Aideen Keenan and Helen Horan were on the rampage in Corkagh Park again this week, each taking the prime in their respective races, and Horan going on to another super silver, and Keenan another fine win.
It was a fine summer's evening for racing, hosted this week by Bray Wheelers. Helen Horan got the Orwell haul off to a great start by taking the halfway prime in the B race. She pushed on from that prize in a two woman breakaway with Jane Martin of Bray Wheelers, who managed to pip Horan on the line. This is Horan's début year of racing, and she's making her mark in Corkagh - two 3rds places, and this is now her second 2nd prize. For a woman who's sitting 5th in the Leisure rankings, she's proving herself quite adept at straddling disciplines - the win is coming!
Horan presenting a prize to Niamh Stephens after last week's race
Aideen Keenan may have felt the omens were good: last time Horan scored second, Keenan took the win, and so it was again this week. She bided her time until the prime - UCD's Niamh Stephens was solo at the head of the race, with Orla Hendron potato hunting behind her. Keenan pounced to take the mid-race prize, then wisely eased up to allow former Orwellian Anne Dalton (DID Electrical) to bridge across.
The pair of strong women traded turns out front, keeping the bunch at bay but only with a ten second gap at times. While in her previous win, Keenan dropped Dalton outright, this time the DID woman was prepared, and held the wheel into the final bend. Dalton was gaining on the finishing drag with every pedal stroke, but Keenan emptied herself to take the win by half a wheel.
Dalton and Keenan will be duelling again at the Ballinrobe 2 Day, but with another round of Corkagh Park before then, we might see another fierce fight next week!
Keenan being awarded with one of her prizes after the race
Corkagh Park Ladies' Racing - R9 (29/7/2014)
A Race
1 Aideen Keenan (Orwell Wheelers)
2 Anne Dalton (DID Ladies Racing Team)
3 Karen Robinson (Garda CC)
Prime: Aideen Keenan (Orwell Wheelers)
B Race
1 Jane Martin (Bray Wheelers)
2 Helen Horan (Orwell Wheelers)
3 Deirdre Walsh (Naas CC)
Prime: Helen Horan (Orwell Wheelers)
