It's a Bunch finish with a 100 M to go on the final stage
Bertoni Gorey 3 Day winner Denis Dunworth from Killorglin Credit Union Cycling Club
Denis Dunworth from Killorglin Credit Union Cycling Club, Co. Kerry was the overall winner of the Bertoni Gorey three day which concluded this afternoon in Brittas.
The second year junior stole the limelight in the time trial on Sunday morning and held out for overall win despite the fact that he had no team backing him The final stage from Gorey to the Co. Dublin village was won by Maurice O’Brien from Kanturk Credit Union CC.
Bertoni Three Day - Stage 4 Gorey to Brittas 56 miles.
1 Maurice O’Brien (Kanturk Credit Union CC), 2hrs.221mins.10secs;
2 B.McCormack (Ravens CC), same timer;
3 S. Flynn (Isle of Man), st;
4 D. Dunworth )Killorglin Credit Union CC), st;
5 D. Duffy (St. Finbarr’s CC/Ventilux), st;
6 S. Connaughton (MyHome.ie/BDCB), st.
Final Overall-
1 D. Dunworth (Killorglin CUCC) 7.38.58;
2 L. Murphy (Norway), @8 secs;
3 C. Cassidy (McNally Joinery/Swords CC), @20;
4 S. Baker (Usher IRC), @24;
5 N. Martin (CC Giro), @37;
6 P.Lavery (Usher IRC), @46.
Team: Norway.
Mountains: B. Bisgard (Norway)
Points: L. Murphy (Norway)
Womens: L. Moriarty (UCD)
Junior: D. Dunworth (Killorglin CUCC)
Dolores Usher presenting the Winners Jersey
Race sponsor Eddie Lynch of Bertoni presents the perpetual trophy to 2007 winner Denis Dunworth
This year there is an additional prize The 'Betty Darcy Award' for the 1st 3rd Cat - Sam Darcy presented this award to Daniel Kirwan of Staggs Lucan CC
Dolores Usher with Mountains winner G Bisgaard of Norway
Race Organiser Alice Sherratt with Points winner Linus Murphy of Norway and Race Judge Frank Gibson
The winning Team are Norway
Eddie Lynch with the top three overall, 3rd Colm Cassidy 1st Denis Dunworth and 2nd Linus Murphy
Kerry’s Denis Dunworth from Killorglin is perched on top of the leader board after three stages of the Bertoni Gorey Three-Day.
The Pupil and the Master stole the show today in the Bertoni Gorey Three Day!
On a day of surprises, Denis Dunworth from the Killorglin Credit Union Cycling club who are staging Ras Mumhan. He comes along and literally spread-eagles the field in a burst of speed that landed him stage two victory. Plus it was pupil and machine against the clock on the Wexford Road. They say that winning a test is the quality of a future star.
Denis Dunworth on his way to winning this morning's Time Trial
Of course, for the statisticians, they should gave been aware that as a junior in the M. Donnelly Junior Tour held in Castlebar, he won also won the TT in that convincingly last year.
Of course the most surprised competitor had to be the race leader after day one, Linus Murphy, himself a former national junior champion and that was not today or yesterday.
At least Linus who now races in Norway, the magical seconds that separated him for the lead was a mere 9 seconds and with a good team he must have felt that amount of time was retrievable
Unfortunately, the Master, Neil Martin a former professional with the Percy Bilton squad really upset the applecart. The third stage has always been hectic, particularly after the time trial, as some seem to conserve their energy for the massed start in the afternoon.
Well! For the third stage, the Billboards that smile out at you on the Dublin/Wexford Road announcing you are in the ‘Sunny South East.” And, how true they were.
Continuous attacks from the start made the race very interesting, but it was surprising that the Norwegians were prepared top follow rather than put somebody up the road, which would have made life that bit difficult for the second year Junior, Dunworth.
Neil Martin winning Stage 2 on his own
Inevitably the elastic had to snap and it was left to Martin to go clear with twelve miles of the stage left. As he soloed ahead his margin of leading the pack was no more than 30 seconds which meant the leader in front was virtually there for to picked off. But! It never happened and he scored a victory which made him the biggest mover on day two of the ‘Gorey.’ Or, as they would say in Augusta at the Golf Masters, ‘Moving Day.’ Overnight Martin was 51st in the standings and now finds himself reasonably placed in fifth position and by any stretch of the imagination, within shouting distance of overall victory.
