Cycling Ulster Women’s Commission Celebrates Another Successful Mondello 24
The Cycling Ulster Women’s Commission was proud to return to the Mondello 24 Hour for the third consecutive year, with four teams taking on one of Ireland’s toughest endurance cycling events.
The event has become a real highlight in our calendar, not just because of the racing, but because of the opportunities it creates for women to step into competition in a welcoming and supportive environment. From experienced endurance riders to women who had only bought their first road bike a week before the event, Mondello once again proved that there’s a place for everyone on the start line.
Four Teams, One Goal
This year, the Women’s Commission entered four teams, supported throughout the weekend by an incredible crew of volunteers.
Team 1: Rachel Jones, Maia Simmons, Rebecca Carr, Lee Donaldson
Team 2: Ann Bradley, Claire Henderson, Mary Patterson, Gillian Kennedy
Team 3: Claire Young, Janye Manogue, Karen Coulter, Vicky Mowbray, Laura Brown, Laura Taggart, Rachel McBride, Arlene McAfee
Team 4: Deirdre Quinn, Mary Quinn, Karen Jack, Siobhan Murphy, Leona Farrell, Joan Potts, Leeanne Stewart, Rebecca Henry
Support Crew: Donna Swift, Courtney Brown, Leona Carson and Emma Devoy
Outstanding Performance
There was plenty to celebrate on track, with Team 1 producing a superb ride to win the Women’s 4-Person category.
Over the 24 hours, the team completed an incredible 232 laps of the 3.5km circuit, covering 805 kilometres. Rachel Jones also set the fastest female lap of the event, stopping the clock in an impressive 5 minutes and 5 seconds.
It was a fantastic achievement and a reward for the dedication, teamwork and determination shown throughout the race.
More Than Just Results
While podium finishes are always special, the biggest success of the weekend was seeing so many women challenge themselves, many for the very first time.
Supporting women into competition is at the heart of what the Cycling Ulster Women’s Commission does, and the Mondello 24 is a fantastic example of how team events can help riders build confidence, gain racing experience and discover what they’re capable of.
Whether riders were chasing podium places or simply completing their first endurance event, everyone played a part in making the weekend such a success.
The Famous “Party Garage”
If you’ve been to Mondello before, you’ll probably know the Cycling Ulster garage.
Now in our third year, we’ve become known as the event’s “party garage”, and this year’s Beach Party theme certainly lived up to the reputation. Complete with flamingos, palm trees and plenty of laughs, the garage provided a fun and welcoming space where riders could relax between stints on the bike and supporters could keep spirits high throughout the night.
That sense of camaraderie is a huge part of what makes the weekend so memorable and helps first-time riders feel right at home.
Thank You
A huge thank you goes to Lakeland Storage for generously sponsoring our Mondello team t-shirts. The riders wore them with pride throughout the weekend and during the medal and trophy presentations.
Finally, thank you to every rider and member of the support crew for giving up their weekend, encouraging one another and making this another unforgettable Mondello 24.
We’re already looking forward to coming back next year and welcoming even more women to experience one of the most rewarding events on the cycling calendar.
