Open Racing Roundup
Philippe Bourdarias’s strength is already the stuff of Orwell legend after a particularly impressive winter training programme so it will have been of little surprise to his training partners when he burst up the finishing drag to take a fine second place in the Coombes Connor A4 race in Donore on Sunday.
A bike length behind the flying Frenchman, Ken McCullagh also showed impressive sprinting ability as he continues his transition from full time rugby fan by powering his way to third place and four welcome upgrade points at the end of 56 hard fought kilometres.
In the 70km A3 race, Eddie Lynch’s chequered flag radar was nicely tuned again as he picked his way through to fourth in the bunch gallop which translated to eighth place behind the four-man breakaway.
First year junior Fionn Sheridan showed that he has adapted well to big bunch racing with the seniors by finishing comfortably in the main group and collect the fourth unplaced junior prize into the bargain.
In the Women’s National League race on the same programme, Mags Donnelly displayed her fast developing sprinting prowess as she raced home fourth, two places ahead of Anne Dalton at the end of another tough day out when Orla Hendron proved to be the squad’s attacking stalking horse.
Further afield, Dave Coughlan confirmed his impressive recent form with 14th position in the arduous Visit Nenagh Classic a day after finishing a fine fifth in Peter Bidwell Memorial in Donore.
Odhran Connors also showed the value of his recent trip to Ras Mumhan as he collected 18th prize in Nenagh at the end of the inaugural running of a challenging event that certainly lived up to its classic status.
Dan Whiting and Aidan Collins both crashed during the event but both are expected to be fit to race in next weekend’s Noel Hammond Memorial.
The Ras na nOg stage race was the focus for Orwell’s youth squad in Donore where Naoise Sheridan and Rachael Kaye Mellor also suffered spills, fortunately without serious harm.
Full results aren’t available yet for the event but all the Orwell contingent, including Darragh Long in the Under 16 and Timothy Kaye Mellor in Under 14, were well to the fore in their respective categories.
Coombes-Connor Memorial – Drogheda
Pictures by Peter Purfield
A3 Race
1, Aaron O’Donoghue (Unattached);
2, Stephen McWilliams (Phoenix CC);
3, Conor Hanna (North Down);
4, Peter O’Farrell (Unattached);
5, Eoin Deegan (EuroCycles);
6, Paul Dargle (Stamullen M Donnelly RC);
7, Ryan Bankhead (Ballymena CC);
8, Eddie Lynch, (DTC Orwell Wheelers);
Juniors (U18) - Unplaced
1, Aidan Wall (Navan RC);
2, Ciaran O’Connell (Stamullen M Donnelly RC);
3, Robert Deegan (Kilcullen CC);
4, Fionn Sheridan (DTC Orwell Wheelers);
A4 Race
1 Karl Taylor, (Ballymena CC);
2 Philippe Bourdarias (DTC Orwell Wheelers);
3 Ken McCullough (DTC Orwell Wheelers);
4 Patrick Delaney (Drogheda Whlrs);
5 Declan Looby (Usher IRC);
6 Eriberto Isidro (DID Dunboyne).
Women’s Race
1 Sara Ortiz (Black Rose, Galway);
2 Mandy Collie (Forme Racing);
3 Amy Brice (Phoenix);
4 Margaret Donnelly (DTC Orwell Wheelers);
5 Caroline Conway (Usher IRC);
6 Ann Dalton (DTC Orwell Wheelers).
Visit Nenagh Classic April 22nd 2012
A1/A2 (154Km)
1, Timmy Barry (Dan Morrissey/Speedy Spokes);
2, Sean Lacey (Dan Morrissey/Speedy Spokes);
3, Mark Dowling (DID Dunboyne);
4, Richard Hooton (Visit Nenagh-DMG);
5, Fiachra O’ Muire (DID Dunboyne);
6, Conor McAllister (ChainReactionCycles-Vitus);
7, David Peelo (Murphy Surveyors);
8, Martain Mizgajski (Iverk Produce-Carrick Wheelers);
9, Eddie Barry (Blarney CC);
10, Mike Storan (West Clare CC);
11, Jarlath Hassett (West Clare CC);
12, Ryan Sherlock (Cycleways);
13, Paid O’ Brien (Dan Morrissey/Speedy Spokes);
14, Dave Coughlan (DTC Orwell Wheelers Wheelers);
15, Dave Joyce (Galway Bay CC);
16, John Horgan (Dan Morrissey/Speedy Spokes);
17, Joe Fenlon (Dan Morrissey/Speedy Spokes);
18, Odhran Connors (DTC Orwell Wheelers Wheelers).
19 Denis Dunworth (Visit Nenagh-DMG)
20 Keith Fox (Shannonside CC)
