UK based rider Julie O�Hagan rode to a fine solo win in today�s Women�s Road Race championships in Sligo, breaking clear with a lap and a half to go and reaching the line 36 seconds clear. O�Hagan was the only one able to escape the stranglehold of the bunch, with several women expressing their frustration afterwards with the defensive pattern of racing during the 43 mile event.

For the second year running the silver medal went to Old Portlians CC rider Colette Swift, with Roisin Kennedy just edging out her Usher IRC team-mate Clare Moore in their two-up tussle for bronze. Ann McFarland (Omagh Wheelers) and Trudy Brown (Northern CC) led home the main bunch one second later.

A decent field lined out for today�s race, held on the same testing near-nine mile lap as the men�s event. A long drag on the Manorhamilton road and the shorter, far steeper Tully Hill were expected to cause the same sort of gaps as last year but surprisingly the bunch stayed together for most of the race. Several riders tried to go clear during the five lap contest, O�Hagan, Swift and Louise Moriarty (Dublin Skip) among the most active, but each effort came to naught. The bunch hauled back each of the aggressors, with O�Hagan�s move on lap four the only one able to stick.

The All Systems Dublin Wheelers competitor rode strongly and quickly got a gap on the rest of the field. Things then turned messy as the riders from the men�s road race lapped the women. This led to some suggestions afterwards of opportunistic pacing, but with no protest lodged with the commissaire the allegation was soon dismissed.

Racing home 36 seconds clear, O�Hagan was overjoyed with her first major victory. �I have been really aiming to win this race,� she said. �I am from Luton but have Irish grandparents from Ballymoney. When I found out earlier this year that I could change my racing licence to an Irish one I went ahead and did that. Winning the Irish championships was a big, big goal of mine...I have been building towards this race ever since I found out I could change my licence. I was trying not to peak for other races, this one was the big target.�

�It was hard to get a gap out there today. There were a few of us trying to get clear but the others just came back up to us each time � it was very frustrating. The hill was tough but it was hard to keep a gap after the top. A couple of laps into the race I realised that the place to go was on the twisting bit, with the rolling drags. I attacked there and once I got a gap, I really went for it to stay away.�

�It was hard out there, especially with a strong win on the way back in towards the start/finish line. I wasn�t sure of the win at any point, I kept driving it just in case.�

�I�d love to go to the world championships on an Irish team � hopefully today�s ride will bring me to the attention from the selectors.�

Second-placed Colette Swift was visibly frustrated after the race. �It was almost impossible to get away,� she said. �I attacked a load of times but was chased down each time. There were the same small number doing all the jumping, while the others didn�t seem to want to race. I tried to get back to Julie but with that style of racing there is not much you can do.�

The next contest for the women will be the Danny Boy International next weekend. With riders from many different countries it will certainly result in some good racing, as well as providing a gauge as to the developing standard of women�s cycling in Ireland.

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Women�s Road Racing championships, Sligo:

1, Julie O�Hagan (All Systems Dublin Wheelers) 43 miles in 1 hour 54 mins
2, Colette Swift (Old Portlians CC) at 36 secs
3, Roisin Kennedy (Usher IRC) at 38 secs
4, Claire Moore (Usher IRC) same time
5, Ann McFarland (Omagh Wheelers) at 39 secs
6, Trudy Brown (Northern CC)
7, Ann Paul (East Tyrone)
8, Joanie Burns (Orwell � Dundrum SC)
9, Siobhan Dervan (St. Finbarrs)
10, Siobhan Jacob (Usher IRC)
11, Karen Bothwell (Orwell - Dundrum SC)
12, Louise Moriarty (Dublin Skip) all same time