Geoghegan and Hendron One-Two in Mullingar

Zoo Hair Salon Women's National League Round 3, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath
Sunday 17th May 2009

Click here for all images from round 3 in our photo gallery.

Michelle Geoghegan is clearly not used to winning, but that doesn't mean she doesn't have the winning mentality.

The Dublin-based Kerrywoman contented herself with a low-key, hands-on-the-tops smile as she cross the line to win the third round of the Zoo Hair Salon Women's National League in Mullingar yesterday, a unique reaction to her breakthrough Open Race win.

Orwell clubmate Orla Hendron led out the uphill sprint to the line at the end of 72 kilometres only to see a flash of familiar green and white edge past in the closing metres as Geoghegan summoned the strength for a final assault.

Perhaps Geoghegan just forgot to throw her hands up, caught in the reverie of a win that was long overdue. Maybe it was unfamiliarity with the expected formalities or maybe just sheer exhaustion after more than 40 kilometres out front of a race that ended in the group sprint that she had dreaded from the outset.

Whatever, Hendron's stretch for the sky described the joy for both of them of a race ridden to perfection by the Orwell pair, a race of changing tactics and evolving fortunes on a circuit with a stiff climb long enough for most but perhaps not long enough or steep enough for Geoghegan.

Early on the second of five 14km laps, Geoghegan made her bid for glory approaching the sharp left turn before the series of short, sharp ramps and when Sinead Jennings jumped across to her the race was on. The gap hovered at around 20 seconds for some time before the lead duo pulled away to a maximum of around a minute.

Alas it was not to be as the riders from Lakeside Wheelers and Ravens finally coordinated to chase down the two leaders starting the final lap at which time Geoghegan could have been forgiven for accepting that it wasn't to be her day, especially when Fiona Meade (St Finbarr's) made a strong bid for glory.

Hendron, though, had been able to keep some firepower in reserve during the chase of her team mate and, in a strong bid to counter Meade's attack, dragged the lead group to within touching distance approaching the line.

Meade succumbed and Geoghegan had recovered enough to produce an irresistible surge for the line and a victory that owed as much to dogged determination as to undoubted athletic prowess and the strong team tactics employed by the pair. Hendron was as pleased in second as Geoghegan was in victory on another fine day for the Orwell.

Results

Race 3

1. Michelle Geoghegan (Orwell Wheelers DTC)
2. Orla Hendron (Orwell Wheelers DTC)
3. Wendy Bates (Lakeside Wheelers)
4. Sarah Piner (Lakeside Wheelers)
5. Jennifer O'Reilly (Ravens)
6. Fiona Meade (St. Finbarr’s)
7. Adrienne McCarthy (Limerick)
8. Geraldine Gill (Bohermeen)

Current ranking after three rounds

1. Jennifer O'Reilly (Ravens) - 39 points
2. Michelle Geoghegan (Orwell Wheelers DTC) - 35 points
3. Wendy Bates (Lakeside Wheelers) - 26 points
4. Francine Meehan (Tullamore) - 25 points
5. Kathleen Gill (Bohermeen) - 23 points
6. Sarah Piner (Lakeside Wheelers) - 23 points
7. Jenni O'Regan (Cycling Pursuits) - 23 points