Orwell's A3 and A4 racers were to the fore on Saturday and Sunday last with top results posted in Dunshaughlin and Carlow.

Barry Dunne sprinted in for a breakthrough second place finish in the A3 race at Staggs Lucan GP in Meath on Saturday.

Dunne infiltrated a group of 12 riders that raced clear on the first of three laps of the ‘Green Sheds’ course near Dunshaughlin and the relative novice showed great speed and a canny head to stay at the head of the affairs through to the conclusion of the 68km race.

Close behind solo winner Michael Hennessy of Fixx Coffee House, Dunne sprinted up the windswept ramp to the finishing line to score his first upgrade points of the year following his graduation from A4 in 2011.

On the same bill, Neal Hudson added to his prize winning exploits in Navan two weeks ago by scoring a fine sixth place finish in the bunch gallop that decided the A4 race over the same distance.

Hudson’s placing is just reward for a careful winter training programme under the tutelage of Aidan Hammond which seems certain to bear further fruit in the coming weeks and months.

The following day Craig Arrigan finished a highly creditable fourth in the A3 race at the Des Hanlon Memorial in Carlow.

A little encouragement from Barry Dunne kept Arrigan in the race during an arduous first of two laps in the epic 114km event and Arrigan found he still had the strength to sprint in third in a much depleted bunch behind Russell Tracy (St Finbarr’s) at the end of perhaps the hardest single day road race of the season.

Staggs Lucan GP,

Dunshaughlin Saturday 24th March

A3 Race
1, Michael Hennessey - Fixx Coffee House;
2, Barry Dunne (DTC Orwell Wheelers);
3, Noel McGlynn (UCD);
4, Donnacha O'Brien (Cork County CC);
5, Wayne Doolin (U/A);
6, Eoin McGovern (Usher Irish Road Club).

1st Junior - Jamie Noone (Sorrento).
1st Lady - Laura Bamfield (Swords CC).

A4 Race

1, Joe Christian (South East Road Club);
2, Mark Kelly (U/A);
3, Martin Gilbert (Swords CC);
4, Joe Rossiter (Barrow Wheelers);
5, Declan Luby (Usher Irish Road Club);
6, Neal Hudson (Orwell Wheelers).

Des Hanlon Memorial,

Carlow Sunday 25th March
A3 Race

1, Russell Treacy (St Finbarr's);
2, Thomas Fanning (Comeragh CC);
3, Thomas Fallon (Seven Springs);
4, Craig Arrigan (Orwell);
5, John McGuire (South East RC);
6, Owen White (Youghal CC);
7, Donal Harrington (Western Lakes CC);
8, Dylan Foley (St Finbarr's).