UCD track to close!!

SWL · 02-12-2011 04:08PM

badtinegirl wrote: »

Todays Independent

UCD has apologised for the way it handled the shock closure of its historic Belfield track last week and has put together a task-force to deliver a replacement as quickly as possible.
Athletes were confused and furious when diggers suddenly moved in last week, with no forewarning whatsoever given to the many clubs, schools and athletes, including several Olympians, who used the facility.
"We had a report that indicated we were taking a (safety) chance every day we left it open, but we did not communicate this very well to our students and other athletics people and I apologise openly for that," said UCD's director of sport Brian Mullins.
One of the most vehement critics of the sudden closure was Senator Eamonn Coghlan and he is among those whom UCD have now enlisted to serve on a task-force to fast-track a replacement facility on the other side of the Belfield campus.
disrepair
Mullins admitted that the track was allowed to go into disrepair because the campus layout has changed dramatically in recent years and all of the university's newer sports facilities have deliberately been grouped at the Clonskeagh end of the extensive grounds.
"Apart from a few remaining soccer pitches the track was the last remaining outpost and it was decided not to invest in repairing hard-earned money into something that was going to be shifted in due course," he said.
UCD has had planning permission for a track near its sports centre at Clonskeagh since 2009, but those plans were then hit by the recession.
Mullins said: "We're quite positive now that we will get commitment for the funding soon and will move to deliver a replacement track as quickly as possible."
McMahon Texaco Young Sportstar of the Year
World Championship breaststroke semi-finalist Sycerika McMahon has been chosen as the winner of the 2011 Texaco Young Sportstar of the Year award.
Although there was no reward for her in the form of medals, the World Championships in Shanghai this year proved an inspiration for the 16-year-old Leander girl.
Alongside the eight senior sports stars chosen to receive Texaco Sportstars Awards and the 2011 Hall of Fame winner, McMahon will be presented with her trophy at the awards ceremony, which takes place in Dublin next week.
- Cliona Foley

HMMMMMMM.

Why did it take all this fuss to get Brian off his arse and sort the funding for the track?

How long did he sit on the report putting people at risk?

What about the field sports Brian?

Bull****

Well done – power to the people. A good example to prove protesting in Ireland is not a waste of time. We must all keep applying the pressure and use Emanon Coughlan to get media attention.

Duke Fame · 02-12-2011 07:55PM

electrictrad wrote: »

Mullins told UCD AC he hadn't seen the report on Monday, that UCD Buildings and Services took the decision to close the track, and that he was powerless in the whole process. . . big dichotomy between that and the content of that radio interview. . .

badtinegirl wrote: »

There is a good tread on this on the UCD Board that is worth a look. Reading both treads it looks like the new lake at Eng building will be built- installed soon, UCD sports (Brian Mullins) are told to get rid off the track and field ASAP by the college admin. The best way to do this play the health and safety card. The report seems to have only one recommendation but no one has seen it for this to be confirmed. So the track and field get decommissioned immediately, it will be left sit for a month or two until the fuss dies down then the cars start to appear on the track maybe around graduation time as an overflow car park. Job done.

As I said before this is an act of vandalism and cynical.

Good call missus

ocnoc · 06-12-2011 01:47PM

Does anyone know if a list of tracks in ireland exist?

I found this list for the UK
http://www.runtrackdir.com/tracklist.asp

footing · 06-12-2011 04:36PM

ocnoc wrote: »

Does anyone know if a list of tracks in ireland exist?

I found this list for the UK
http://www.runtrackdir.com/tracklist.asp

Who'd have thought Belfast had seven tracks?? What state are they in?
Aircraft Park Track
Mary Peters Track
Hammer Complex Track
Odyssey Arena
Paisley Park Track
St. Mary's Christian Brothers Grammar School Track
Trench House Track

ecoli · 06-12-2011 04:46PM

footing wrote: »

Who'd have thought Belfast had seven tracks?? What state are they in?
Aircraft Park Track
Mary Peters Track
Hammer Complex Track
Odyssey Arena
Paisley Park Track
St. Mary's Christian Brothers Grammar School Track
Trench House Track

This is being redeveloped in the very near future as far as I know. you also have Antrim Forum nearby which is in good nick

Here is just a few off the top of my head

In terms of Dublin 5 Tartan/ Mondo tracks
ALSAA
Santry
Donore (300m)
Tallaght
Irishtown

Meath:
Clarmont stadium

Wicklow:
Greystones

Sligo:
IT

Cork:
CIT

Limerick:
UL

Kilkenny:
KCH track

Tipperary:
Nenagh (Indoor)

Donegal:
Finn Valley track

Offaly:
Tullamore

Westmeath:
Athlone

Kerry:
Castleisland

RoyMcC · 06-12-2011 04:57PM

Nothing in the whole of Cork outside the city?

ecoli · 06-12-2011 05:01PM

RoyMcC wrote: »

Nothing in the whole of Cork outside the city?

