The Race Around Ireland

It is most definitely long distance month in Scott Orwell!!

The 2019 Race Around Ireland starts on Sunday 25th August in Trim, Co.Meath and Philip Culbert is racing in the Solo Mens category - NON-STOP for 2,150 km (with 22,000m of climbing) around the whole of the island of Ireland?

The Race Around Ireland is a non-stop cycling event for all level of cyclists, male or female, solo or team. Competitors have been coming from all over the world every year for the last 9 years to take part. Some people come back every year, others start as crew, then cycle as part of a team and the toughest of them go on to do it Solo.

The 10th edition of Race Around Ireland will start on Sunday 26th August 2018. Teams start at 2pm and Solos start at 4pm.

It starts in Trim, County Meath, with the imposing Trim Castle in the background (remember the Castle in the movie Braveheart?). From here the cyclists head off around the country taking in some of the most amazing scenery and historic sights,in Ireland, like Newgrange, The Causeway Coast, The Dark Hedges, Malin Head, The Cliffs of Moher, The Ring of Kerry, Mizen Head, the Garden County (Wicklow) and back to Moynalty in County Meath

The time allowance for the Solo race is 132 hours

Last year Philip won the RAI Ultra race and set the course record. The Ultra race is "only" 1,100km. Philip has been getting the miles and training in this year and with an event like this getting to the start line can be as challenging as the race itself. Thankfully all good and his crew have been super.

Philip will have two support teams rotating on a 24 hour basis. Each team has a support vehicle carrying all the necessities, food and four bikes in case of emergencies. One member of each team is s Physio. Other members primarily drive and navigate as the race is self navigating. There is no doubt about it - this is a big undertaking!

All going well Philip has a great chance and we are looking forward to following his adventures from Sunday. Give it SOCKS!

Race Around Ireland website: HERE
Race Around Ireland route: HERE

The Race Around Ireland gets under way tomorrow!

Philip wears number 103 and the live tracker starts at 2pm. You can find the link HERE

BEST OF LUCK Philip!

Dotwatching Update.

Philip has just cross the halfway point, he's completed 1,058.5km, and has 1,051.9km remaining and about to enter Limerick.

He's solidly in second place, 70km behind first place, 100km ahead of 3rd place.

The leader, Pierre Bichoff of Germany, has a wikipedia page with his palmares.

de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Bischoff

Their Social Media Teams are updating their Facebook Pages, if anyone wants to track this 1,000km Sprint Finish:

• www.facebook.com/CulbterEnduranceCycling/
• www.facebook.com/pierrebischoff.de/

Congratulations to Philip Culbert who rode a phenomenal Race Around Ireland to finish in second place in the Solo category!

After winning the Ultra Distance event last year and setting a new course record this was Philips first time to attempt this type of distance. He was up against some serious competition in the form of Pierre Bichoff but fought hard for the full distance.

In the end Philip rolled in across the finish line 115 hours and 8 mins after he started on Sunday. 2160 kms completed in an average speed of 18.76kph - this includes stopping time!

Philips Facebook Page has a load of videos and photos which are worth checking out. You can find it HERE

Apart from the competition element Philip was also riding for a good cause - Indreni - a charity which supports childrens education in developing countries. From Philip's Facebook Page:
Philip has competed in the Race Around Ireland the past 4 years. The charity Indreni has been the beneficiary of funds raised by the team during the events. In 2016 & 2017, Philip took part in the race as part of a 4 man team with Ian Kingston, founder and driver behind the Indreni charity which supports the education of children in Nepal.

Last year and again this year, in special partnership with Indreni, crew member Jerome Kilkenny is undertaking charity projects in Africa. 2018 saw the building a Maternity Clinic from scratch (see link below). This year Philip is raising funds to help build and equip a school for girls in the remote Maasailands of Northern Tanzania. The school will be a residential school and educate girls from a 150km radius. Phil and the crew hope to raise €2200 euro with YOUR help .. that's just one euro for every KM he cycles! ' Without the education this school will provide, the girls of this remote area face a life of poverty and domestic servitude - let's get behind Phil and make a HUGE and lasting difference.

100% of every cent donated goes directly to building and equipping the school in Malambo, Tanzania. Nothing of your donation is lost on administrative or other costs.

Find out more about Philips chosen charity and make a dontation if you like on the Indreni website HERE