Track specialist Aideen Collard, who plans to return to the European Masters in Manchester later in the season, has placed greater emphasis on her road racing this year and the extra endurance paid off in spades as she led in the bunch for third place at the end of a busy 80kms of National League racing.
Orla Hendron was very active throughout and spent a lap out front in the winning move before the hard 85km race in Wicklow the day before started to take its toll and she dropped back to the bunch. Undaunted, and perhaps mindful of the quality of Aideen's gallop, she tried to break clear in the last 10km but to no avail and the scene was set for Collard's final flourish.
Sandra Telford's initiation into national level road racing continues apace and she finished impressively in the main group wearing the colours of the Leinster Development squad.
Meanwhile Wendy Barry's stellar performances in the Wicklow League encouraged her to make her national league debut, a toe in the water assault that is surely the precursor to more regular appearances.
Elsewhere on the Navan Road Club promotion, Naoise Sheridan scored a fine third place finish in the Under 12 race.
On Saturday Diarmuid Collins rode strongly throughout to scoop the prize for second unplaced A4 rider over a very demanding 85km in the Christy McManus Memorial in Roundwood.
Women's National League
Round 4, Navan 13th June:
1, Sarah Piner(Lakeside Wheelers);
2, Wendy Bates(Lakeside Wheelers);
3, Aideen Collard(Dundrum Town Centre Orwell Wheelers);
4, Jennifer O’Reilly (Ravens);
5, Valerie Considine(Usher IRC);
6, Louise Moriarty (UCD).
Navan RC Under 12
3, Naoise Sheridan (Dundrum Town Centre Orwell Wheelers).
Christy McManus Memorial
2nd Unplaced A4, Diarmuid Collins (Dundrum Town Centre Orwell Wheelers).
