Sunday's A4 Dunsany GP once again provided an Orwell rider with a maiden win, as David Halpin followed in Eric's Downey's footsteps to surge up the finishing ramp and outsprint all other comers! Halpin took home some magnificent glassware, and a well-deserved upgrade to A3. Read on to hear about that win, and plenty of other results for the club over the weekend!

While Halpin's win was the biggest of the weekend, the first result was claimed in Newbridge by Naoise Sheridan in Saturday's European Youth Olympics selection TT. Sheridan took tenth in the U16 race in Wexford last weekend, but clearly that placing did not sate her ambitions. Despite suffering from a recent bout of illness, her form bounced back nicely to give her the 4th fastest time in the Conway Baxter TT qualifier, which will give the selectors food for thought.

In the senior men's action, racing was split between the famed Shay Elliot in Wicklow, and the newly minted Dunsany GP in Meath. Last year was the inaugural edition of the latter, put on by Drogheda Wheelers to complement the A1/2 classic. Orwell's own Eric Downey memorably made his open racing debut there as an A4, pushing the break around, and then sprinting for an ample win. That means there's a lot of pressure on this year's winner David Halpin, as Downey was in action in a break again today, this time as an A1!

Halpin has made a good start to imitating his predecessor, with today's result earning him an upgrade to A3. While not quite his debut, Halpin has only taken up open racing this year, following on from a solid season in the inter-club league last year. He was a successful junior rider in his time with a string of placings, though he rides on a vet's licence now. His love for the bike was rekindled taking part in sportives over the last few years, before joining Orwell in late 2011 to try racing once more. He relearned valuable lessons in the club league, and only two weeks ago took a respectable fifth place in the Waller Cup in Bohermeen. Yesterday proved that was no fluke.

In Dunsany he spent the race continuously positioning himself in the front fifteen, showing his talent in comfortably doing so. He hit the bottom of the final ramp in sixth or seventh position, before blasting to the line, beating the unlucky Andrew McGuinness (Navan RC) into second place by only half a wheel.

While it seems A3 racing wasn't quite in the plan for Halpin, he's already got an idea of how to train for the increased intensity - try to hang on even longer in the club league Corkagh Park crits, where the ruthless pace has so far been his undoing. Semi-scratch, you have been warned! We wish Halpin the best of luck, and hope to see him taking home plenty more glass- and silverware in the near future.

Halpin (at front) in action in Corkagh Park recently (courtesy of SwimCycleRun.com)

At the same venue, perennial placer Brian McArdle managed a fine 5th place in the A3 bunch gallop. Two weeks ago - while Halpin was scooping his first A4 points - McArdle was rear-ending a car with his face, resulting in a visit to A&E and minor surgery. Dunsany was his litmus test for how his recovery was progressing, and he should be pleased to find his legs had not deserted him on his return to the saddle. Although ruing his lack of positioning on the final corner, McArdle still netted enough points to earn his long overdue upgrade to A2, where we expect he won't have to talk about himself in the third person very often.

The latest round of the Joe Daly Cycles' Women's National League also took place in Dunsany, with an active Orwell contingent. Current leader Sandra Fitzgerald (Garda CC) was forced to abandon, but her teammate, bronze medallist Caroline Ryan, took the win in a two woman break. In the bunch behind, Trish Buckley attacked hard on the final run only to be overtaken in the closing metres, but she made the calculation to come home 6th and ensure she remained in the prizes.

Buckley will no doubt now focus her energies on Tuesday night's final round of the Wheelworx Orwell Ladies' Crit League, where she sits second overall, only three points behind Iverk Carrick's Martina Cronin.

Ex-Orwell Anne Dalton was one of those who came around Buckley to nab third place behind the break. That moves her into the overall leader's jersey, and she will have plenty of time to savour it, as the next round of the league is not until late July.

In Wicklow meanwhile, at possibly the most prestigious one-day race in Ireland, several Orwell riders were digging deep at the Shay Elliot. Eric Downey was especially active, getting in a break with eventual fourth placed Damien Shaw (AquaBlue), but was unlucky to crash out of that move - he finished safely thereafter. The A2 riders made up for it though, with Odhran Connors powering home to take the 2nd unplaced A2 prize, and Patrick O'Brien pushing hard to claim 7th unplaced A2.

While O'Brien is skipping the event in favour of the Rás Dhún na nGall in three weeks' time, Downey and Connors will be riding the An Post Rás - starting next Sunday. Along with Diarmuid and Aidan Collins, and Dan Whiting, the Orwell team will be riding hard for eight days. To help support them, the club are holding a fundraising barbecue on Tuesday night - full details. The event will host the prize-giving for the Crit League, so come along and cheer on our women and our men!

Dunsany GP (A3/Junior)

1 Ciaran Campbell (Drogheda Wheelers)
2 Ciaran Mc Kenna (Emerald)
3 Jonathan Gormley (Emyvale)
4 Richie Mc Donaugh (Murphy Surv/Kilcullen)
5 Brian Mc Ardle (DTC Orwell Wheelers)
6 Fergus Whelan (Adamstown CC)
7 Shane Foley (Carlow)
8 Donal Daly (Richies Garda CC)

Unplaced Juniors

1 Daire Feeley (Donamon Dynamos)
2 Daragh Campbell (Drogheda Wheelers)
3 Cian Farrell (Dublin Wheelers)

A4 race

1 David Halpin (DTC Orwell Wheelers)
2 Andrew McGuinness (Navan RC)
3 David Farrell (Longford)
4 Eoghan Connolly (McNally Swords)
5 Charlie Sheridan (Lakeside Whlrs)
6 David Burke (Limerick CC)
7 Paul McKenna (Murphy Surv/Kilcullen)
8 Dermot Keelan (Cuchulainn CC)

Women's Race
Joe Daly Cycles' Women's Nat. League R4

1 Caroline Ryan (Richies Garda CC)
2 Janine Mc Nally (North Down CC)
3 Anne Dalton (DID Womans Team)
4 Tanya Moran (Black Rose)
5 Monica Kotecka (Seven Springs CC)
6 Patricia Buckley (DTC Orwell Wheelers)

Shay Elliott Memorial

1 Conor Murphy (Eurocycles)
2 Thomas Martin (Euocycles)
3 Eoin Morton (UCD CC)
4 Damien Shaw (Aquablue)
5 Martin Mizgayski (Iverk Carrick Wheelers)
6 Art McManus (SDCC)
7 Sean Lacey (Aquablue)
8 Andrew Meehan (DID Dunboyne)

Unplaced A2s

1 Eoin Green (Iverk Carrick Wheelers)
2 Odhran Connors (DTC Orwell Wheelers)
3 John McCarthy (Aquablue)
4 Ciaran Conluian (UCD CC)
5 Shaun Rigley (South Dublin CC)
6 Killian Coyle (Louth CC)
7 Patrick O’Brien (DTC Orwell Wheelers)
8 Michael Butler (Visit Nenagh)
9 David Watson (North Down CC)
10 Frank O’Connor (Stamullen)