Racing kicked off this season and Orwell Wheelers posted great results. Orwell Wheelers competed in the Traders Cup in Louth and in GP Phoenix in the North. The season kicked off really promising for the club with victory by Emily Brick in the Traders Cup. Thanks to Cuchulainn Cycling Club and Phoenix Cycling Club for putting on the races.

Trader's Cup

Emily Brick lays foundation for season with victory in the women's race. Emily got in the winning break and bravely went early, holding off all challengers for a superb opening win.

 
Emily takes victory in the sprint (photo with thanks to Sean Rowe)

In the A3 race, a big group of Orwell Wheelers took to the start including Sean and Conor Murnane, Brendan Lawless, Shane Toman, Eoin Byrne and Bryan Geary. Eoin Byrne attempted to break away early on in the race on several attempts as did Brendan and Bryan.

Afterwards Bryan said this: "We [Eoin, Bryan and Brendan] all made the race but in the cross winds nothing was sticking. A group of twelve with Eoin and I had daylight after 3/4 hour racing. That got brought back but six,of that same group continued and survived to the end. I tried to attack across to another group of about five or six which edged clear in the cross winds and got agonizingly close (20 metres) but failed to catch on. That six included the days first second and third. Sick!"
The breakaway that worked stayed away and took all the placings. Sean and Conor Murnane finished near the front of the bunch. Eoin also finished in the bunch. Bryan Geary broke a few spokes so rolled in after the bunch.

A3 Captain Bryan: "Brilliant riding by all the Orwells. All finishing in the main peloton. Eoin looked classy and was unlucky, the course wouldn't have suited. Sean Murnane in his first A3 was comfortable and Conor showed he's lost none of his speed with a bunch finish fourth. Brendan Lawless rode a fine race too."

 
Eoin during one of his breakaway attempts. Of the leg warmers, Darragh Connolly said "only you'd get away with those red leg warmers, Eoin." (photo with thanks to Sean Rowe)

Trader's Cup A4 race report by Ken O'Neill

In the A4 race five Orwell Wheelers took to the start Kilian Doyle, John Blennerhasset, Richard Cattle, Sean Higgins and Ken O’Neill. This was both John and Sean’s first open race. After reviewing Dave McLoughlin’s race preview we had a quick chat at the start and agreed the strategy:

1. Stay upright and finish safe
2. Stay in the top 10
3. At the various pinch points listed in Dave’s e mail drill it
4. Enjoy the day.

One hundred and ten A4’s rolled out from the start, you could feel the nervous energy all around which lasted throughout the whole race. First attack came at 13km coming out of the first roundabout where Ken took off lining out the bunch for the next 2km assisted by John and a rider from Trinity before turning into a very strong head wind. Ken made a couple of attempts to break with a few Trinity riders but in the cross winds nothing was sticking. It was Kilian’s turn to have a go bridging across to a two man break while Ken slowed the bunch but again the break was reeled back in. At this stage all the Orwell riders were looking comfortable holding there positions so we settled in and cruised along heading toward the final turn before the 12km run into the finish. We all managed to get around the final turn safe and that’s when the pace really ramped up. You could feel the tension building within the bunch as we pelted up the road at 50kph taking full advantage of the tail wind. Many riders started to make careless moves in order to get closer to the front of the bunch, lots of pushing and shoving, shouting, crossed lines etc. and then the inevitable happened with 5km to go, wheels touched and a number of riders hit the deck which spread across the whole road, Ken just about managed to stay upright after navigating through the debris, bunny hoping over bikes, clipping out, one foot down while watching the remainder of the peloton continue on up the road. Unfortunately John and Richard got caught behind this crash and never managed to get back on while Kilian and Sean got through safely and managed to stay in the lead group. Ken chased down the lead group and finally caught them with 3km to go and while he was settling back in and making his way through the bunch to take up his position for the final gallop 2 or 3 riders straight in front hit the deck and Ken had two choices crash into them or hit the ditch so the ditch it was for a soft landing, no damage to either rider or bike but that was race over for Ken. John, Ken and Richard took up traffic duty until the ambulance arrived to tend to the injured rider/s. Meanwhile Kilian and Sean both finished in the main bunch. All the Orwell riders rode a really solid race in extremely difficult conditions. Major kudos to Sean for finishing his first open race in the top 20.

 
The Orwell traffic corps rolling in after a long shift at the Traders Cup (photo with thanks to Sean Rowe)

GP Phoenix

Orwell's Stephen Barry lined up for the A3 race of Phoenix Cycling Club's Gp. This is what he had to say afterwards:

"It was a restricted field of 80 riders that signed on for a flat short 68km race west of Belfast on Sunday. The race didn’t begin well - a snapped gear cable after lap one left my cassette stuck in one gear for the remainder of the race. So be it - I could relax in the peloton for the day and relax I did. After a brief toilet break at +40kph on lap 3 (an anxious yet liberating first for me) I resumed my watchful gaze on the attacks mainly led by host club Phoenix CC. On the last lap a junior from North Down CC and a rider from Team Sportactive Racing managed to get a gap of 30 seconds. Phoenix CC led the chase but the breakaway stayed out front. Coming into the last 500 meters with a cross tailwind and no gearing selection problems I moved up towards the front. 300M to go and bang – open sesame – snaffling 5th place – delighted and relieved – in more ways than one."

As described, a two man break got away and contested the win. Behind a bunch sprint decided the final podium spot and the other placings with Stephen Barry taking third in the bunch sprint to take a fine fifth place in the A3 race.

 
The sprint for third place in the A3 race (photo with thanks to Toby Watson)

Trader's Cup – Sunday 21st February 2016 Women's results

1 Emily Brick
2 Ellen Murphy
3 Jenifer Bates

Phoenix CC GP A3 Results

1 Joash Lawrence
2 Christopher Birney
3 Dave Walker
5 Stephen Barry