Probably is this is just a very rough list from ones I know of or have raced on (Dont leave the big smoke to often:D). I am sure people will come along and fill in ones I missed (any excuse to have a pop at a moderator these days:rolleyes:)

Timmaay · 06-12-2011 05:06PM

Anyone read this in the Irish indo the other day!

By far the most ambitious element of the campus, however, is the indoor arena which, at current construction prices, it is estimated would cost €40m. The 14,000 square metre arena would house an indoor athletics track, a sports centre (badminton, basketball, volleyball courts) and a gymnastics centre and would accommodate about 2,000 spectators.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/campus-in-line-for-budget-day-boost-2953523.html

40million, hmm not holding my breath about that coming anyday soon!

RayCun · 06-12-2011 05:12PM

Timmaay wrote: »

Anyone read this in the Irish indo the other day!
http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/campus-in-line-for-budget-day-boost-2953523.html

40million, hmm not holding my breath about that coming anyday soon!

Yeah, the budget is expected to include 4 million for the project which will go towards developing

pitches

:rolleyes:
The rest sounds like a hastily rewritten press release.

footing · 06-12-2011 06:39PM

RayCun wrote: »

Yeah, the budget is expected to include 4 million for the project which will go towards developing
pitches
:rolleyes:
The rest sounds like a hastily rewritten press release.

The thing no-one in Govt mentions is that UL/NCTC already had the bones of a perfectly adequate sports academy before talk started of "Sports Campus Ireland" out there in Bertieland - 50m pool, tartan track, indoor bastetball area, gyms, football pitches, student village etc, etc. As far as I know, Limerick is still where most of our swimmers are based.
Result of the political shenanigans? Pat Duffy, one of the best sports admin people we ever had, left for a big job in the UK.
There is no need for Sports Campus Ireland.

a_non_a_mouse · 07-12-2011 03:08PM

RoyMcC wrote: »

Nothing in the whole of Cork outside the city?

City has CIT and the Mardyke/UCC (which is undergoing development still I believe)
A few tartan sprint strips elsewhere (mostly schools) and I think I heard of a 200m track somewhere in the east of the county...maybe Youghal?

but yeah....largest County size wise and one of the larger counties based on recent AAI numbers and its not very well serviced by tartan tracks...

electrictrad · 07-12-2011 03:37PM

You did well, ecoli. . .there are a couple more 400m tracks I think. . .

Dublin
ALSAA
Santry
Donore (300m)
Tallaght
Irishtown

Meath:
Clarmont stadium

Wicklow:
Greystones

Sligo:
IT

Cork:
CIT
UCC Mardyke

Limerick:
UL

Kilkenny:
KCH track

Tipperary:
Nenagh (Indoor)
Templemore

Donegal:
Finn Valley track

Offaly:
Tullamore

Westmeath:
Athlone

Kerry:
Castleisland

Clare
Ennis

Galway
NUIG

Waterford
RSC Track

Cavan
Shercock AC Track

gerard65 · 07-12-2011 06:31PM

http://www.goal.ie/GOAL_Mile/146

Christmas GOAL mile goes to Leopardstown race course.

ger664 · 07-12-2011 06:37PM

There is 2 in Ennis

:)

Dublin
ALSAA
Santry
Donore (300m)
Tallaght
Irishtown

Meath:
Clarmont stadium

Wicklow:
Greystones

Sligo:
IT

Cork:
CIT
UCC Mardyke

Limerick:
UL

Kilkenny:
KCH track

Tipperary:
Nenagh (Indoor)
Templemore

Donegal:
Finn Valley track

Offaly:
Tullamore

Westmeath:
Athlone

Kerry:
Castleisland

Clare
Ennis: Lees Road & Fairgreen

Galway
NUIG

Waterford
RSC Track

Cavan
Shercock AC Track

badtinegirl · 13-12-2011 05:31PM

As you will be aware the UCD running track was closed due to health and safety concerns raised by an expert assessment of the surface and surrounds, and exacerbated by the onset of winter conditions. Since its development, the master plan for the Belfield campus has envisaged provision of a new running track in the Sports Precinct. Preparatory work started on this objective five years ago. A suitable site was identified and we quickly moved on to development of track design specifications, culminating in the granting of full planning permission in 2009. Initial enabling works have been undertaken and the site is ready to be developed once funding is secured. With the completion in Spring 2012 of the Student Learning, Leisure and Recreation Centre, approximately €66m will have been invested in UCD sports and recreational facilities in recent years. A new running track in the Sports Precinct is a priority for UCD in the context of the further development of our sports and recreation infrastructure. I have established a task force to spearhead the search for funding

Report of the UCD President

I had a walk up to where the new track is going these enabling works seem to consist of turning the space into a carpark first.

