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Post date: Mar 18, 2013 5:55:40 PM
The weekend of 8th & 9th March was a busy one for Lakeside Wheelers with teams competing as closeby as Clonard and as far away as Leicestershire in England and Newbridge in between. Read on for reports on all three events and to find out how the Wheelers representatives fared.
Rás Naomh Finian Saturday 9th March.
(by Mark Monaghan)
As I arrived in Clonard the one thing that hit me, apart from the large number of cyclists signing on for the days racing, was that there was very strong cold easterly wind blowing right down the home straight, "great" I thought "a headwind home"! With over two hundred riders signed on for the day's racing it was promising to be a good day.
Lakeside Wheelers were well represented across all three races down for decision (I'm not going to try and name everybody in case I forget somebody!). First off were the A2 riders with a one minute head start on the A1 big guns! Next up was the A3 category and then the A4's took to the road. The circuit for the day was a simple out and back course from Clonard to Kilbeggan and back with each race having an "King of the Hills" sprint on the only climb of the day Gneevebawn on the way out.
All the lads acquitted themselves well on the day across all the races and tried on different occasions to create breaks but alas none were to last the distance, with Johnny Murray taking the best finish of the day for the Wheelers by finishing 9th in the A1/A2 race. Well done to Roy Carey and Stephen Corroon who were taking part in their first ever open road race. Well done also to Clonard putting on a great event and the tea and refreshments after the race was a welcome treat on a very cold day. See picture of John Murray in action below and more pictures from Clonard here.
Newbridge Grand Prix
(By Billy Cunnane)
On Sunday 10th March we had a team of 3 competing in Newbridge Co. Kildare. We were represented in the Credit Union Newbridge Grand Prix for A1/A2 riders by John Murray and Peter Rimmer. The race was over 6 laps of a 18km testing circuit including the infamous Boston Hill. The A2 riders set off first with a 1 minute advantage over the A1's. It was not long before the scratch group made contact and the attacking began. Eventually a winning breakaway went clear. These lads kept the chasing group at bay with Peter finishing well up in the bunch sprint. The second race of the day was the Morgan Sparrow Memorial race for A3's. We were represented by my good self. 97 riders lined up at the start line for 4 laps of the hilly 18km circuit. Wind and sub-zero conditions awaited us all as we rolled out. There were numerous attacks but the bunch kept each one in check. It was only on the 2nd lap that an 8 man break went clear and soon the advantage was a minute. These lads stayed away to the finish with me finishing in the top end of the bunch sprint.
Wheelers Compete in Dambuster Dualathon
On Saturday 9th March Wheelers Dave Fagan, James Cribbin and Mickey Dan Murtagh were in Rutland Water Leicestershire for the British National Championships Dambuster Dualathon. The event was a 10km run, 42km bike section and 5km run. There was over a thousand people signed on for the event. Mickey posted an overall personal best and James posted a personal best in the 10km run and finished despite getting a puncture in the bike section. Well done also to Dave Fagan who finished 4th overall in his category.
Lakeside Wheeler John Murray leads the A1/A2 race through Tyrrellspass
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