Open Racing

Orwell are very active on the national scene - see all the results and reports from open races here.

With racing in Roundwood and Newbridge at the weekend, Orwell were as active as ever, with podium finishes for Jules De Meester and Stephen Rowan, placings for Ken O'Neill, Richard Cattle and Scott Gilchrist, as well as prizes for Bryan Geary and Sandra Telford. We've a race report from Bryan Geary below from a race where breaks came and went throughout, for your reading pleasure!

Neal Hudson had one of the hardest rides of the 2015 An Post Rás - an early crash on the opening stage nearly costing him his place. He then had to carry the injuries from that through the entire week, but true grit and determination saw him through. He takes us through his torment below...

In late May, an Orwell Wheelers team of Tom Blennerhassett, Neal Hudson, Brian McArdle, Dick O'Brien and guest rider Michael Butler took to the start line of the 2015 An Post Rás. Ably assisted by soigneurs Mary Brady and Aishling Brady, mechanic Fionn Sheridan and managed by DS Pat O'Brien, they began an eight day trial that would test their physical and mental limits!

Orwell's poet laureate Paul Perry took an excellent win in Navan on Sunday, with Shane Toman, Daragh Boyd and Kilian Doyle also featuring. On Saturday, Dick O'Brien earned a fine 10th overall and 2nd unplaced A2 at the Naas CC promoted TT, while up north the Orwell representatives endured a run of bad luck in Rás Dhún na nGall. Details inside!

The Orwell A4s are taking the road race scene by storm at the moment. On Saturday Freddie Stevens took the win in Carlow, with Mark Holland in 2nd. Last weekend Stephen Barry was victorious in Wexford, while before that Emyvale saw Daragh Boyd take 2nd, Shane Toman 5th, and Ken O’Neill 7th. On top of that, Ann Horan finally got her elusive win!