If points were to count towards victory Linus Murphy would be head and shoulders ahead of everybody else, but it does not work that way and stays in second spot despite finishing second on the stage.
So, tomorrow he needs to snap the elastic and be clear of the Kerryman, but that is easier said than done.
Inevitably we are in for a grandstand finish at Brittas tomorrow, and I doubt in all sincerity that the Kerryman will lose the title. He is a future star. They just keep on bringing cyclists from the ‘Kingdom’ where Gaelic Football is the bee’s knees.
Bertoni Gorey Three-Day/Stage 2, 4 mile time trial.
Details:
1 Denis Dunworth (Killorglin Credit Union CC), 7mins.33secs;
2 L. Murphy (Norway), 7.42;
3 P. Cassidy (MyHome.ie/BDCB), 7.46
4 C. Cassidy )McNally Joinery CC), 7.52;
5 S. Baker (Usher Irish Road Club), 7.56;
6 S. McNally Dundrum T/C-Orwell Wheelers CC), 7.59.
Stage 3 - 55 miles Gorey
Details:
1 Neil Martin (CCGiro), 2.29.11;
2 L. Murphy, @16 secs;
3 P. Lavery (Usher IRC), st;
4 S. McNally, st;
5 P. Cassidy, st;
6 D. Cronin (South Dublin RC), st.
Stage Sponsor James Tomkins with new race leader Denis Dunworth from Killorglin and Race sponsor Eddie Lynch of Bertoni
Overall after three stages
1 D. Dunworth, 5.17.48;
2 L. Murphy, @9;
3 C. Cassidy, @20;
4 S. Baker, @24;
5 P. Lavery (Usher IRC), @46;
6 S. Kelly (Ena Loakman/Newbridge CC), same time.
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MURPHY LEADS VIKING INVASION (Apr 7)
They call it the ‘greatest little bike race in the world’ and few would argue.
Not many with no frills and colour, but the chemistry within the organisation makes it happen, thanks to Sam Darcy and his crew.
Linus Murphy (Norway)
It also has its flair and Norwegian based Linus Murphy added to that today, He was first across the line and had all the time in the world to acknowledge his very fine win. Now despite wearing a pink jersey, he’ll be wearing that all familiar ‘yellow jersey’ which is the holy grail to all those aspiring cyclists.
Like Ras Mumhan, the weather was perfect for one of the largest sized fields when they set out from St.Mark’s in Tallaght for the County Wexford town of Gorey which has mushroomed beyond all belief.
Forty odd years ago when the Lyra boys first hit town this was a quiet town with one hotel, but surprisingly great shops.
Philip Cassidy
From the outset it was all go and everybody and anybody was having a go off the front.
But, at Hackettstown, a group of 21 went forward and that was the beginning and end for most of the peloton.
Surprisingly, Philip Cassidy of the inform team MyHome.ie/BDCB had been brought back when the move of the day happened. According to race officials, it just slid off the front of the bunch and that was that.
Like any good move it required the leadership of a few individuals who knocked the group into shape as it steadily opened a time gap which took the sting out the chasers.
Linus who came here from his home in Norway last year full of brim and confidence to win the title, went away and reshaped his focus on attempt to win one of the most coveted races in Ireland.
Tomorrow morning he’ll introduce his TT bike which inevitably will give him a bonus of seconds irrespective of where finishes in the test against the clock where all are exposed to the elements.
The fact that the group had a huge differential on the bunch, Linus will have to keep a close eye on former winner Brian Aherne and the two Usher Irish Road Club members, Philip Lavery and Shane Baker. After all it would be a fairy tale ending if either of them were to win out as it has been a number of years since one of the most stylish competitors of his generation, Karl Donnelly lifted the trophy on behalf of the IRC.
Bertoni Gorey 3 Day - Stage 1 Dublin to Gorey 101Km
Details:
1 Linus Murphy (Norway);
2 C. O’Shea (Ena Loakman/Newbridge);
3 N. Martin (CC Giro);
4 D. Dunworth (Killorglin Credit Union CC);
5 S. Baker (Usher Irish Road Club);
6 B. Aherne (Dundrum T/C-Orwell Wheelers CC;
7 P.Lavery (Usher IRC);
8 D. Rafter (Dundrum T/C-Orwell Whls.).
