Part 1 of this weekend Championship in Knockaderry was blessed with dry weather, cold winds, very few crashes, and all going home safely and this is always good news. The Newcastle West Wheelers club had only a short time to organise this top event in the calendar and organised it was!! With the extra precaution and rules laid on to make the event as safely possible, a mammoth task indeed. Race director Liam Collins and his army of volunteers put all the stops out to make sure that all competitors, officials, and team personnel understood the new way of working and at the same time enjoy the Blue flag event of Cycling Ireland.
As I was doing the MC Job I couldn’t take many photos of the race, and having the luxury of some photographer’s friends who let me borrow some photos I could do some reports of each race which is the first part of 4 reports. But one photo I wanted to take myself (above) of Father Jack and son Paul Watson. Due to Paul being a UCI comm he only can do a few jobs home and the Champs is one he does often, his dad Jack took a step back in his work as UCI Dope controller and does mostly racing now locally in the North where he lives and some bigger races like the Champs last weekend. They asked me to take this photo as it is not often they work in the same race lately and with Jacks’ age (81) there will be lesser opportunities as time pass. But then Jack could go on for many years, well I certainly hope so!! In 2006 they have been my tutors in the commissaire B exams that I took, and during the years as comm worked many times with this Bangor of North Down duo, had a few run-ins sometime but always stayed friends after. If I have something I am not sure of, Jack is only an e-mail away as his knowledge is immense when it comes to cycling, so is Paul’s and valuable for anyone working in the sport and need advice. Now that’s enough licking arse..lol.
Very highly recommended for a stay when in the Limerick area (Newcastle West) Very pleasant staff, superb food, brilliant service, and a safe environment for all who stay over in this 4-star Hotel with very reasonable prices. Visit https://www.longcourthousehotel.ie for more info
Toby Watson operating the camera as a passenger on Cycling Irelands President Ciaran Mc Kenna motorbike of all people (Photo Caroline Kerley)
The Junior Men results (43 starters)
GOLD Ronan O Connor Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club 2.37.42
SILVER Eoghan Cooke Ounavarra Cycling Club 2.38.42
BRONZE Rowan Montgomery Ballymoney CC st
4 Matthew Devins Team Fundacion Lintxu 2.38.23
5 Jordan Luke Newcastle West Cycling Club 2.38.31
6 Ciaran Dixon Team Type 1 Junior Team 2.38.41
7 Dean Harvey VC Glendale 2.38.42
8 Keith Mulroy Westport Covey Wheelers Cycling Club 2.38.43
9 Paul-Antoine Hagan Banbridge CC 2.38.46
10 Daniel Yon Hin O’Leary Stone Kanturk 2.38.52
11 Ryan O Hagan Lucan Cycling Road Club 2.45.55
12 Lorcan Daly Killarney Cycling Club 2.46.13
13 Odhran Doogan Team Caldwell Cycles 2.47.35
14 Liam Crowley O’Leary Stone Kanturk 2.48.23
15 Aaron O Donoghue Killarney Cycling Club 2.49.02
16 Patrick Galvin Killarney Cycling Club 2.49.43
17 Darren Rafferty Island Wheelers 2.50.36
18 Arnaud Dumoulin O’Leary Stone Kanturk 2.50.55
19 Bryan Oriordan Newcastle West Cycling Club st
20 Oisin O Sullivan Newcastle West Cycling Club 2.55.15
21 Ben Murphy Sliabh Luachra Cycling Club 2.58.27
22 Joseph Owens Team Caldwell Cycles 3.12.31
