By Declan Quigley
Michael Barry's third place overall in Ras Dhun na Ngall was the standout performance on another strong weekend for Orwell riders. The army officer showed his climbing prowess on the daunting fourth and final stage of the gruelling A2/A3/A4 category event which included the climb of the fabled Glengesh Pass, making the five-man selection which fought out the finish in Killybeggs.
Barry showed his stage race potential as he improved each day and an FBD Ras debut seems a likelihood next season. Starting with 21st on Friday evening’s stage, Barry recorded 15th fastest time in the Stage 2 time trial and moved into overall contention with ninth on the Saturday afternoon stage, setting him up nicely for Sunday’s decider.
Barry is now within touching distance of achieving his 2010 goal of a first category licence and will be looking forward to a busy race diary in the coming weeks.
Barry’s was not the only notable Orwell performance in Donegal where the squad was ranked a final sixth overall out of 25 starting teams.
Second club rider in the final classification was John Dillon, a strong time-triallist and all rounder who showed his doughty resilience on the hills to finish a fine 23rd overall, the fourth veteran home.
The Hurley brothers Shane and Graham have had a restricted race programme this season but showed their enduring strength with 57th and 83rd places overall. Shane had excelled on Friday with ninth place on the first stage.
Rookie Aidan Collins found his climbing legs to finish 51st on the final stage, moving up to 70th overall as he continues to make strong progress in his first full season.
Irrepressible Noel Murphy fought a chest infection to make the finish in 87th position out of 142 starters, a strong result which hints at greater potential after a season already badly affected by a back injury.
Rás Dhun na nGall
Final Overall
1, Gareth Enright,Gareth 2 Kilcullen CC 6h05'32";
2, Conor O'Shea, (Killorglin CUCC) 6h05'52" @20";
3, Michael Barry(Dundrum Town Centre Orwell Wheelers) 6h06'00" @28";
4, Owen Jeffries(Foyle Cycling Club) 6h06'06" @34";
5, Dave Walsh (Wexford Wheelers) 6h06'28" @56";
6, John Madden (Curran Racing) 6h06'33" @01'01";
7, Gavin Keane, (Donamon Dynamoes) 6h06'53" @01'21";
8, Michael McCarthy, (Engraveit.ie/Jad) 6h06'55" @01'23";
9, Conubhair O'Crualaoich (Wexford Wheelers) 6h06'58" @01'26";
10, John Heverin(Clann Eireann CC) 6h06'59" @01'27".
23, John Dillon (Dundrum Town Centre Orwell Wheelers);
70, Aidan Collins (Dundrum Town Centre Orwell Wheelers);
83, Graham Hurley (Dundrum Town Centre Orwell Wheelers);
87, Noel Murphy (Dundrum Town Centre Orwell Wheelers).
Team General Classification
1 Cycling U 18h25'14"
2 Newry Whe @ 14"
3 Wexford W @ 19"
4 West Coas @ 01'14"
5 Four Mast @ 01'58"
6 Orwell Wh @ 02'04"
7 Mullingar @ 02'21"
8 Curran Ra @ 03'14"
9 North Pol @ 07'04"
10 Phoenix 1 @ 07'18"
Kinch and Collard on Target in Batterstown
Ciara Kinch and Aideen Collard flew the Orwell flag in impressive style in the IVCA 2-Day stage race in Batterstown last weekend, netting third and fourth places overall at the end of the three stages.
Kinch pipped Collard by a single second in the three mile time trial that opened the event on Sunday morning and that proved to be the difference between them as they each featured in the remaining two stages.
No doubt buoyed by her recent breakthrough sixth place finish in the Women’s Classic league race in Emyvale, Kinch finished fifth in torrential rain on Sunday afternoon’s 70km second stage.
Collard showed her track form to good effect in Monday’s third stage, finishing fourth to copper fasten her strong overall position.
Latham Shows his Climbing Prowess
Further afield, Orwell rookie John Latham tried out stage racing for the first time and netted a strong fifth position in the fourth and final stage of the Cycling Pursuits 3-Day A4 category event in Limerick.
While claiming to favour time trialling, Latham’s best result actually came in the daunting final stage which included two ascents of the awesome 8km Mass Rock climb near Broadford.
Latham’s fifth place finish makes it two top six placings so far in his debut season.
Cycling Pursuits 3-Day
A4 - Stage Four
1 C. Turner (unattached);
2 P. O'Brien (Galtee Wheelers CC);
3 M. Ylverton (Cycling Pursuits);
4 R. Farrell (Lucan CRC);
5 J. Latham (Dundrum Town Centre Orwell Wheelers CC);
6 O. Wims (Galtee Wheelers CC).
