All photos courtesy of John Hammer, results Cycling Ireland with thanks to both
28 started…23 finished with Lara, Eve, and Ellen taking the podium in a fierce bunch sprint to the line after 80 km of attacking and tactical racing…no one got away to far, but I should mention Sharon Bird (Ballymena) who made the bunch working and chasing, as she was for a while “up the road” joined by a few riders such as Maeve Gallagher (Junior Champ 2019) but the bunch had them dangling before them, before hauling them back in the last lap
GOLD: Lara Gillespie UCD Cycling Club 2.14.28
SILVER: Eve Mc Crystal STRATA3/VeloRevolution Racing Team @ st (Master 1st + TEAM prize)
BRONZE: Ellen Mc Dermott Team Boompods 2.14.30
4 Mia Griffin ILLI-Bikes Cycling Team 2.14.31
5 Nikki Taggart Arcane Cycling Team 2.14.32
6 Grace Young STRATA3/VeloRevolution Racing Team @ st (Master 2nd + TEAM prize)
7 Alice Sharpe Ciclotel @ st
8 Megan Armitage Wolftrap Cycling Club 2.14.34
9 Becky Woods STRATA3/VeloRevolution Racing Team @ st (TEAM Prize)
10 Fiona Mangan Greenmount CA @ st
11 Emma Smith Deeside Thistle @ st
12 Hilary Hughes Westport Covey Wheelers Cycling Club @ st
13 Maeve Gallagher Castlebar Cycling Club @ st
14 Sharon Bird Ballymena Road Club @ st (Master 3rd)
15 Eileen Burns Ballymena Road Club 2.14.37
16 Laura Campbell Ballymena Road Club @ st
17 Kelly Murphy Storey Racing @ st
18 Jemma Speers North Down CC 2.14.41
19 Jennifer Neenan VIB-Natural Greatness 2.15.56
20 Shannon Kelly Un-Attached Leinster 2.17.01
21 Yvonne Doran Quanta-Scott Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club 2.17.07
22 Jennifer Bates Weston Homes-Torelli-Assure 2.17.52
23 Clodagh Ní Ghallchóir Team Dan Morrissey – McCarthy Insurance Group – Pactimo 2.18.04
One of the most successful women in our sport…The lioness of Dundalk Eve Mc Crystal, Para-Cycling World Champ & Para-Olympian Champ as a pilot on road and track, ex Irish Champ, 2020 TT Champ, and now Women’s +40 champ and silver in the road race 2020…
A great weekend in the Valley of the Bears (Newcastle West-Knockaderry) perfectly organised by local team Newcastle West Wheelers with Liam Collins as race director, aided by his army of volunteers, the staff of Cycling Ireland, the commissaire’s with UCI Comm Paul Watson in charge of all proceedings, Red Cross Ireland, the local Garda, the motorbike marshalls and the residents of the Knockaderry village not forgetting Mary and Mike from the Scanlon Pub who made sure on the podium got watered and fed. Of course, we have to mention the riders..they made the event in many ways with worthy winners to end the weekend. Also thanks to the sponsors of the event which included https://www.g4s.com/, Shannon Transport (http://www.stllogistics.ie), http://www.blulift.ie, https://www.kineticasports.com, https://darachmccarthy.ie/ (solicitors) and the https://www.longcourthousehotel.ie for the discount prices for the event, without them such a big Blue ribbon event wouldn’t happen. It was a pleasure to help out as commentator, hope you could make me out, as a Flemish accent has his charms but can be confusing as well… lol… Be safe and well done all
