Another great day at the Francie Doone Cycle

By Aidan Magennis

St. Josephs GAC Glenavy hosted their seventh annual cycle today (Sunday 19th) and their fifth Francie Doone cycle. What started out as a damp mizzly day turned into one of glorious sunshine and reached a balmy 17C, which was very pleasant for the latter end of September. It certainly helped with the turnout as a total of sixty five participants took part, which was made up of the majority enjoying a fifty mile cycle, along with the happy peddlers who completed the twenty mile route.

**Members of Aldergrove GAC who took part in the Francie Doone Cycle**

Both routes took in the the shores of Lough Neagh, which looked magnificent in the clear Autumn blue skies and made its way through Crumlin, Aldergrove, Cherryvalley, Feumore, Gawley’s Gate, Derrymore, Aghagallon, Upper Ballinderry and back to Glenavy. Cycling against such a beautiful backdrop, created a great atmosphere for friendship, banter and light hearted craic.
Todays event was, as in previous years, run in support of Chest, Heart & Stroke NI. attracted cyclists from local GAA clubs Aldergrove and Lough Mor along with other cycling clubs such as Lagan Valley and Clann Eireann. The support from these clubs is very appreciated and helps to generate valuable funds for a very worthwhile charity.
We look forward to next year and God willing we will enjoy similar weather , craic and camaraderie.