Dawson to defend title with new look team against star studded line-up
The teak tough Englishman is one of three former winners of the title in the line-up - joining the 2001 winner Eugene Moriarty and the 2000 winner Paddy Moriarty - in a star studded line-up.
But he will have a new look team comprised of some leading UK under-23 riders to back him.
Gone are the likes of Tanner and Lovett and in come Stefan Wilson, last year’s British junior champion, Matt Bramier who rode last year’s world junior championships, Graham Briggs, a top ranked 1st cat rider last year and Ben Greenwood the national student hill climb champion.
Eugene Moriarty will be returning from the US for his bid to reclaim the title on his home turf.
The Listowel man will be back in the Lee Strand colours alongside evergreen Philip Cassidy after his sojourn in America where he rode a number of races including a pro race in California last week when he guested for the Lombardi professional team and finished 21st on one stage.
Another rider returning home for the event is Denis Lynch who is based in France but comes back to ride for the Tile Choice team alongside Killarney man, John Blackwell.
He will be one of a number of Munster riders with big claims on their home title.
Adrian Hedderman, who rides for the Lee Strand/Cycleways team, had a spectacular win in the Des Hanlon Memorial in Carlow last weekend, Clareman Vincent Gleeson, has two big wins under his belt including the Cycleways Trophy, and Corkman, Timmy Barry, has had this race as one of his priorities.
Andy Roche from the Isle of Man, who won the FBD Milk Ras for Kerry back in 1997, returns to The Kingdom with a strong team from the Isle of Man that includes Elliott Baxter.
Since moving its base to Killorglin the event has gone from strength to strength under an energetic committee and the success of their efforts is reflected in the strong overseas influence that has crept in.
For the first time there will be a Dutch team in the race - a five-man squad from VC Kemmerland - who are currently competing in the Tour of Greece and will contest the Reggioni after the Munster showpiece.
This year’s event gets under way with the usual Philip Cassidy special in the form of a 2.6 mile time trial around the Donal McKenna Circuit on Good Friday.
The Nissan Ring of Kerry Stage (101 miles) introduces the riders to the picturesque Kerry Mountains on Saturday featuring Ladies View, Molls Gap and Coomakista.
The Irish Ferries Conor Pass Stage (91 miles) on Easter Sunday speaks for itself with the grand finale on Easter Monday.
Ras Luimni, scheduled for Caherconlish this weekend, has been cancelled due to insurance difficulties. This means that all the big guns will be heading for Leinster this weekend with the Ben McKenna Memorial Race at Balbriggan the feature on Sunday.
The Harry Reynolds Memorial takes place at the same venue on Saturday evening.
The Markievicz Cup is down for decision in Collooney on Sunday also with a 2 pm start preceded by the Mooney Trophy on Saturday.
