Offroad Commission Members
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Name Morgan O’Connell Email morgan.oconnell@gmail.com Role Commission Chairman Introduction I’ve been mountainbiking since 1998, I joined the Mountainbiking Association of Dublin in 2002 and served as chairman of the club for a number of years. I also maintain the club website (www.madmtb.com). I race XC and have been involved in running XC and cyclocross races with MAD. I’ll be aiming to work with the other commission members to raise the profile of MTB in Ireland, both racing and casual riding. |
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Name Fergal Kilkenny Email fergal.kilkenny@gmail.com Role Secretary & XC Racing co-ordinator Introduction I started biking with MAD in May 2006. Looking forward to another really busy MTB season in 2012, also trying a bit of BMX racing, reliving the 80′s and all that. I’m intending to continue to improve XC MTB as much as possible via better promotion, race scheduling/organisation/standardisation etc…I’ll be digging a few trails here and there too, plenty to do… |
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Name Sean Herlihy Email seanherlihy38@googlemail.com Role Access Officer Introduction: This is my second time on the commission, having taken the access role for a year in 2005. I have just spent two years representing mountain biking on the Board of Cycling Ireland. I am also heavily involved in Mountain Biking Ireland (a trail advocacy group that represents the MTB community in talks with Coillte and other major land managers). I have been mountain biking since 1990. During this time I have been involved with a number of Club’s and in 2003 I co-founded EPIC MTB with a very good friend of mine. Having raced both XC and DH I mostly just do good old fashioned mountain biking. I’ll be racing as many DH events in 2012 as I can. For 2012 I will be trying to improve things on the access front and helping ensure the Commission is able to develop our sport for the future. |
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Name Ciara MacManus Email ciarao@hotmail.com Role Commission member Introduction I’ve been mountain biking since the early 90’s and racing cross country since 1997, with a few work related breaks in between. I recently consolidated the training I completed in 2005 as Scottish MTB Trail Leader to full Mountain Bike Leader qualification and began SummitMountainBiking Coaching and Guiding business with my partner early in 2009. I also completed the Cycling Ireland foundation level coaching course and would like to compete the Level 1 MTB Coaching course. In relation to the commission, I would primarily have an interest in the promotion of womens participation in the sport. I am currently on the Cycling Ulster Womens Association as MTB representative and have had great success with organising introductory MTB rides through the association with the result that we now have a regular group of women who meet up and who may hopefully give racing a go in 2012. I am also looking at access issues in relation to mountain biking in Northern Ireland would would be aiming to try and re-introduce the Ulster MTB league in 2010 in consultation with the local clubs. |
| Name Natalie O’Carroll Email natalie.ocarroll@gmail.com Role DH Development squad manager Introduction I have worked with the DH development & Elite squad on and off over the last few years and look forward to working with the Development squad this year. For 2012 we aim to have some training days, have the squad racing the full IDMS series & BDS as well and some international events. All of the above combined with some fitness & nutritional advice will develop help the guys in progressing to Elite level. The Squad for 2012 are: UNDER 16: UNDER 14: I look forward to helping all the guys in 2012! |
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Name Orla Baxter Email orla.baxter@nuigalway.ie, orla.baxter@gmail.com Role Commission member Introduction Although not a competitive cyclist, I have been an avid mountain biker for about six years now and just love getting out on my bike …..so much so that all holidays (and available funds) now involve mountain biking – it started with Scotland & Wales… then France …and then crossed the Atlantic to Colorado, Utah, Oregon, California and BC …. you can get the picture (I really should stop reading Bike magazine!). Although I am originally from Rostrevor, Co. Down, I now live in Oughterard, Co. Galway, and because of this I have a particular interest in the development of mountain bike trails and hopefully a “scene” in the West. There is a very healthy roadie scene in Connaught but the MTB scene isn’t well developed in the area. I am hoping that working with the local community, local clubs and Coillte we will be able to further develop trail networks to enable a sustained growth of mountain biking in the West. |
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NameRichard Thornhill Email irishdownhill@gmail.com Role Commission member IntroductionI’ve been Mountain biking since 2001 and have been racing downhill pretty much full time since, finished 10th overall in Seniors twice and always win Practice! I have been the main trail builder in Dunmanway Co Cork since 2002, ran a few races there including 4 DH NPS races before the the last felling break there I was also a founding member of the Rebel racing club which has since merged with 021racing. its my first time on the MTB commission but I have been the MTB rep on the Munster council for 2004 and 2005. My aim for the year is to push Downhill on to a new level, make it more accessable for new riders and push the young elite riders to new heights. |
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Name Alison Murphy Email alisonmurphy28@gmail.com Role Commission Member Introduction I started racing BMX in the early 80’s, competing in Ireland and the UK including the World Championships in ’86. A group of us are working on putting together a BMX race scene here starting with a track in Ratoath and hopefully building from there. We’re currently fundraising for the Ratoath track so all donations/sponsorship welcome! Visit Ratoathbmx.com. Our aim is to promote BMX racing here and encourage more young riders, male and female, into the sport. As soon as they can ride a bike without stabilizers, they’re capable of riding a BMX race. |