Jimmys 3 County 400

Date: SATURDAY 1st June 2024

This route can also be ridden as a Permanent on a date of your choice.

Organiser: Eamon Nealon

E-Mail: eamonnealon@hotmail.com

Contact Address: Ballinahaglish, Ballina, Co Mayo.

Mobile: 087 2439115,  PLEASE leave a text if unanswered

Download Entry Form here: New Entry Form

Entry Fee €5 on Eventmaster, plus fees
Optional ACP or Audax Ireland Medal €7
1-day Licence is available for €20, this will be added automatically if you do not have a valid Annual Cycling Ireland Licence Number.

Entry on Eventmaster: https://eventmaster.ie/event/vv76HPoSb4

Closing Date for Entries: Tuesday 28th May 2024

NO LATE ENTRIES PLEASE !!

Start: The Cathedral, Ballina, Co Mayo (along the river Moy)

Start Time: 6.00am

Parking: FREE Parking in the area at the VEC Youth Reach Centre or in the grounds of Moyne College, 200m from the Start.

Ride with GPS Map: Jimmys 400-2022

The Jimmys 400km County Challenge (Jimmy Durcan) is a demanding yet rewarding event in the Audax Ireland Calendar.  DONT BE FOOLED by the flat looking profile !  It may look easy, but looks can be deceptive !

Controls

Bangor: Info Control

Westport: Maxol Garage entering the town

Clifden: Guys Bar

Swinford:

Enniscrone: Info Control

Arrivée: Ballina

Although there aren’t many big mountains on the route, the constant succession of smaller hills will challenge the majority of randonneurs, and in the final 70 kilometres even the minor ascents can be testing for tired legs.

The start time of 6am means that all entrants can expect several hours of cycling in darkness – good lights, warm clothing and reflective gear are essential. However the scenery is more than adequate compensation, taking in the best that Mayo, Galway and Sligo have to offer with fantastic views and quiet roads.  Notable areas of scenic views are Killala with its history of the Year of the French,  Ballycroy National Park, Connemara Loop, Clifden, Trough, the hills of MAAM, Cong, homeward over the Ox Mountains, passing Lough Easkey, and following the banks of the famous river Moy from Enniscrone.

This is a self-supported event so there probably will not be any manned controls, or support vehicle. However, there are plenty of options for refuelling en-route in the towns you will be passing through on your journey.  However please note that riders arriving in Tubbercurry after about 11.30pm may have difficulty finding anywhere to eat, so should be prepared to carry enough food to get them home the last 70km !

Please read this page for more details on what to expect on a self-supported event.

Some more photos to whet your appetite !

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7 thoughts on “Jimmys 3 County 400”

      1. No-one who has had the pleasure of riding your Quiet Man 300 would make the mistake of underestimating this one Pat, that’s for sure!

  1. Just wondering could it be an option for the individual to stay on the R297 out of Enniscrone (last 11km) until three mile cross and turn right to ballina. Ive family in the area and have ridden most of these roads, and that coast/Quay road is lethal at the best of times, let alone late on a saturday night.

    1. Colin if ya like you can take that option the r297,it’s a bit longer not much doe .i cycled the event last week to give it a final sight over .came up the quay hills the costal rd you mentioned and met one car at around 12.45 at night .but if you feel safer to cycle up the R297 that will be fine .coming over easkey at night is challenging so caution is required and speed reduced on the descents .still I enjoyed it .plenty of towns along the way for feed stations .to help brake up the distance .400km we ain’t going to complain .enjoy hope to see ya on the morning .

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