Racing Round Up
Bloodied but unbowed after his travails in the Gorey 3-day, Aidan Collins has packed his race bag again for a second weekend of stage racing in the Corkman Three Day in Kanturk.
After falling twice on stage one on the run to Gorey last Saturday, Collins showed admirable fighting spirit by dragging his bruised body back into the fray for two more days of hard racing during which he attacked regularly.
With the attitude and form shown to date, Collins seems primed for a great season and he will be joined by in Cork by two other riders making great strides this season.
Pat O’Brien spent a frustrating weekend behind the wheel of the Gorey team car in Wexford and was positively chomping at the bit at the prospect of his first stage race this weekend.
Tom Blennerhassett, too, is looking forward to Kanturk following some very impressive club race form lately and, having floated up to the scratch group with impressive ease, is now ready to make an impact in open competition.
Aoife Sheridan and Peter Killeen will be representing Orwell in the separate A4 stage race while Craig Arrigan, Daragh Long and Fionn Sheridan will line out among a highly competitive Under16 field, and Naoise Sheridan completes the Orwell line up, turning out in the Under 12s.
The rest of Orwell’s Easter stage race contingent are enjoying a well earned rest this weekend, none less than Dylan Rafter who took a late offer of a ride in Rás Chonamara with Barrow Wheelers and produced a fine eighth overall including third and fourth place stage finishes.
Dylan Rafter (Photo: Paul Tansey)
Ódhran Connors’ 15th place on stage two of Rás Mumhan is worthy of special mention, coming as it did after a daunting ride up the Conor Pass, Ireland’s highest mountain pass. He was top A2 rider on the stage and rose to 22nd overall.
He eventually finished a fine 34th overall, fourth A2 and showed that his form is in fine fettle approaching An Post Rás in three weeks time.
Meanwhile the IVCA provided an alternative to the Easter stage racing where Ciara Kinch recorded her first road race victory after soloing clear of the purple and red groups at Kentstown.
In race two Orwell’s Arthur Ebbs and breakaway partner Michael Scully decided on a Hinault-Lemond style dead heat at the end of their successful escape. It’s not recorded whether Arthur wants to be called Bernard or Greg from now on...
Completing a great day for Orwell, Ian O’Keefe held off Sean Lally in the sprint for third.
Results
Rás Chonamara
April 23rd to 26th
Stage One
4, Dylan Rafter (Orwell Wheelers riding with Barrow Wheelers).
Stage Three
3, Dylan Rafter (Orwell Wheelers riding with Barrow Wheelers).
Final GC
8, Dylan Rafter (Orwell Wheelers riding with Barrow Wheelers).
Rás Mumhan
Stage Two
15 and 1st A2, Ódhran Connors (Orwell Wheelers).
Final GC
34 and 4th A2, Ódhran Connors (Orwell Wheelers);
62, Brian Ahern (Orwell Wheelers).
Gorey Three Day
April 23rd to 26th
Final GC
53, Dave Coughlan (Orwell Wheelers);
55, Diarmuid Collins (Orwell Wheelers);
80, Declan Quigley (Orwell Wheelers);
105, Noel Murphy (Orwell Wheelers);
117, Aidan Collins (Orwell Wheelers);
119, Declan Byrne (Orwell Wheelers);
137, Orla Hendron (Orwell Wheelers).
IVCA DMS Kentstown
April 25th
Race One
1, Ciara Kinch (Orwell Wheelers).
Race Two
1 Equal, Arthur Ebbs (Orwell Wheelers);
1 Equal, Michael Scully.
