"The Cycling Ulster Award night" celebrated his championships medal winners, leisure awards, and 2023's Volunteer of the year award, Club of the year, and the Chairman's Special award to finish the evening (Sun 28th January 2024) at the Kelly's Inn in Tyrone (Carvaghy)

All text courtesy of Cycling Ulster official, some photos from Toby Watson as indicated, the rest of yours truly, for a full list of medal winners go to https://belgianproject.cc/2024/01/28/today-sun-28th-jan-we-will-be-celebrating-the-medal-winners-from-our-2023-ulster-championship-events-as-well-as-handing-out-a-number-of-non-competitive-awards-this-at-kellys-inn-in-carvagh/

CU told social media: “The event, which saw a remarkable turnout of 220 attendees, served as a joyous occasion to honour the medal winners of the 2023 Ulster Championships in Road, Track, Cyclo-cross and BMX. A total of 191 medals and trophies as well as 3 Leisure awards and 1 special award were handed out by our special guests and Cycling Ulster Executive members“

Photo below (Toby Watson) Stephen Connolly, chair of DB, receiving the award from Tommy McCague, chair of Cycling Ulster and our Rebecca from the Leisure Commission.

CU Leisure PRO Rebecca Fitzgerald been presented with the “Cycling Ulster Volunteer of the Year award” Rebecca is responsible for all our social media activity and has organised many events for our members including bike maintenance, bike marking and more recently the ‘making it count’ online training hosted by Gary Mckeegan. Rebecca has gave us so much of her time since joining the commission almost two years ago! Thank you Rebecca for everything you do for cycling and for our members. An award that is very well deserved!! Photo courtesy of Toby Watson below include Rebecca being presented with her award by Tommy McCague, Cycling Ulster chairman

Big congratulations to our joint Queens of the Year 2023, who were presented with their awards at the Cycling Ulster award ceremony Sunday evening. Frances Johnston, a member of Mallard Flyers Cycle Club won a £100 voucher for Caldwell Cycles Omagh and our very own Cycling Ulster Leisure Commission Sandy Mac Giolla Phadraig, a member of DB Cycling Club won a £100 voucher for Victory Chimp! Both ladies completed all three events in our first Ulster Leisure Series last year.
Tommy McCague, chair of Cycling Ulster and Rebecca Fitzgerald, our PRO presented the ladies with their awards. (Photo Toby Watson)

For anyone at the Award Celebration last Sunday, the Cycling Ulster Chair shared that this would be his last year in the post. We are eternally grateful for Tommy’s 9 years of service on the Executive. Tommy delivered a very passionate speech during his Chairpersons Award. It’s the only award of the evening made solely by the Chair. After much reflection on cycling throughout the years in his speech, it came to no surprise that Tommy was awarding the Chairpersons Award to a family. The amount of work and passion the Rafferty family has shown to the sport is incredible. We will be watching and following the Rafferty family for years to come.Tommy thanked Island Wheelers for their contribution to the sport.

Here below some selected photos I took, more can be found on www.facebook.com/thebelgianproject

Gold HC M50 Hill Climb 2023 Kieran McKenna Ards CC

Some of the young CX & Road stars and medal winners

Fiona Sharkey and Jerome Mc Namara (BP volunteer) Fiona told us that over €3000 was raised at the Sean Sharkey memorial 10 days ago in Jenkinstown in aid of the Maria Goretti Foundation (respite home for handicapped children in Louth)

Some legends of the sport on one table!! Jack Watson and his wife Rea, Tommy Lamb and Tom Henry

Dr Tom Daly (President CI) in conversation with the face of VC Glendale and top photographer Toby Watson

Family award gold medals with Brian Mallon and son Brandon (BMX Lisburn)

James Quilligan CEO Cycling Ireland talking to Carl Fullerton (CI board member) and his lovely wife

Carl Fullerton (CEO at Donegal Harvest Ltd) handing me over a donation towards the project…this for the 8th time in a row, thanks so much Carl for such loyal and valuable support over the years!!