Almost a full house with the bull**** bingo, he just missed blue sky thinking

footing · 13-12-2011 06:32PM

badtinegirl wrote: »

As you will be aware the UCD running track was closed due to health and safety concerns raised by an expert assessment of the surface and surrounds, and exacerbated by the onset of winter conditions. Since its development, the master plan for the Belfield campus has envisaged provision of a new running track in the Sports Precinct. Preparatory work started on this objective five years ago. A suitable site was identified and we quickly moved on to development of track design specifications, culminating in the granting of full planning permission in 2009. Initial enabling works have been undertaken and the site is ready to be developed once funding is secured. With the completion in Spring 2012 of the Student Learning, Leisure and Recreation Centre, approximately €66m will have been invested in UCD sports and recreational facilities in recent years. A new running track in the Sports Precinct is a priority for UCD in the context of the further development of our sports and recreation infrastructure. I have established a task force to spearhead the search for funding

Report of the UCD President

I had a walk up to where the new track is going these enabling works seem to consist of turning the space into a carpark first.

Almost a full house with the bull**** bingo, he just missed blue sky thinking

That's why he gets paid €600,000 a year and has us tax payers fork out €3m for a refurb to his house.
Why do we let them get away with it?

smunchkins · 14-12-2011 02:04PM

Has anyone seen the safety report yet?

At least they now have a committee to get funding. One half of me goes "yuck" as committees are the children of Satan and bureaucracy and the bane of getting anything done on time, but then the other half wonders what else they can do, its not like they have a secret stash.

footing · 14-12-2011 02:20PM

smunchkins wrote: »

Has anyone seen the safety report yet?

At least they now have a committee to get funding. One half of me goes "yuck" as committees are the children of Satan and bureaucracy and the bane of getting anything done on time, but then the other half wonders what else they can do, its not like they have a secret stash.

They could re-open the track that already exists...

kingQuez · 14-12-2011 06:08PM

The health + safety sign flapping in the gusty wind yesterday was more of a concern to me as I passed by during my run than the slippy surface ever was

I know it's not a substitute, but for recreational stuff the gravel trail around the campus is actually quite nice. Would be cool if they marked distances along it.

macinalli · 14-12-2011 06:58PM

kingQuez wrote: »

Would be cool if they marked distances along it.

Someone's done this on the path opposite the sports centre beside the GAA pitches. The start line is near the church and it seems to have markers at 50 metre intervals!

badtinegirl · 13-02-2012 04:54PM

Looks like the ex-UCD track will host the Ball this year.
Not safe to train on but safe enough for 2000 drunk students to
dance on. :mad:

Hows that task force working out?

ergo · 13-03-2012 07:05PM

any update on the track situation?

I parked over near the track today - it's basically almost fully intact aside from some trenches dug across it approx every 80 metres to prevent a decent run - and obviously it's been fenced off - couldn't take much to get it back to functional level -

those responsible for digging it up should pay for that...

could be waiting forever for a new track :mad:

BobMac104 · 14-03-2012 11:21AM

I dont live near it or have ever used it, but the whole issue is just so rotten.

RayCun · 12-07-2012 02:57PM

Any news on this? I ran by it the other day, and the trenches cut across the track have been filled in in the inside lanes, with the material used for the trail outside. And the barriers that were across the whole track had been moved away from the inside lanes.
Doesn't look like an amateur job, but it isn't a proper track surface either

ecoli · 12-07-2012 03:04PM

RayCun wrote: »

Any news on this? I ran by it the other day, and the trenches cut across the track have been filled in in the inside lanes, with the material used for the trail outside. And the barriers that were across the whole track had been moved away from the inside lanes.
Doesn't look like an amateur job, but it isn't a proper track surface either

Was thinking about this the other week. I wonder if anyone has kept on to get reports back from the "task force"

As far as I know that sand/trail surface has been there a while. I can only guess that it had to be put in for health and safety reasons to allow them go ahead with the UCD Ball back in May

(Yes I do realise the irony of 5000 drunken students not being subject to health and safety which was the reason behind closing the track in the first place :rolleyes:)

delta_bravo · 20-08-2012 01:33PM

I saw what looked like a steamroller close to the track last week. Hopefully something is happening to restore it

ecoli · 20-08-2012 01:42PM

delta_bravo wrote: »

I saw what looked like a steamroller close to the track last week. Hopefully something is happening to restore it

No talk of restoration. The plan is to relocate it across campus (up near the teh new sports centre) pending funding (aka being fobbed off for a while until the attention dies down)

Barty · 21-08-2012 08:37AM

delta_bravo wrote: »

I saw what looked like a steamroller close to the track last week. Hopefully something is happening to restore it

They were resurfacing the road around the front gate of UCD last Saturday week, this is probably what the steamroller was for.

ergo · 11-10-2012 09:33AM

Are people actually running on the UCD track at all these days..?

I was down near there on the bike last month - it is accessible - looks like you'd need to use the outside lanes - I couldn't see what it's like the whole way around though and, as people mentioned, some gravel or grit filling in the previously dug trenches....is it usable..?

Pisco Sour · 11-10-2012 10:10AM

ergo wrote: »

Are people actually running on the UCD track at all these days..?

I was down near there on the bike last month - it is accessible - looks like you'd need to use the outside lanes - I couldn't see what it's like the whole way around though and, as people mentioned, some gravel or grit filling in the previously dug trenches....is it usable..?

I had a walk around it when I was home. In no way is it usable for any runner with the tiniest aspirations.

UCD track to close!!

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