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Post date: Aug 14, 2017 9:41:24 AM
(By Camillus Farrell - Sun. 13th August 2017)
On the August holiday weekend seven youths with parents in tow traveled to Churchill, Letterkenny to participate in the Errigal International Youth Tour. Although the tour is the toughest race on the youth circuit it is eagerly awaited by the participants each year. The tour consisted of four races over three days. The courses consisted of tough terrain with numerous steep hill climbs. On day one we had a road race, followed by a time trial and road race on day 2 with a Criterium on day 3.
All our riders completed the four races in their category despite some riders having crashes. Aaron Wade and Conor T. Farrell represented Leinster in the U16 boy’s category.
Day 1 Caoimhe and Aoife O’Brien took second and third place respectively in their road race. Tommy Hogan and Mark Langtry finished just off the main bunch. In the Under 16 boys Aaron and Conor T. just finished off the main bunch with Conor N. Farrell following close behind. Both Conors’ were involved in crashes on Stage 1.
Day 2 we had a TT in the morning under wet and windy conditions and again all riders acquitted themselves well with Caoimhe & Aoife taking second and third place respectively.
In the afternoon we had a road race over a very tough course with over 2.5K of climbing and a category 1 hill climb at over 13% gradient. The U12 climbed the hill once, U14 three times and the Under 16 five times. Again all riders finished the course with Caoimhe and Aoife taking second and third place respectively.
Day 3 we had the Crit in the town of Letterkenny. The morning was more pleasant weather-wise than the previous two days which resulted in fast racing. Aaron had an excellent Criterium and finished 8th and he was the 2nd placed Irish rider. Caoimhe and Aoife reversed their placings of the two previous two days with Aoife finishing 2nd and Caoimhe 3rd with Caoimhe taking 2nd place on GC for the weekend.
There was a very strong British contingent at the tour and they dominated the Under16 boys filling eight of the top 10 on GC with the Isle of Man having three riders in the top 10.
Everyone enjoyed what was a superbly organised event and the eligible Lakeside Wheelers riders are already looking forward to next year. A tired youth contingent together with their exhausted parents headed home Monday afternoon.
Day 4 - Parents rest day!
Action from the 2017 International Errigal Youth Tour
Midlands League
Aoife, Caoimhe, Tommy and Conor T competed in the Midlands League in Mount Temple on Thursday evening. Caoimhe was placed 6th and Tommy placed 9th with Aoife close behind in the C/D group with Conor T finishing with the leading bunch just outside the top 10 in the A group.
Track Inter-Provincials
Aaron Wade led Leinster to second place in the track interprovincials held in Belfast on Saturday.
Leinster Road Race Championship
We had eight riders compete in the Leinster Championship in Kilmessan on Sunday. In the Under 14 Aoife took first place in the girl’s race. Tommy took an excellent 4th place with Mark following close behind.
In the Under 16 Caoimhe took first place in the girl’s race with Aaron and Conor T just outside the top six in the boys race. Leo Gunning and Conor N Farrell were close behind the first finishing bunch.
In the ladies junior race Naomi Wade took first place.
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