Report By: Clodhna Murphy
This weekend saw the 5th instalment of the Gerry Clancy Memorial Cup, with
its first as a Stage Race. This began on Saturday with a charity cycle through
beautiful Joyce Country, although conditions were far from perfect. Cyclists
cycled a testing course rolling out from Oughterard to Leenane via Maam, on
through the Inagh Valley and back to Maam Cross where they stopped for
refreshments kindly sponsored by Peacocke�s hotel. The more daring then
completed the second more testing loop which brought them to Cashla and over
Seanaf�ist�n of FBD R�s fame and finished back in Race HQ, Connemara Gateway
Hotel and despite the cold and wet conditions, feedback from the participants
was positive. All proceeds went to Galway Hospice and the Oughterard Business
Association sponsored 2 bikes for a draw with proceeds also going to the Galway
Hospice.
Stage 1 of the 2 Day Race saw 61 riders comprising of Juniors, A2, A3, A4�S
and Vets and one lady head out from Oughterard on a windy Sunday to Leenane. The
bunch stayed together until Maam Cross where much of the racing began. There was
fierce activity between here and Maam with many riders trying to get away, many
of the attacks coming from Castlebar C.C�s Chris Troy and the unknown threat
John Rigby, one of two brothers from St. Helens CRC, Wigan, who, on hearing
about the race, decided to turn their holiday in Galway into a more demanding
trip. Four riders, Jarlath Hassett West Clare C.C, defending champion John
Dempsey D.M. Carrick Wheelers, J. Rigby & C. Troy managed to escape from the
bunch on the winding route between Maam and Leenane and quickly built up a lead
of a minute. They were then joined by the 58 yr old Gerhard Hack, Western Lakes
C.C who added impetus to the well functioning breakaway. Troy was unable to
sustain the effort and found himself back in the main bunch before the descent
into Leenane. The second of the Rigby brothers, Brian, along with West Coast
Wheelers rider, Anthony Testa, made a break from the bunch and again established
a well working break and worked furiously to catch the 4 out front. With great
competition for the RF Transport Ltd. KOH on the ascent out of Leenane won by
Dempsey, the breakaway extended their lead to 1�30� on the two riders in the
middle and almost 3 minutes to the bunch.
The O� Boyle & Associates Prime at Recess was again won by the in form
Dempsey, who also won the stage end from Hassett in a nail biting finish in
Oughterard. Testa and B. Rigby finished 1�50� down with the main bunch,
having been unable to co-ordinate a united effort, shattered in the testing
conditions which saw riders crossing the line at intervals of 5 minutes and more
down on the leading group.
Conditions deteriorated overnight and Monday morning revealed conditions
unsuitable for anything other than a high stool or a remote control!! Gusts of
wind made the 10km TT very difficult for all, including spectators (!) which was
won by Vet, Chris Troy Castlebar CC in a time of 13�33�. Nearest to Troy was
another Galway rider Brian O� Donnell, West Coast Wheelers in a time of 13�54�
and Castlebar CC rider, Paul Dunne in 3rd position @ 14�05,�with the top 6
riders on GC finishing within 30 seconds of each other and Dempsey managing to
extend his lead on his nearest rivals.
After much discussion and feedback from the riders themselves, Stage 3 was
left at its original length of 80km, and the bunch again headed out towards Maam
Cross with the daunting prospect of the 2nd cat climb at Seanaf�ist�n ahead of
them. The riders had a rolling start after being neutralised through Oughterard
and it is is safe to say that the neutralised flag was no sooner lowered than
local rider and main race sponsor, Nigel Forde of Nigel�s Cycle Store went for
broke and attacked in what can only be described as an all in move in abysmal
conditions. Forde had a gap of 45s at Maam Cross, when a left turn was taken
into a driving headwind so strong that vehicles in the cavalcade were rocking in
the wind. Even the sheep were taking shelter from rock faces and 2 horses were
spotted on the gable end of a house also taking shelter! The gap never grew more
than this although Forde was joined by Sean Moylett, Donamon Dynamos CC for a
period of time. Tired of the waiting game J. Rigby made a break on the turn up
to Seanaf�istin, closely marked by race leader, John Dempsey. Hassett, not
wanting to be left out of the action, joined the 2 and they rode away from the
main bunch, many of whom had little knowledge of the pain to come.
The group of leaders quickly caught Forde and Moylett, who were shortly
swallowed up by the following bunch. In a gusting cross wind and torrential
rain, the bunch soon became decimated with little place to hide on the wide open
Connemara road from Ros a Mh�l to Oughterard. Chris Troy, found himself in no
mans land between the breakaway and the chasing group of 10 riders, including
top 6 riders Hack, B. Rigby and Testa. Rigby took the Nuratherm KOH at
Seanaf�ist�n and the three riders had a gap of one minute on the chasing bunch
of 4 coming into Oughterard. Driving rain and wind kept spectators inside but
some braved the elements to cheer the riders on as they completed 3 laps of a
10km loop. J. Rigby punctured out of the break and found himself wheel-less for
what must have seemed like an eternity, on a day where neutral service worked as
hard as the riders themselves.
The chasing group, consisting of Hack, Testa, Troy and Gavin Browne, Black
Rose CC never managed to close the gap on the 2 leaders who held their nerve and
worked until the end. Hassett took the stage from Dempsey who took overall
honours with the chasers finishing 1�04� down and the unfortunate Rigby
finishing 1�56� down. Many riders failed to finish but hats off to the 40
riders who stayed in the saddle in what was one of the more difficult days
racing. Back to the Connemara Gateway Hotel who kindly provided warm showers for
all who wished to avail followed by a slap up spread in Faherty�s Bar,
Oughterard for the prize giving. Overall honours went to Dempsey, followed by
Hassett and Hack with the team prize going to West Clare C.C. Thanks to all
involved especially the local marshals and G�rdai who offered their time and
assistance before they read the weather forecast!!
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Pictures from the event courtesy of Sean Kilduff (West Coast Wheelers) and Tom
Broderick (Oughterard Co Galway) www.galwaypics.com
Download the results in PDF format
IMAGES COPYRIGHT:
Any images included in this article remain the property of the photographer, by whom all rights are retained, 2010 �. Use of images for electronic or print purposes is may be possible with the express, written permission of the photographer.
