Orwell Women Star in League Opener
Women's National League Round 1, Bohermeen, Co. Meath - 21 March 2010
Orla Tansey and Aideen Collard produced impressive sprint finishes to kick off the Zoo Salon Women’s National League in fine style at Bohermeen yesterday.
Tansey was prominent throughout and still had enough in hand to contest the sprint finish on the drag up to the line at the end of four laps of the 15km circuit north of Navan.
Track specialist Collard also retained enough of her trademark final kick to hold off all but clubmate Tansey and race winner Jennie McCauley (Bray Wheelers) as the well supported first league event drew to a conclusion.
Collard's first race of the season produced her best ever open road race result.
Afterwards Tansey professed herself satisfied with second as she builds form after a truncated winter training programme.
Orwell Women, Bohermeen 21/3 - From left: Lyndsey Rankin, Noelle Doody, Aideen Collard, Sandra Telford, Caroline Martinez, Orla Tansey
“Jennie was very active and was away on her own in the most significant move of the race so she deserved the win,” she said. “I was happy with my form. I’ll get a bit more zip in my legs as the season progresses.”
A six-girl Orwell team signed on with Sandra Telford, Noelle Doody, Caroline Martinez and Lyndsey Rankin joining their more experienced team mates for their first league encounter. Martinez and Rankin were involved in minor tumbles, fortunately without injury, on a day when staying upright was a significant challenge throughout the race programme.
Caroline was squeezed by some dropped riders from another race and when a pedal caught in her front wheel she lost a few spokes but managed to bring it to a halt. Lyndsey was caught in a bunch pile-up on the third lap, got back up and chased.
Orla and Aideen were caught behind the crash and had a bit of a chase to get back on themselves. Both Caroline and Lyndsey were riding very well up to the point of their respective incidents, and were certainly looking strong for a bunch finish. Sandra also rode very well, did a lot of work before losing touch with a lap to go and, clearly unfazed by the step up in standard, is sure to feature prominently in the results of league events this season.
Zoo Salon Women’s National League,Round One, Bohermeen 21st March
1, Jennifer McCauley (Bray Wheelers);
2, Orla Tansey (Dundrum Town Centre Orwell Wheelers);
3, Aideen Collard (Dundrum Town Centre Orwell Wheelers);
4, Trudy Brown (Northern CC);
5, Sinead Jennings (Unattached);
6, Rachel Withers (West Tyrone Velo);
7, Grace McNally (Swords CC);
8, Louise Fullerton (Ballymena RC).
