Notes 17/07/2022

Lakeside Wheelers Host Mullingar Grand Prix 17/07/2022

Lakeside Wheelers once again hosted the Mullingar Grand Prix on a beautiful sunny Sunday. The course was the usual tried and trusted one. Starting in the village of Multyfarnham the riders headed east towards Crookedwood. In Crookedwood they headed north and took the hilly drag up to Whitehall and on onto Castlepollard. From there they turned west past Tullynally Castle towards Coole. From Coole they turned south across the bog back into Multyfarnham. This adds up to a 34 kms circuit with over 180 metres climbing all-in. There were three races on the day. A1/A2 (or as we like to call them the big boys) who completed 4 circuits. The A3 race consisted of 3 laps and finally the A4 race which comprised 2 laps. This circuit circumnavigates Lough Derravaragh and with the heat of the day in the mid-twenties and average speeds of up to 45 kph I’m sure many of the cyclists would not have minded taking a dip to cool down after their endeavours. There was a great entry with in excess of 140 cyclists signing on for the days racing from all over the country. Here are some of the results. A1 race was won by Daire Feeley (All human VeloRevolution Cycling Team) who broke away on the first lap and stayed away all race. Aaron Wade (Team U Cube) was second, with Gareth O Neill (Caldwell Cycles) in third position. Charlie Holt (Roadman CC) won the A2 race with Shane Quinn (Longford CC) in second place and Alan Mackey (Spin II CC) in third. Stuart Cox (Lakeside Wheelers CC) featured well in A1/A2 race in the bunch. Patrick Ennis (Unattached) won the A3 race with James O’Rourke (SSCC) in second place and Tony Barnes (South East CC) in third place. Brendan (Tosh) Kiernan (Lakeside Wheelers CC) finished in an excellent fifth place in the race, taking the bunch sprint, with Richie Lenihan and Ian Lambden (Lakeside Wheelers CC) showing well in the peloton. Daire Farrell (Swords CC) won the A4 race with Michael Cafferkey (Lakeside Wheelers CC) in a superb second place, pipped by a tyre width on the line, with Robert Bowen (St Tiernans CC) in third place. Shane Grace (Lakeside Wheelers CC) finished in an excellent eight position in the race with Paul Murtagh, Seamus Killian, Seamus Moran and Moss Keane (Lakeside Wheelers CC) not far behind in the main group. Many thanks to all the cyclists who participated. Many thanks to committee from Lakeside Wheelers who organised and ran this thoroughly professional event. We wish to thank Grange Motors for sponsoring the races and Kenny’s Koal Cabin for providing the finishing line facilities. We would also like to thank Multyfarnham Community Centre for once again providing an excellent base for the races. Many thanks to the Gardai, Westmeath County Council and the Civil Defence for their logistical support. Also hats off once again to Donie Kelleher for his excellent photography on the day.