Victory for Michelle O'Halloran in Ras Naomh Finian 2016

Post date: Mar 06, 2016 6:28:47 PM

(By Shay O'Toole - Sun. 6th March 2016)

Last Saturday our near neighbours in Clonard Road Club staged their annual Ras Naomh Finian. This 71km gallop is always a great favourite for the Lakeside Wheelers racing team with many of our lads and ladies using it as their first race of the season. This year was no different with the club well represented in the Ladies, A3’s and A4 events.

With the weather being crisp and dry and a slight North Westerly wind, the conditions were near perfect. The racing commenced at 11am with well over 150 riders competing across all categories. The route took the riders from Mother Hubbard’s on the old N4 to a turning point near Kilbeggan and straight back again for a finish on the Kinnegad side of Clonard. The Ladies race followed the lads but their turning point was located in Rochfortbridge. As usual there was a large gathering of spectators on top of Gneevbawn Hill to cheer on the racers with many of these being Lakeside Wheelers supporters.

In the shake-up, there was a great result for our ladies team with Michelle O’Halloran going for a solo breakaway as the race neared Clonard which saw her cross the line for a big win. This augurs very well for Michelle’s season and hopefully it will be the first of many wins for her and the team over the coming months.

Although there was no outright winner amongst the lads there was some very solid performances considering the season has just started. Best amongst these was Mossie Keane who finished 8th in the A4 race with all our other Wheelers acquitting themselves very well. In the A1/A2 race former Wheeler, Johnny Murray put in a great performance to clinch 3rd so well done to all who took part and here’s hoping there will be lots more victories to report on throughout the 2016 season.

Congrats also to Clonard Road Club on yet another great day’s racing.