Lakeside Wheelers to the fore in busy week of local racing…

Post date: Aug 02, 2020 7:9:9 PM

Lakeside Wheelers to the fore in busy week of local racing…

There has been huge participation over the last few weeks from Lakeside Wheelers riders in the Midlands Interclub League (MIL). The MIL has been contested for many years now and by eight clubs based in the midlands area. It holds an attraction both for riders who compete in open races and for those who may not ride open races but who want to test themselves against riders of an equal caliber in the other competing clubs.

To this end the riders compete in either an A, B or a C group race. The races themselves are usually held over a few laps of quiet country roads with the total distance never more than 40 KM in distance. In a normal year there will be approximately 13 race evenings held but this year there will be approximately half that.

The most recent race was held in the beautiful south Westmeath village of Mount Temple on a perfect evening for both riders and spectators. Mark Monaghan won his group race in the previous outing in Kilbeggan and he repeated that feat again on a really tough uphill finish to the line holding off a challenge from some seasoned riders to win by half a bike length.

In the A/B race, a break got up the road early on and the winner came from this bunch with the young Wheeler Mikey Flaherty taking a very credible second place overall. John Boyne again showed his class in easily taking the bunch sprint that followed. As things stand in the MIL points tables it's Mark and John who lead their respective group points tally.

In Co. Kildare at Mondello Park it's cyclists who take to the track on Tuesday evenings to compete in a really tough series of open races where competitive racers from all over Leinster descend to mix it up and see who has the best form on the night.

The same week as the MIL in Mount Temple took place we had three Lakeside Wheelers in action in Mondello with Paul Murtagh, David Lally and Michael Walshe all competing at the Donore track and all made it home safely in the pack.

A few days later it was the turn of Drogheda Wheelers to host a weekend of racing for youths, juniors and senior racers. The ever competitive Aoife O'Brien just missed out on top place in her U16 race early in the weekend. Her older sister Caoimhe who is now in her first year racing for an England based team, came home in first place in the senior race - outstanding stuff. Well done to both of you.

Over in the boys race we had two young and talented young men in the shape of Mikey Flaherty and Dylan Franzoni both of whom acquitted themselves very well. While Mikey is already an experienced road racer, Dylan has only recently made the transition from cyclocross and mountain biking to the road scene. Well done lads. A special mention to the parents of these young riders who give massive support and encouragement all throughout the year to enable them to train and race to really high standards.

Finally, in the men's A4 race and to round off an epic week of racing by competing in their third race in six days, we had the dynamic duo of Paul Murtagh and David Lally lining out. David finished in 11th place with Paul a few spots further back. Both of these riders are going from strength to strength and I've no doubt they will soon both be bagging podium finishes in open races for years to come.

It's great to see the new club kit being given an airing in the open race scene and hopefully we will be able to report on more racing in the coming weeks.