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Last Updated: Apr 21st, 2008 - 11:16:32 |
Successful Days Racing in Dundalk
By Words, Cuchulainn CC, Pictures by Maria O'Sullivan
Apr 21, 2008,
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| Cuchulainn CC Riders before start of race L-R: Jarlath Farmer, Aidan Martin, Martin Gray, Peter Tomany, Alan Gray, Paul Watters, Johnny Mc Cabe, Ronan Greene and Alan Bingham |
Cuchulainn CC successfully promoted the annual Traders Cup on Sunday last. Over 120 riders signed on at Dowdall's Hill GFC for a full days racing and it was the Dundalk club that was the most well represented with almost 20 Cuchullainn men signing on to race the traditional Knockbridge circuit.
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| Newry and Dundalk riders to the fore in Sunday's Cycle Trader's Cup Race |
All riders rolled out of the superb GFC hall towards the official start with a Garda escort through the town. The race was run on a handicap basis and the first group to start the 54mile race was the women, first year juniors and vets. Martin Grey and Declan McCabe represented Cuchulainn in this group. Next to leave, some 6 minutes later was the biggest group of the day, consisting of the senior Cs, the younger vets and second year juniors. This group had close on 80 riders and given the quality of some of the juniors in this group it was expected that the winner would be among these riders. The final group, a further 4 minutes adrift was the senior Bs. With a number of other races throughout the country this scratch group was relatively small at less than 20 riders.
The racing started fast & furious and by the end of the first lap each group had pulled some time back. Mid-way through the third lap a break featuring a number of strong riders, including capped Irish juniors Philip Lavery of Dublin based Eurobabies and Charles Prendergast who had made the trip from Mayo, escaped the middle group.
This breakaway group was well marshaled by the Armagh veteran Shaun Gray and in less than 10miles they had bridged the gap to the first group. They continued to ride strong and only 1 or 2 of the first group were able to latch on. Meanwhile the scratch group were riding well and clawing back 30-40 seconds per lap on the middle bunch. Half way through lap 4 of the 6 lap race, the middle bunch had caught the remnants of the first group, while the break had gained an advantage of some 2 minutes. By the end of lap 5 the scratch group had caught up and the break had increased his advantage to 2:30mins. It was now clear that the winner would come from this breakaway and sure enough on the tough uphill finish Charles Prendergast powered away from everyone else to comfortably take the win over Lavery and Gray. Noel McGlynn led the main bunch home narrowly beating Dundalk man Gary Gorman in the sprint. Heather Boyle of Ravens CTC was the first lady home.
In addition to the senior race there was a full compliment of underage racing with Armagh club Orchard - Juiced dominating the under sixteen race by taken the top three spots, Mantes Spirqius being the winner. In the under fourteens Newry rider Cormac Clarke was the winner, while Declan Mull of Lurgan based Clan Eireann took the under twelves.
Overall the day's racing was very successful and a big thank you has to go out to the race organisers, all the marshals, volunteers, lead car drivers, Dowdalls Hill GFC and the Gardaě. The biggest thank you should go to the "Tea Ladies" who ensured that all tired riders and marshals were well catered for after the race!
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| L-R Pat O'Shaughnessy (Chairman), Mary Gorman (2007 Club Person of the Year) presents the Dundalk Cycle Trader's Cup to Charles Prendergast of Mayo Wheelers, Kevin Dolan (President), Gary Gorman (Winner of Club Man Prize) with sons Pearce and Emmett |
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| Club Helpers: Assisting with Race Sign On Derek Finegan and his Daughters Annie & Kate |
Pictures Courtesy of Maria O'Sullivan
Traders Cup 2008 Results
Senior Race
1st - Charles Prendergast (Mayo Wheelers)
2nd - Philip Lavery (Euro Cycles)
3rd - Shaun Gray (Orchard - Juiced)
4th - Michael Duffy (Dunamon Dynamos)
5th - David Malone (Usher IRC)
6th - Niall Rock (Swords CC)
S2 Prize - Noel Mc Glynn (Kilcullen - Muphy Surveyors)
S3 Prize - Kenny Bucke (Newbridge CC)
Vet Prize - Lenny Kirk (Slane Cycles)
Jun Prize - Sean Moylett (Dunamon Dynamos)
Wom Prize - Heather Boyle (Ravens CTC)
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| Youth Race Winners: Mantes Spirqius, Cormac Clarke and Declan Mulholland |
Under 16
1st - Mantes Spirqius (Orchard - Juiced)
2nd - Andrew Turner (Orchard - Juiced)
3rd - Nathan Mehaggey & Adam Rayner (Orchard - Juiced)
Under 14
1st - Cormac Clarke (Newry Wheelers)
2nd - Ciara Mulholland (Clan Eireann)
3rd - Ryan Turner (Orchard - Juiced)
Under 12
1st - Declan Mulholland (Clan Eireann)
2nd - Aaron Swan (Ballymena Road Club)
3rd - Darragh Long (Orwell Wheelers)
IMAGES COPYRIGHT:
Any images included in this article remain the property of the photographer, by whom all rights are retained, 2008 ©. Use of images for electronic or print purposes is may be possible with the express, written permission of the photographer.
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