THE HARPS CYCLING CLUB, formed in the late 40’s by three local enthusiasts, the O’Neill brothers (John and Pat) and Moneymore Man, John Mc Quillan, gathered together some of the best cyclists in the area for some 25 years until it wound up in 1972.

In the early 1950’s the club was in the capable hands of men like Jack O’Neil, Master Leyden and Gerry Long who was Chairman.

Cookstown Harps Cycling Club under the Ulster Council’s authority rode in green ,red and white colours. Gerry Long recalls the good times in the Harps Club and its many wins at events all over the country in very tough and physically demanding sport.

Tom Rogers, one of four Rogers men who were great cyclists, won an All Ireland Junior Championship Medal. Pat, Peter and Joe Rogers along with Brothers Sean and Gerry Mc Ivor and Kevin and John Vincent were all names to remember. In 1987,due to a resurgence of interest in cycling and in keeping fit ,and with Sean Kelly and Stephen Roche important names on the international scene, the club was reformed, again with Gerry Long as Chairman.

Today the Harps Cycling Club is as strong as ever with over 30 members and rising of all abilities, young and old, the present Chairman being Desmond Eastwood and committee members Pat Bloomer, Bob Bloomer, Rodney Parke,Peter Field and Gary Maguire.

As a club we take part in many events, organising our own races and leisure tours in the Sperrin’s.

For the past few years we have been spectators at the World Cycling Championships in Belgium, Canada, Italy and recently Madrid Spain. Taking in the odd soccer match on these trips is not unknown the San Siro being the most memorable.

The Club colours can often be seen darting through the winding roads of the Alps each July and enjoying what is the spectacle “Le Tour de France” some members will be doing the mammoth “La Marmotte Sportif Cycle” this year and also the one day 260km Sportif event before the “Tour of Flanders”.

Our usual Sunday Training run takes place at the Fountain Road corner at the south end of Cookstown at 10 a.m.

Everybody is very welcome to come along for the training run around the roads of Ulster as long as you wear a helmet.