 Noel
Hammond Memorial, Ballyboughal
By Cian Lynch
This morning I was seriously considering applying
for a B licence. Having been spectacularly refused one outright at the start of
the season, (no results-no prospect of results) my racing this year has been
somewhat limited….. The idea was to race a bit, not get pissed off with the
bike, and mange to race through the summer. All was going well until last
weekend, when I got quite a large pain in the ass on the last day.
Let me explain. Carrick were riding tempo on the
front, as they has a rider up the road, Mark Power me thinks. Power was sitting
on, the boys were making sure that there was no big chase behind. Off Keady the
first time, the lads, Martin and Joe, sat up briefly. Thinking there was going
to be an attack by Kenneally or some other, I attacked. Although managing to
dangle off the front for a while, Col. Pep decided to do some riding. And when
he puts his mind to it, he can ride. Uphill, flat, you name it. Game up for me,
and at the top of Newtownhamilton, I hopped into the car. Not tired, not blown
out, just – climbed into the car.
And so to today’s race, in a bit. Shane Stokes
has checked out the international pretenders for the Ras. Kazakistan has a
formidable team, but the real danger is the Swedish Bianchi team, with the 2nd
and 3rd placed national time trial champions participating. I hope the race will
be much like 2001, where Joe McKay called it – just follow the wheels. Not as
easy as it sounds, but the Griff did take 9th place overall. ….
The B riders got a bit of a start on us, and before
the lap was over, myself, Swinard and Baker were the first across the gap. Up
the Naul again, and more attacks – at one stage I got on to Kenneallys wheel,
over the back of the circuit. As he jumped, I was there, as he dropped to the
12, then click – 11. Talk about pain, and the difference between my standard
and his is well and truly apparent. Needless to say, the elbow was flicked, and
I made a bungled attempt at riding through – hard. Laughable I’m sure, but
an effort nonetheless. Shortly afterwards, Kenneally, Moriarty, Easton, Scott
McDonald and Griffen left the race behind, as they quickly soared to a 1 minute
gap. Behind, I was riding with a chase group consisting of Hedderman, Crowley,
Mick Mulcahy, Ray Clarke, Brian Lennon (the comeback kid!) Dylan Rafter and many
others. Indeed, on the 4th lap I dropped back – momentarily contemplating
packing. But no. Wondering why, when there are 20 in the group, and only 10 are
riding through – I took a moment to check out our friends at the back. Dec
Hanrahan was one. Not a chance in heaven of riding trough. As he muttered
something about just wanting to get over the climb. And then do what? Ride on
the front for a change – do a few turns? Give me a break. No better man to
break your legs when he is going well. Forgive me. I digress.
Into the 4th lap, and as we hit the base of the
Nags Head, I punctured. Joe was quick to change the front, and I was back on by
the top. No assistance. None. Really. Over the top, and the race was breaking up
again, as groups tried to make an impact on the head of the race. As we
approached 2 laps to go, I had another dig, managing to gain some, and despite
the very quick onset of fatigue (what the f(*k did I attack here for?) I
persisted, and caught up to Griffen. He had punctured out of the break, and was
now resigned to riding in. We managed to get through Naul and the two of us were
up on top of the first sister, taking a breather after the exertion, when we
were caught – (There are three climbs known as the three sisters, and we had
crested the first, before we were caught) and continued to ride up and over. You
could see the tired legs at this stage, as we tried in vain to ride up into the
headwind.
On through the finish, and with, thankfully, only
one lap to go – we rode up the Nags. Hedderman, who has been riding
consistently in the last while, set the tempo for the early part, and I just
brought the group over the crest – and made the biggest mistake of the race.
In an effort to get a bottle, I was trying to get to the back and call up the
car – just as a couple of groups skipped off the front. Lapse in concentration
– freddiness – call it what you will – I still wanted my bottle – and
didn’t get one until the crest before you drop into Naul. And that was that.
We rode on through into the finish, through the S bends for what might have been
top 15.
No doubt the best ride that I have done in the last
couple of years. I knew when I came out of Ulster last weekend and the legs
weren’t too sore that I must be going alright. Pas the finish, and even this
evening, they are in good nick. Which can only make the Ras slightly more
manageable. Only just.
Stage one. The Ras. The men of the Ras. Dublin to
Roscrea……..
Cian Lynch. Asst. D.S.,
North Kildare CC
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