Ace sprinter Brian Ahern showed that he's no slouch up a hill, either, as he took third overall and top Orwell rider in the Inter Club League Hillclimb Championships in Ballinascorney last night.
Ahern dragged his imposing frame (and his soon to be pensioned off vintage Trek) up the five and half kilomtere ordeal that is Ballinascorney within 49 seconds of Lucan CRC's star hillclimber Frank Billings and just over half a minute faster than orwell silver medallist Patrick O.Brien.
Last year's Orwell Hillclimb Champion Odhran Connors was eighth overall and third Orwell a further 22 seconds in arrears, pipping Diarmuid Collins for the final medal by three seconds.
Collins' consolation was second place points in the semi scratch category and with it the overall league leadership by a point from Billings. Collins will get to race his Lucan rival at close quarters from now on having been promoted to the scratch group ahead of next week's handicap event in Black Bull.
Special mention should go to Shane O'Neill for his eyebrow arching tenth overall and comprehensive win over the limit group. Shane's reward for top points in his third bicycle race is to leapfrog straight to semi scratch for his next outing.
Fionn Griffin is also on the move. His third place in limit just pipping Stephen Sheridan earns the pair a promotion to semi limit.
Anne Dalton took second place points in the women's group ahead of Maire triona Keane. Dalton is now seven points behind Lucan's Roisin Kennedy in the women's league.
Full results can be accessed here.
Interclub League Hillclimb Championships
Ballinascorney, May 12th
Overall
1, Frank Billings (Lucan CRC), 13m22s;
2, John McCormack (Lucan CRC), +24s;
3, Brian Ahern (Orwell Wheelers), +49s;
4, Alan Cody (St Tiernan's), +1m12s;
5, Patrick O'Brien (Orwell Wheelers), + 1m20s;
6, Ross Collins (UCD), +1m26s.
Semi Scratch
2, Diarmuid Collins (Orwell Wheelers), 15m07s.
Semi Limit
2, Gary Fleming (Orwell Wheelers), 16m09s;
3, Edward O'Mahoney (Orwell Wheelers) 16m16s.
Limit
1, Shane O'Neill (Orwell Wheelers), 15m10s.
2, Fionn Griffin (Orwell Wheelers), 16m34s
Women
2, Anne Dalton (Orwell Wheelers), 18m45s;
3, Maire Triona Keane (Orwell Wheelers), 19m38s.
Orwell Hillclimb Championships
1, Brian Ahern 14m11s;
2, Patrick O'Brien, +21s;
3, Odhran Connors, 53s.
