over for another year and there’s been some time to reflect on what has been, by common consent, the biggest and best edition of the race to date.
Our volunteer base increased this year and, while it’s still a small, tight knit team, the extra personnel helped make the pre-event preparation and the event itself probably the smoothest running we can remember.
We would like to acknowledge, on behalf of the Rás na mBan crew, the hard work and selfless effort from each and every one of the team of volunteers who have helped make the 2017 edition of Ireland’s premier women’s bike race the best ever.
For our second year in County Kilkenny, the event has benefited once again from enthusiastic local support and the legions of marshals from the various County Kilkenny and Carlow cycling clubs for which we are very grateful.
That support, added to a record number of riders have helped elevate the event to a new standard and the preparation, presentation and promotion of the event have once again risen to match it.
An Post Rás na mBan remains a work in progress and all involved will continue to strive to improve the race and make it a proper showcase for women’s international bike racing in Ireland.
It continues to flourish in spite of difficult economic conditions and this year’s edition made it 31 years of international stage racing for women in Ireland in 2017.
We would to like to say thank you and congratulations to all the managers, mechanics and masseurs who gave their time to support the riders and the race.
We’d also like to thank and congratulate all the riders in An Post Rás na mBan 2017 for their commitment, talent and fortitude throughout what was quite probably the toughest edition yet.
The event goes from strength to strength thanks to the efforts of all associated with it.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.
Valerie Considine, Dave Cormack, Declan Quigley, Ronan Fox, Dermot Moyne
On behalf of all the riders, officials, fans and supporters of An Post Rás na mBan, we’d like to express our gratitude to the following for making it the best bike race in Ireland:-
| An Garda Síochána | Sergeant Canice O’Gorman, Inspector Joe Carton, Sergeant Cormac O’Connell, Sergeant Catherine O’Gorman,
Motorcycle Gardaí; Sergeant Paul Donoghue, Paul Keane – Carlow, P.J. Griffin – Wexford, Mark Hobinshaw – Thomastown and John Duggan – Waterford. Gardaí at all locations around Kilkenny and Carlow. |
| Kilkenny County Council | An Cathaoirleach David Fitzgerald, Tim Butler, Harry Shine, Eddie O’Reilly, Seamus Kavanagh |
| Title Sponsor | An Post |
| Classification Sponsors | National Dairy Council Kilkenny County Council Irish Veterans Cycling Association Cycling Ireland and The Sports Council Women’s Commission of Cycling Ireland Failte Ireland |
| Official Vehicle Sponsor | Honda – John Saunders, Ian Tolan, Jennifer Moran. |
| Benefactors | Paul Atkinson |
| All Trophies and Finishers’ Medals | Brightsport.ie Liam Dolan |
| Stage Winner Medals
Representations |
Vincent Cronin
Ciarán McKenna, Geoff Liffey; Dave Tansey, Melanie Spaeth, An Post Officials; |
| Special Guest | Sonia O’Sullivan |
| Race Officials – Commissaire Team and Results crew | John Breen, Brian Jordan, Derek Webb and Thomas Sheehy, Miceál Concannon, Dean Watson, Gordon Parker & Alicja Cernak |
| Drivers and Lead Cars | Eddie Keogh, Stephen O’Shea, Ronan Quigley, Eddie Lynch, Mick Twomey, Mick O’Donnell, Paul O’Connell, Pat Moss |
| Crews – QOH and Neutral Service | Dermot O’Gorma, Michael Jennings, Dermot McMahon, Damien Nelson, Paddy Davis, Tom Malone |
| Race Announcer and Race Radios | Oliver McKenna, John Beattie |
| Safety Officer | Dermot Moyne |
| Doctor and Medical Crew | Dr Lucy Soden, Order of Malta |
| Accommodation Officer & Marshal Manager | Dave Cormack |
| Podium and Start Managers | Jenn Sheridan, Naoise Sheridan, David Hendron and Sharon Branningan |
| Motorbikes | John Ryan; Gerry Murray; Chris Toner, Malcolm Goode
Brendan Boland, Brendan Dolan, John McKenna, Noel Tonge, Tom Roche, Lenny Carrigan, Ken Nelson, Frank Murphy, Orla Dill, Mark Corcoran, Tosh Lavery and Helen Sinnott |
| Other Vehicles
Broom wagon and signage removal |
Olympic Council of Ireland, Scott Orwell Wheelers
Mick Ryder and Ted Burns |
| Finish manager and crew | Fiona Cooke, Ger Madden, Paul Deans, Tom Ryder,
John Dillon, Paul Reid and Mick Hennessy |
| Photo Finish Camera
Signage crew |
Cycling Ireland, Ronnie Brannigan
Fiona Cooke, Ger Madden, Ted Burns |
| Marshal crews | Marble City Cyclers; Deenside Wheelers; Kilkenny Tri Club;
Slaney Wheelers; Racing 795; Leighlinbridge gang; |
| All the marshals who came from all over Ireland to help out on the criterium stage! | |
| An Post crew | Aileen Mooney, Brian Walsh; Shay Donnelly, Eimear Breen,
Feargal Purcell, Stephen Mangan, Jim Bergin, Pat Cremin. An Post local presenters. |
|
NDC crew |
Zoe Kavanagh, Jeanne Spillane, Caroline O’Donovan |
| Race sign on facilities | Kathy, Peter and all at Castlecomer Discovery Park,
Michael O’Donovan, Gary Brickell and officials at Kilkenny Rugby Club; Tommy Lanigan, Kevin Hennessy and all at James Stephens GAA. |
| Hotel | All the management and staff at Springhill Court Hotel |
| PR, photography, social media, TV News, TV Highlights, Race manual | InForm Sports Media – Declan Quigley, Georgie Francis;
Lorraine O’Sullivan, Donal Glackin, David Laird, Grace Quigley, Matt Jones, Donovan Delaney, Deborah Madden, Julia Phillips and Aidan Collins. |
