Contrary to what Dermot Dignam said during the FBD Milk Ras in May he is already well ahead with plans for organising next year's event and he will again be in the role of race director when it goes around the highways and by-ways from May 20th to 28th.
Dignam's first year as organiser was 1979, when Stephen Roche was the winner, and although he had a year out, in 1982, he has been in control ever since.
After stage six to Killybegs last May he told me he was giving serious consideration to "packing it all in." He said he would be taking time out to consider his position, particularly regarding the Ras. He did resign from the ICF Board but now he has decided to continue as organiser and director of the nine-day promotion. "While tying up a few loose ends on this year's Ras I found myself going ahead with plans for next year so I will be carrying on," he said. It will be a week later than usual in 2000 and Dignam added: "We have submitted an application to have the Ras put back on the international calendar. It is so prestigious it should be an official international event." It was last on that list in 1992 but was not continued because of the cost involved. Now a substantial amount of money from increased sponsorship or additional grants is required and Dignam maintains it should be rated as a 2.5 category event.
While the Junior Tour reaches its climax on Sunday St Finbarr's promote the championships for under 23s, veterans and women at Riverstick. If the Junior Tour organisers are continuing next year hopefully they will avoid evening stages with very late finishes. The under 23 title race four 18-mile laps provides a chance of some consolation for those who went to Lisbon last Sunday for the European championship and world junior champion Mark Scanlon will be there too. Scanlon took part in the Tour of Armagh last Sunday, and he was in the main pack that just got up to the breakaways coming to the finish. The Armagh tour resulted in another win for Brian Kenneally and, now the clear leader of the classic league, he must have earned a return to international duty in at least one of the end of season assignments.
With competition so keen the small band of Irish riders campaigning on the Continent these days have to do well to hold their places in teams and Dermot Healy is among those able to survive. The former Sorrento man, who was 19th in the 1997 Ras, is with a division three squad, Sprinter Club de Nice. He has been figuring prominently in some hard stage races and second category elite events and with performances so disappointing from some of those chosen on Irish teams it could be worthwhile giving Healy an opportunity with one of them.
