There was a really good presence of yellow, red and blue jerseys at Saturdays early season 70km race in Clonard. I can report on the race from the bunch as it was my first outing of the season and I would think that due to the weather it can only get easier from here! The A4 bunch headed off with a small handicap and were soon caught by the fast A3 bunch being pulled along by the usual suspects including a very strong Chris O’Reilly from Bohermeen and our very own Paul Crowley.

As expected the race was fast as the course was flat and not very technical with a small drag up Gneevebawn hill which had little effect on the bunch speed.  Although there were lots of wheelers in attendance I would have to pick out Damien O’Brien (2nd unplaced A4), Mark O’Hara (first wheeler home and inside the top 10) and Murina Walshe for their impressive results. Mark has started the season in has he would admit not the best form, but has already sucured a 4th and 9th place on courses that wouldn’t suit his style of riding. Mark is an extremely talented hill climber with the ability to ride away from the group when the going gets tough near the top of a climb, however lately he has been placing in the flat races  and seems to have developed a serious sprint!

Damien O’Brien had a fantastic race starting with the A4 group but had no problem riding with the more experienced A3’s,  despite his tumble in Navan last week he appears to have no fear in a bunch sprint! Lastly Muirna, maybe I’m biased but this was the wheeler performance for me! Muirna took off with A4’s and when we caught the group I was delighted to see she was riding at the front, she had no trouble staying with the A3 group and only dropped after unclipping in a tight corner. She was the least experienced cyclist in the race and managed to stay in the group longer then a lot of other riders and finished inside the top 4 women.