Strong winds were a deciding factor in both races at Corkagh Park last night, and emerging victorious into the headwind were Valdis Andersons and Brian McArdle. For both riders, it was their second result of the season - Andersons's being the R7 crit, and McArdle's his recent stage win in Donegal.

Dick O'Brien's sadistic streak shone through as he directed L/SL to do forty minutes and clockwise laps, counter to the usual direction. As well as forcing riders to focus more on their cornering, it also meant the finish line had a longer lead-in for the sprint. However, that long straight was into a block headwind, which wore down riders each lap.

A Limit group of about seven were off first, dwarfed by a chasing Semi-limit of over twenty-five riders. Three men from Limit put the heads down and drove up the pace - Julian Moore, Keith Harte, and Michael Hanley - and were soon alone leading the race.

Behind them, a few riders had jumped off the front of Semi-limit, among them Valdis Andersons and Fionn Sheridan. These plucky riders struggled to close down Limit, and many yo-yo-ed back to the chasing bunch, which had now fragmented into a few smaller groups.

On the exposed circuit, it was Andersons who first made the catch of Harte and Moore, with Hanley dropping back to the bunch. A couple of chasers - Ronan Grimes and Brian McNally - also bridged to that lead group and pushed the pace for the closing laps. Moore's efforts throughout the race cost him, and he was swallowed up by a chasing group, though his race wasn't over yet.

By now the race had been blown to bits, with four lead men racing for the top prize, a chasing group of about five that would take the last two placings, and several sets of twos and threes, including those aiming to take the first woman title. That eventually went to Ciara Kinch, who hung on in an admirable fashion to cross the line visibly exhausted.

The four-way sprint was won by a bike length by Andersons, who went from a distance into the headwind, but held his gap. Grimes pipped McNally on the line, and Harte brought up the rear. Moore was rewarded for his earlier work in the break with a fine fifth place, and likewise for Sheridan, who had been aggressive early on, and took a well-deserved sixth.

While Sheridan has been focussing on his exams this year, the second to fifth placers are names that will be familiar to anyone following the league results. McNally has won at Corkagh Park before with a strong sprint, as well as heading up SL in the opening TT, while Moore has two second places to his name.

This is Anderson's second win since he joined the league as a latecomer. The Corkagh Park crits seem to suit his aggressive style and finishing kick. Last night was a well-earned win for the Latvian, as he was very prominent in the chase after Limit and didn't shirk from doing his share of the work. It won't be long before we see his name on some open result sheets, and likewise for the Semi-scratch sign-on sheet!


Valdis taking the win from Grimes (in blue/red) and McNally


First woman Kinch, with Jules Cantwell (in green/red) and Ryan McCarthy

The Scratch/Semi-scratch race was a much smaller affair, with about ten riders all starting together. Pat O'Brien and Eric Downey made a move a few laps in, and quickly built up a lead of ten seconds. They held this for most of the race, a disorganised chase causing a few riders to make fitful attacks - among them Aidan Collins, Liam Rowsome and Brian McArdle.

Gradually the catch neared as the race neared its finish, as the unsheltered breakway pair were softened up by the wind, and chasers making strenuous efforts to drive down the gap. With three laps to go, O'Brien and Downey were reeled in, and McArdle and Gavin Dodd launched themselves off the front. A tired bunch was unable to respond, and the two contested the sprint for the win.

The last time the two Scratch groups started together, it was Dodd who took the win with a strong finish. McArdle played the sprint well, sheltering on his wheel from the headwind and coming around him at the last moment. After his Donegal triumph, this marks McArdle's first win of the 2013 league, and will probably be Dodd's merited upgrade to Scratch.

Behind them, O'Brien took the sprint for third, despite having worked hard in the break for nearly the whole race, and likewise for Downey, who took fifth. Dunsany GP winner David Halpin was hot on O'Brien's heels for fourth, while Liam Rowsome topped off a strong ride to get the sixth prize.


McArdle on the attack earlier in the race (photo courtesy of Brendan Culleton)

The league leader remains Jules Cantwell. He unfortunately started half a lap down tonight, but still put in a savage ride, mopping up several groups of riders. At the very least he'll have had a good workout. Gavin Dodd moves up to second place, only one point behind Cantwell. And Liam Rowsome moves up one spot to third.

Next week we'll have the first championship of the year, the 10m TT. Details will be posted in the forum early next week, but the top three finishers on time (regardless of group) will earn themselves a shiny club medal.

Note also that the Club Road Race Championship is on the 18th July, replacing R15. With the route yet to be finalised, it will take place in the Brittas/Blessington region.

All photos courtesy of Brendan Culleton, with more available at his Facebook page.

Orwell League R10: Corkagh Park Criterium

Race #1 (L/SL)
1 Valdis Andersons (SL)
2 Ronan Grimes (SL)
3 Brian McNally (SL)
4 Keith Harte (L)
5 Julian Moore (L)
6 Fionn Sheridan (SL)

Unplaced woman:
Ciara Kinch

Race #2 (S/SS)
1 Brian McArdle (S)
2 Gavin Dodd (SS)
3 Pat O'Brien (S)
4 David Halpin (SS)
5 Eric Downey (S)
6 Liam Rowsome (S)