Appleby Orwell Women's League Round 5 - The Road Race

It is the second last race of the league on Tuesday night (7th May) and after last weeks wet racing in Corkagh Park we are heading to the open roads! We are looking forward to some exciting racing.

Riders
Sign-on is open from around 6.20pm (depending on traffic) and closes at 18.50. Sign-on is in the car park of Mooney’s Pub just outside Manor Kilbride village – on the road up towards the Sally Gap.

Map Mooneys Pub - parking & sign on

There will be 2 separate races this year to keep the groups manageable.
Race 1: The A group will start first and then be chased by the A+ group.
Race 2: The B group will start a few mins after the A+ group and will be chased by the B+

We will have lead cars for each group and marshals on the junctions but for those who haven't raced on open roads before, the rules of the road still apply. There will be traffic on the road so please ride carefully. Anyone seen repeatedly riding on the wrong side of the line will be penalised/disqualified.

Check for overtaking car traffic if moving out of the bunch. Be very cautious on corners - the marshals will do their best to stop traffic back from the junction, but it's not always possible, and drivers are not always co-operative. Always remember Marshals do not have the power to stop traffic, they can only ask, so please be cautious at junctions. Obey any orders from marshals, such as to slow down - they're trying to keep you safe.

Basically, use some common sense. It's not worth endangering yourself and others to gain a few places in the bunch. Stupid/reckless riding will be not be tolerated.

At the finish, if you didn't get a place, please keep riding through and home. This allows us to clear the area and let traffic flow. Please return to the finish line if you think you placed, because we might not have a full knowledge of faces and names to put to the prizes. It's good practice to make sure your name was noted.

We will have the traditional tea/coffee, sandwiches and cake back at Mooney's Pub after the race.

There is always the possibility of a mechanical/puncture on a race, if anyone wants to bring a spare wheel we will try and fit them in the follow up car just in case!

Course
The course is likely to be 3 laps of the Brittas Circuit starting just outside Manor Kilbride (on the Blessington side), but listen out to the organiser and marshals on the night.

The course finishes at the top on the hill at the turn off for Ballysmutten/Sally Gap. 3 laps will give a total distance of 30km

Brittas Circuit starting @ Manor Kilbride

Marshals
Please make sure to be at Mooney’s Pub outside Manor Kilbride (on Sally Gap Rd) for 18.30. It is always best to drive to a marshal spot rather than cycle as you may be far out on the course! If you have a track pump it would be great if you had one in the car just in case.

Best of luck to everyone, see you Tuesday night - don't be late or you will have a lot of chasing to do;)

For the current standings in the league check out - www.orwellwheelers.org/forum/7-women/731...n-s-league-standings

A beautiful, still night out around the lakes of Manor Kilbride/Blessington for round 5 tonight. Slightly lower numbers than the previous few weeks - possibly due to the forecast rain or the recovery from the Bank Holiday weekend!

The A Race was set off first with one group of 15 riders taking to the line. The final result came down to a sprint finish up the hill despite Aideen Keenan doing her best to shake things up and break away. Move of the night went to Aaron Fox who broke clear of the A race and stayed out alone for 9mins before being slowly reeled back in. Well done for giving it a go Aaron

A Race Result:
1. Autumn Collins, Team Torelli
2. Aideen Keenan, DWCC
3. Kate Earlie, St Tiernans
4. Sophie Loscher, Sundrive
5. Sinead Molloy, Tullamore
6. Jeniffer Bates, Team Bioracer DHL
7. Beata Golczak, U/A
8. Monica Freiband, Scott Orwell Wheelers

In the B Race we started with 2 seperate groups with the B+ chasing a bigger B group. The B+ had learned a tough lesson last week when they didnt work together and never managed to catch the B group - this week they made up for it! The catch was made just before the end of the first lap. Most of the B group managed to stay with the B+ and we had a good sprint finish

B Results:
1. Emma Smith, Navan RC
2. Rachel Staunton, N/A
3. Katie Reilly, Scott Orwell Wheelers
4. Marijke Beltman, Belpark
5. Grainne Reidy, St Tiernans
6. Aisling Ui Neil, Scott Orwell Wheelers
7. Mary Maher, DWCC
8. Zoe Shakespeare

Finish Line video thanks to Luke Potter: Finish Line A & B

Thanks to all our marshals and drivers who helped out tonight. Driving lead cars were Barry Mooney, Eddie Lane and Luke Potter. Marshals were Yvonne Doran, Breda Horan, Una May, John Wade, Colum Bradley, Liam Hogan, Tony Walsh and Denis Gleeson. Thanks to Terry & Lorna Reilly for helping with the finish.

Latest B Standings after 5 Rounds:


Latest A Standings after 5 rounds