Good Wheelers Performances in Wexford

Post date: Aug 24, 2014 10:9:21 PM

(By Graham Morgan & Steve Franzoni Sun 24th August 2014)

A team of 4 headed to Camross in Wexford for their annual 2 day event. Derek Sheeran, David Nolan, Moss Keane and Graham Morgan represented the club in the A4 category We were also supported by Padraig Moore and Colm Yeates . Both days were very tough circuits. Saturday the 4 lads finished in bunch.After the hill TT on Saturday evening Graham Morgan moved up to 12th on GC. To aid recovery we headed to Wexford harbor for a dip in the sea from all the cars beeping it must have been some spectacle. Sunday again another tough day Graham and Moss finished in the bunch helping Graham move up another place to finish 11th overall.

Michelle O'Halloran and Sonja O'Mahony arrived Sunday morning to compete in the last Nationals women's league supported by Paul Daly and Steve Franzoni. Michelle finished an excellent 2nd backed up brilliantly by Sonja and in doing finished 2nd in the league overall an amazing achievement considering she was up against the best riders in the country. It was a great reward after the amount of hard work the girls put in over the last year. Here's Steve's account of their efforts...

As the racing season starts to draw to a close the last National Ladies League Race in Wexford was always going to be interesting.

Sitting third overall, first year racer Michelle O'Halloran only needed three points to snatch second from former Lakeside Wheeler and now DID girl Sarah Piner. The league has played out over seven rounds with the best six counting. The consistent results started coming later in the series as team work from Sonja O'Mahony and Aisling Flanagan and the development of some sprinting skills all started to play into Michelle's hand.

Todays race started slowly as tactics were played out. What looked relatively flat on paper turned into a hilly 80km spin with wind and occasional rain making conditions difficult. Despite efforts to break up the group and drop potential threats the race inevitably came down to a sprint. An early attack 500 meters from the finish line was a clever move by Michelle which got her a well deserved second on the day and inevitably the second place in the series. Sonja who had worked diligently as always was rewarded with sixth place. Well done and a great end to our first season racing in the league.

All focus for the girls now moves to the impending visit to Clare for the five day Ras na nBan. The Wheelers will be fielding a five girl team for the race which attracts many international teams much like the men's eight day version. We will profile the team next week.