Silver & Bronze in Belfast for Youths

Post date: Jul 26, 2015 8:52:16 PM

(By Philip Wade)

A relatively quiet weekend this week as we recover and recharge the batteries from the Track National Championships in Orangefield Belfast last Saturday and the Mullingar GP on Sunday. We only had two Lakeside Wheelers riders at the youth track Nationals this year but we are looking forward to more participating in the inter-provincial in August. Unfortunately the championships were cut short due to weather , we got to complete the TT’s and the qualifiers for the flying 200’s . Glad to report we took 2 National medals from Belfast with Aaron taking a silver in the 250TT and qualifying for a sprint final set for August. Naomi took a Bronze in the 500 TT just managing to squeeze Shaun McFadden from the youth Olympic team out of 3rd. The rest of the Nationals to resume back in Belfast mid-august, watch this space.

Putting the Belfast track behind us, it was back on the phone to work Logistics with Shay, Camillus, Ronan and many others to ensure we had a great fun day at the Mullingar GP on Sunday last (19th May). While it is always fun being part of the hosting of a race and welcoming others to race our homeland, it is mind boggling the logistics that need to be worked to make it a success. A Special thanks to Ronan and Naomi for managing the start of the U14’s and U12’s, Naomi taking a day off after track!, Camillus, Breda and Jean for a very smooth sign-on process and of course Mick and Damien Shaw for the prize giving. Of course, all these memories would have been sorely lost had we not our master photographer Donal Kelleher. Again, another great day out for Lakeside youth with a very impressive 2nd place in the U16’s by our own Seán Kennedy, and firfst road race day out for Adam Dunne with a great finish in the bunch . In the U14’s Aaron took 4th and in the U12’s Tommy Hogan took a solid 3rd place in his 1st race . All good things ahead for these guys.

We had a fun spin this Saturday morning (25th July) as we head into an easy week ahead of the International Youth tour and we welcome some new riders. Mother Nature was being nice to us this week and there wasn't a single rain jacket in sight. We took an easy spin out from the Barracks to Tyrrellspass as we had a couple of new riders and needed to make sure we had the basics covered. Delighted to See Conor Farrell (the 2nd) out this morning for the second time and new rider Jamie Fuller who definitely shined as a natural, clocking a modest 47kph down from Belvedere house and gardens with Eamonn Hogan struggling to hang in there J . We just covered some 2x2 up and overs, single train line efforts and a chase down of the great Ian Lambden and Naomi. It was a fun time with plenty of slagging and fun, summer at its best...

Of course we were missing some of our youth team. Rumor has it Sean Kennedy is working on his podium tan, the O'Brien ladies have linked up with an Elite US based Coach Damien Obrien for some Pre Nationals work. Conor Farrell the 1st charging the batteries for Donegal , Aaron bike-less for a couple of days, outgrown another frame L and Gabby must be doing secret training under the guise of Sir D Fox !. .. Of course Taylor is planning a great come-back and we will be there when he does ! .. roll on next week !