Sheridan, Barry & Hickey take the Spoils in Round 5, Hickey Remains in Yellow

Round 5 of the Orwell Ladies League A Race

Tonight is your last chance to watch or race the last round of the ever popular Orwell Ladies Criterium League 2010 (sponsored by Wheelworx) which takes place this evening 18th May. Sign-on at the Cosy Kitchen Café, Carmanhall Road, Sandyford Industrial Estate at 6.30pm for 7pm start. The races are open to female riders of all ability levels including beginners, youths and juniors. For full details and map, see http://womenscycling.ie/blog/2010/04/20/orwell-womens-crit-league-round-two/. Afterwards, everyone is invited to a social evening including a free barbecue, league prize-giving, fundraising raffle (to raise money for underage cycling/racing) and plenty of craic at the Blue Light Pub, Barnacullia, Sandyford (3km with a climb from the circuit) from 8.30pm. Lifts up to the pub are available but bikes are also welcome. If cycling home, remember to bring lights and a warm jacket. Please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone on 087 4179967 for further information.

Despite the rain last Tuesday night, some 30 women and girls signed-on for the fifth Round of the Orwell Ladies League 2010, kindly sponsored by Joe Daly’s Cycles and the skies cleared for some great racing action.

In the girls race, Naoise Sheridan took her first win, followed by Aoife Sheridan in second place and Siobhan Keogh in third, (all Orwell).

In the B Race, Scratch B1 riders, Wendy Barry, Rachel Kaye Mellor and Anne Dalton (all Orwell) worked well as a team to reel in all of the B2 and B3 riders and share the top three placings with Barry taking her first big win. Sinead Cailleau (South Dublin CC), Ashling Fitzpatrick (Slipstream) and Deirdre Feeney (U/A) also put in solid performances to take the remaining placings.

In the A Race, the Limit A2 Group worked very well together to stay away for most of the race. They were only caught in the penultimate lap by an attacking Joanna Hickey (Usher IRC) and Orla Hendron (Orwell) from the Scratch A1 Group, who took first and second places respectively, mirroring their current positions in the league. Putting in yet another great performance, Sandra Fitzgerald of Lucan managed to bridge the gap over to them for a well-deserved third place. A2 riders Laura Banfield (Swords), Sandra Telford and Charlotte MacDonald (both Orwell) were rewarded for their hard work with the final placings.

Winning Solutions kindly sponsored the primes which were won by Ashling Fitzpatrick (Slipstream) and Rachel Kaye Mellor (Orwell) in the B Race and Sandra Telford (Orwell) and Laura Banfield (Swords) in the A Race.

Going into the exciting finale, Rachel Kaye Mellor leads the B Division by seven points ahead of Wendy Barry and Anne Dalton and Joanna Hickey also leads the A Division by seven points, keeping her in the yellow jersey with an insurmountable lead over Orla Hendron and Roisin Kennedy of Lucan.

Girls Race Results

1. Naoise Sheridan (Orwell)
2. Aoife Sheridan (Orwell)
3. Siobhan Keogh (Orwell)
4. Rachel Kaye Mellor (Orwell)
5. Aine Keogh (Orwell)

B Race

Winning Solutions Prime 1: Ashling Fitzpatrick (Slipstream)
Winning Solutions Prime 2: Rachel Kaye Mellor (Orwell)

Placings

1. Wendy Barry (Orwell)
2. Rachel Kaye Mellor (Orwell)
3. Anne Dalton (Orwell)
4. Sinead Cailleau (South Dublin CC)
5. Ashling Fitzpatrick (Slipstream)
6. Deirdre Feeney (Unattached)

A Race

Winning Solutions Prime 1: Sandra Telford (Orwell)
Winning Solutions Prime 2: Laura Banfield (Swords)

Placings

1. Joanna Hickey (Usher IRC)
2. Orla Hendron (Orwell)
3. Sandra Fitzgerald (Lucan)
4. Laura Banfield (Swords)
5. Sandra Telford (Orwell)
6. Charlotte MacDonald (Orwell)

Many thanks to Joe Daly’s Cycles and also to marshals and helpers who all made this event possible.

In conjunction with the League, Wheelworx Bike Shop has kindly offered a free workshop on Monday 24th May at 7pm on Cycling Skills for Beginners with top Coach Aidan Hammond in the Wheelworx Main Store- bring your bike, helmet & gear as there will be cycling as well as the class. This workshop is free but as places are limited, please e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to confirm your place and for address, directions and map, please see http://www.wheelworxbikes.com/contactus.php.