The woman’s race
The women’s race got nearly 50 entries and some strong teams from all corners of Ireland present. The Ballymena team as favourites at the start, but they have to deal first with some fast girls such as the UCD team of Dublin, the national team, and 2 provincial teams, not forgetting Tom Cloghers girls from TC Racing and many others which I don’t know the strength of. A short evening stage with a few climbs thrown in to make it hard enoúgh to make some separation in the field. And it did..here a report send by PRO man Shaun Mc Bride of Omagh wheelers and the Women’s Commission
PRO Shaun Mc Bride reports: The ladies’ race was to prove a much more exciting affair. The W3 group set off with a two-minute start on the W1/W2 group. As the groups approached Drumquin the chase group had only taken twenty seconds from the W3 group. This was all to change on the climb before Castlederg with the chase group closing the gap down to a matter of seconds as they approached the first of the Queen of the Hill. The action on these climbs, and in particular Scraghey, proving crucial. At the bottom of Scraghey four riders Katherine Smyth (Ballymena), Maura Claffey (UCD), Lucy o Donnell (Kanturk) and Louise Hart (TC Racing) were to surge clear. They were quickly joined by Eileen Burns (Ballymena), Yvonne Doran (Leinster) Hillary Hughes (Westport) and Nikki Taggart (Irish Women’s Commission). These riders very quickly established a 1min 30 Second lead. Cycling Ulster the only team with no one rider in the break were leading the chase but to no avail.
This strong group were to push on and by the finish establish a lead of 3mins 20 Seconds. Maura Claffey of UCD was to win the sprint just pipping the impressive TC rider Hart on the line. Junior Lucy o Donnell was to finish a fine third. Nikki Taggart was to lose time on the lead group in the closing stage but in finishing just over two minutes of the chase group will wear the new W3 jersey on tomorrow morning stage.
2. Hart, Louise TC Racing 1h50m10s
3. O’Donnell, Lucy O’Leary Stone Kanturk 1h50m10s
4. Hughes, Hilary Westport Covey Wheelers 1h50m10s
5. Smyth, Katharine Ballymena Road Club 1h50m10s
6. Burns, Eileen Ballymena Road Club 1h50m10s
7. Doran, Yvonne Cycling Leinster 1h50m10s
8. Taggart, Nikki Women’s Cycling Ireland 1h51m25s @1
m15s
9. Brennan, Eva Women’s Cycling Ireland 1h53m30s @3
m20s
10. Bird, Sharon Ballymena Road Club 1h53m30s @ s/t
11. Campbell, Laura Ballymena Road Club 1h53m30s @ s/t
12. Rochford, Nessa Women’s Cycling Ireland 1h53m30s @ s/t
13. Wylie, Laura Cycling Ulster 1h53m30s @ s/t
14. Daly, Mary Westport Covey Wheelers 1h53m30s @ s/t
15. 28 Kelly, Ciara Cycling Ulster 1h53m30s @ s/t
The Men’s Race (A4)
The A4 race was first away and was to prove a cagey affair with all early moves covered. The first real action was on the first KOH in Killen with James Mc Kenny from Emyvale heading Jay Mc Cauley from Strabane Lifford. James was to complete a clean sweep of the KOH with Jay also gathering valuable points on each climb.
The race was to remain together until the end with Duncan Halliday from Errigal CC winning the sprint with Davoren Fallon (DCU) and Shane Mc Govern (Smugglers) rounding out the stage 1 podium
1. Halliday, Duncan Errigal Cycling Club 1h44m40s
2. Fallon, Davoren DCU Cycling Club 1h44m40s
3. McGovern, Shane Smugglers Cycle Club 1h44m40s
4. Little, Paul Breffni Wheelers 1h44m40s
5. McMahon, Jamie DB Cycling Club 1h44m40s
6. Baxter, Eamonn Smugglers Cycle Club 1h44m40s
7. Henderson, Ryan Clann Eireann 1h44m40s
8. Holian, Shauni Errigal Cycling Club 1h44m40s
9. Gormley, Nicky Carn Wheelers 1h44m40s
10. McAllister, Ian Newry Wheelers CC 1h44m40s
Due to myself forgetting my loader for my laptop I have to stop this report now…angry with myself and hopefully find a loader to do my reports this evening, if not we gonna have to wait till Sunday evening…sort of angry to myself..for full results just go to the Omagh Wheelers social media pages, but one thing for sure…Omagh Wheelers knows their onions when it comes to staging racing hence the big fields each year …hopefully till later, your’s Dany
More photo’s here https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10156587460358691
