Cork Cyclocross race cancelled due to insurance issues

It’s been confirmed that an annual cyclocross race, due to take place in Tramore Valley Park, has been cancelled due to issues with insurance.

The Munster Cyclocross League event, hosted by the De Ronde van Cork Cycling club, had been planned for November 17th.

However, they were informed by Cork City Council that their insurance was not adequate this year.

A similar race in Mallow was allowed to go ahead by Cork County Council last weekend, while there are also races planned for Youghal and Watergrasshill before the end of the year.

Speaking to the Echo this afternoon, club chair Michael Corkery said that they were very disappointed.

“We put a lot of preparation into it. It’s a real shame,” he said.

In a statement released on the De Ronde Cross Facebook page, the group say that they believe Cork City Council's position is extreme: “Cork City Council have taken the position that our Cycling Ireland Insurance is not adequate and leaves the Council exposed to possible claims if there was, in their words, a life-altering injury, resulting from a rider to rider incident. We believe and argued that this position was extreme. As a result of this policy no Cycling Ireland activity can happen at any park run by Cork City Council,” the statement reads.

A spokesperson for Cork City Council said that on advice of their insurance brokers, without member to member insurance cover in place, they're seriously exposed to risk. 

"This was not the position before, as there has been a downgrading in previously held insurance cover by Cycling Ireland, and this has not been rectified," a spokesperson said.

“We will arrange a meeting with Cycling Ireland and other parties shortly to see if the issues and challenges regarding insurance for cycling activities can be resolved," the spokesperson added.

Michael Corkery told the Echo that this issue is one that needs to be looked at going forward: “It’s something that needs to be addressed how the Park can sit there and not facilitate a sporting event.

“It really is a violation of any kind of civic relationship that they would have with clubs like ourselves,” he added.

Additionally, the youth training camp that was being planned by the club in co-ordination with Cork Sports Partnership will now also not be going ahead at the park.

Meanwhile, a similar insurance issue has arisen in relation to the use of the BMX Track at Tramore Valley Park.

Cork City Council said: “Cork BMX Club were advised of the inadequate insurance cover currently in place through Cycling Ireland and Cycling Ireland have been unable to provide proper insurance to date.

“The Club have been very active in their endeavours to resolve the issue.”