Photo courtesy of John Hammer.

The Crit Chronicles continue into Round 4. This was the final round at Corkagh Park before heading to the road.

 

While the bitterly cold conditions on Tuesday evening saw a smaller turnout it certainly provided additional motivation for what were faster races.  

B Race

The B- Group hoping to avoid capture. Photo Courtesy of John Hammer.

The B-Race kicked off the evening with the Scott Orwell juniors Coaimhe May and Annie Roche wasting no time setting race pace and leading their respective handicaps around the track.   The race came together nicely as the B riders caught the B- (B Minus) bunch and held together for a brief stint. Caoimhe May dialled up the speed inflicting further pain on her more senior competitors. The race concluded with a two woman sprint between Caoimhe and Tullamore’s Cycling Club Sinead Molloy, who appeared decided she was not settling for second place for the third week running. Trashing it out to the finish line, Sinead Molly secured her first victory in the league. Agneiszka Samsel from Clontarf CC, taking third place lead the second bunch home, followed by club mate Susan Fagan, Megan Davenport in fifth and Susan Howard showing impressive form finishing sixth.

Sinead with the win. Photo Courtesy of Brendan Culleton.

B Race Results

 1.  Sinead Molloy     Tullamore CTC
 2.  Caoimhe May       Scott Orwell Wheelers
 3.  Agnieszka Samsel  Clontarf CC
 4.  Suzan Fagan       Clontarf CC
 5.  Megan Davenport   Unattached
 6.  Sandra Howard     Bray Wheelers
 7.  Julie Egan        Naas CC
 8.  Gill Haverty      Arcane Cycling Team
 9.  Anne-Marie Cooke  Dublin Wheelers
10.  Noreen Mallon     Arcane Cycling Team
11.  Annie Roche       Scott Orwell Wheelers

 

A Race

Breda launching a Counter-Attack. Photo Courtesy of John Hammer.

Without little delay, the shivering A riders lined up for the off in three separate handicaps. Kate Early (Tiernan’s CC), Catherine McAteer (Garda CC) and Orla Walsh (Scott Orwell Wheelers) wasted no time with their efforts to catch the bunches ahead. Seven minutes in Orla Hendron (Scott Orwell) along with club mate Breda Horan and Sofie Loscher (Sundrive CC) caught the A- group. Breda Horan looked comfortable for some time piloting the bunch until eventually caught by the A bunch fifteen minutes in. Catherine McAteer lead with one of her relentless "McAttacks" but the bunch reacted and dug deep to keep a rein on her.  Breda Horan, in keen form launched an auxiliary attack and lead the bunch for some time. Further pressure was applied and the race was scattered with Catherine McAteer, Kate Earlie and Orla Walsh fighting and finishing for the podium in that order.  

Catherine launching a "McAttack". Photo Courtesy of Brendan Culleton.

A Race Results

 1.  Catherine McAteer      Garda CC
 2.  Katie Earlie           St. Tiernan's 
 3.  Orla Walsh             Scott Orwell Wheelers
 4.  Niamh Stephens         TC Racing
 5.  Breda Horan            Scott Orwell Wheelers
 6.  Monica Freiband        Scott Orwell Wheelers
 7.  Sofie Lochter          Sundrive
 8.  Ciara Ní Flathartaigh  Scott Orwell Wheelers
 9.  Róisín Kennedy         Arcane Cycling Team
10.  Beata Golczak          Arcane Cycling Team
11.  Lyndsey Bryce          Dublin Wheelers

 

That concludes the Corkagh Park races in the series. Next Tuesday evening will take the league to Manor Kilbride to race around Blessington Lakes followed by the time trial in Black Bull for the final week.

In other racing news, a massive congratulations to Orla Walsh winning the Waller Cup the previous weekend, Kate Earlie 3rd and Sofie Loscher 4th. The 60km race didn’t appear enough for Sofie who decided to incorporate the race into her own Audax event, cycling 70km to and from the race! Well done to Agnieszka Samsel and Anne Colman (Lucan CC) and Catherine McAteer who also took part. It’s wonderful to see so many women from this league progress to open road races and even more thrilling to see them consistently featuring in the results. Chapeau Ladies!

321 Laps to go. Photo Courtesy of Arcane Cycling Team.

Thank you very much to Scott Orwell’s number 1 cheerleaders Luke GJ Potter and Romano Morelli for their assistance on the evening, photographers’ Brendan Culleton, John Hammer and Arcane Cycling Team for their photography and Gen Sheridan for her delicious beetroot and raspberry chocolate brownies, carrot and banana muffins and her hens for their much sought after egg sandwiches.

Photo Albums

Until next week…

 

We asked Orla who she though would win the league, she answered through interpretive dance... Photo Courtesy of Brendan Culleton.

 

Current Standings

Finish Line Videos