Cycling clubs yesterday welcomed a judge's ruling which was seen as lifting a threat to the future of events held all over Ireland every weekend.
A compensation claim in the High Court in Belfast by a cyclist who was badly injured in a fall while taking part in the Sperrin Challenge in Co Tyrone in 1994 was dismissed by Mr Justice Sheil. The judge held that East Tyrone Cycling Club and the Federation of Irish Cyclists were not guilty of any negligence.
Welcoming the judgment, Mr Jack Watson, the federation's honorary secretary, said: "This is great news for Irish cycling because if the decision had gone against us it would have meant the end of leisure rides."
The case was brought by Mr Gary Nugent (24), from Cookstown, Co Tyrone, who suffered a serious hip injury when he came off his cycle at a bend as he descended a steep hill. His lawyer said the organisers should have ensured that marshals were on duty to warn riders about the dangers at the bend.
But Mr Watson said yesterday it would be impossible to get enough people to marshal an entire race.
Mr Justice Sheil, who visited the scene of the accident when the hearing ended, said: "The bend was no more than was to be expected on a mountain road. It was not difficult to negotiate as long as one took care not to take it at too fast a speed.
"I am satisfied this accident was caused solely by the plaintiff's excessive speed as he negotiated this bend."