Sandra Fitzgerald of Lucan CRC all but sealed victory in the Wheelworx Orwell Women's Crit League one race early with her third consecutive win at round five in Sandyford last Tuesday evening. Meanwhile sisters Ailbhe Ivory of UCD and Caoimhe Ivory of Bray Wheelers won the support races.
League_Leader_Sandra_Fitzgerald_of_Lucan_CC
In yet another exciting Girls Race, Caoimhe Ivory (Bray) took the win with Rebecca Heaney (SERC) in second place, Naoise Sheridan (Orwell) in third place and sisters Áine and Siobhan Keogh (Orwell) in fourth and fifth places respectively.

In the B Race scratch riders Ailbhe Ivory (UCD), newcomer Paula Keohan (MAD) and Caroline Martinez (Orwell) worked well together to catch the limit groups, riding through with only Máire-Tríona Keane (Orwell) and Caoimhe Ivory (Bray) able to go with them.  

They crossed the line in that order with Aoife Sheridan (Orwell) taking sixth place with a gutsy ride.  Going into the final round next Tuesday, Ailbhe Ivory leads the B Category followed closely by Caroline Martinez so this duo will be fighting it out for the win, with Caoimhe Ivory sitting in third place on the league table under threat from Máire-Tríona Keane, Eileen O’Sullivan (Sorrento), Naoise Sheridan and Rebecca Heaney.  

It is still all to play for in the B Category, especially with medals for the top six in each Category in addition to the Best Newcomer and Most Improved Rider prizes.

In the A Race first and second placed Lucan riders Sandra Fitzgerald and Róisín Kennedy again kept cool heads to ensure that Sandra retained the jersey.  Several attacks from Orwell riders Orla Hendron, Anne Dalton and Ciara Kinch were quickly extinguished, ensuring that a compact scratch group caught the limit group thus setting up the win for Sandra.  
Team_Orwell
Ciara Kinch took a well deserved third place ahead of Monica Marconi (H J Lyons) who rode a great race and at one point looked like she might take the win.  After a testing race, Anne Dalton had to settle for fifth place with Laura Banfield (Swords CC) coming back into form with an impressive sixth place.  

Although it looks like Team Lucan may have sewn up the league, anything could happen in relation the other placings with Anne Dalton fighting to retain her podium position.  Next Tuesday, the races will be spiced up with some primes and no doubt some more fast and furious racing as the standard improves week on week.  We are also delighted to confirm that Bray Wheelers will be running the follow-on Ladies Wicklow League on each of the four Tuesday evenings in June, based in their usual spot in Ashford and starting with a hill climb TT – full details soon.

Finally, many thanks again to all those who watched and supported last week.  If you haven’t been to watch a League round yet, you don’t know what you’ve been missing and next Tuesday will be your last chance this year so we hope to see you there!  All are also welcome to attend a free barbeque for prize-giving in the Blue Light Pub, Sandyford after the final race.

 

The full league table can be downloaded here.

Top 10 Overall League Standings in A & B Categories

A Category:
1, Sandra Fitzgerald (Lucan CRC) 185 Points;
2, Róisín Kennedy (Lucan CRC) 159 Points;
3, Anne Dalton (Orwell Wheelers) 147 Points;
4, Ciara Kinch (Orwell Wheelers) 122 Points;
5, Monica Marconi (Henry J. Lyons) 109 Points;
6, Patricia Buckley (Orwell Wheelers) 105 Points;
7, Niamh Stephens (UCD) 94 Points;
8, Sandra Telford (Orwell Wheelers) 93 Points;
9, Ania Krol (Orwell Wheelers) 90 Points;
10, Muirna Walsh (Lakeside Wheelers) 85 Points;

B Category:
1, Ailbhe Ivory (UCD) 122 Points;
2, Caroline Martinez (Orwell Wheelers) 117 Points;
3, Caoimhe Ivory (Bray Wheelers) 99 Points;
4, Máire-Tríona Keane (Orwell Wheelers) 95 Points;
5, Eileen O’Sullivan (Sorrento CC) 94 Points;
6, Naoise Sheridan (Orwell Wheelers) 81 Points;
7, Rebecca Heaney (SERC) 81 Points;
8, Aoife Sheridan (Orwell Wheelers) 80 Points;
9, Yvonne Conneally (Orwell Wheelers) 58 points;
10, Sadie Gleeson (Sorrento CC) 46 Points;

Photos courtesy of Brendan Culleton

Orwell Wheelers