The Brian Storm!

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Orwell Wheelers’ current strength in depth was showcased in impressive style in Roundwood yesterday (Sunday) as the club provided volunteers aplenty for the annual Hammond Memorial races and still had riders spare to mop up a representative share of the generous prize list.

One of the stars of the day, indeed the weekend, was Brian McArdle who made his anticipated escape from A4 to A3 courtesy of a fine second place finish in the A4 race. McArdle’s graduation prize came a day after he scooped the top A4 pot in the combined A3/A4 race that helped christen the new purpose-built Corkagh Park race circuit.

McArdle, a keen scout leader, takes a selective approach to the Bí Ullamh motto when he turns his attention to cycle racing. While he eschews the conventional approach to training - basically, he doesn’t do any – he, somewhat paradoxically, has been known to carry almost every piece of cycling equipment he possesses, even in 45-minute criteriums...

It’s a freeform approach to racing that defies analysis but one which is producing results and there are surely very few that extract as much enjoyment from their bike racing.

Another Brian with reason to celebrate over the weekend comes from the other end of the racing experience spectrum: Brian Ahern’s third place in the first senior open race at Corkagh Park gives the former international a notable mention in what is sure to become a significant footnote in Irish cycling history.

Mick Lawless’s long nurtured brainchild is set to become a staple venue for Dublin bike racers in years to come and, of course, will feature a round of the Wheelworx Orwell Wheelers Women’s League next week and a full series of youth league events promoted by the club starting this Sunday.

Moving back to the Hammond Races on Sunday, Darragh Long provided the perfect start to the event with a fine sprint victory from a small group in the Stephen Arrigan Memorial Under 16 Race. Long is starting to find his form after a study delayed start to his training and is surely a strong bet for success later in the season.

Jack O’Connor produced a fine fifth place finish in the same race while Timothy Kaye Mellor was the club’s top finisher in the Under 14 race. Matthew Kaye-Mellor was fifth in the Under 12 race, one place ahead of Uisneach Sheridan.

Finally, the relentless attacking form displayed by Dave Coughlan in recent weeks is starting to pay dividends as he collected his third envelope in as many races by finishing ahead of the main group in the Noel Hammond Memorial to secure third A2 in one of the tougher one-day events.

Noel Hammond Memorial,

Roundwood, 29th April

A1 / A2 Race-Noel Hammond Memorial
1, Philip Lavery (Node 4);
2, Conor McConvey (An Post);
3, Greg Swinand (Usher Irish Road Club);
4, Mark Dowling ((DID Dunboyne CC);
5, Martin Mizgajski (Iverk Carrick Wheelers);
6, David Peelo (Murphy Surveyors Kilcullen CC);
7, Michael Barry (Cuchullain);
8, Fiachra Ó Muire (DID Dunboyne CC);
9, Anthony Walsh (Systeme U);
10, Colin Robinson (Stamullen).
 
 
A2 Prizes
1, Chris Reilly (Bohermeen CC);
2, Art McManus (South Dublin CC);
3, David Coughlan (Orwell Wheelers);
4, Declan Hanrahan (Worldwide Cycles);
5, Peter Rimmer (Lakeside);
6, Keith Walls (DID Dunboyne CC);
7, Dave Wherity (Stamullen);
8, Jay Kenny (Navan).
 
 
A3 Race-Kieran Hammond Memorial
1, Aaron O'Donoghue (unattached);
2, Geoff Robinson (Bray Wheelers);
3, Sean O'Tuathail (Bray Wheelers);
4, Mark Murphy (Bray Wheelers);
5, Owen Morton (UCD);
6, David Dargle (Stamullen);
7, Barrick Parker (UCD);
8, Peter O'Farrell (Un-attached).
 
 
Ladies:
1, Sarah Ortiz (Black Rose);
2, Amy Brice (Phoenix CC);
3, Laura Banfield (Swords CC).
 
 
Juniors:
1, Ciaran Campbell (Drogheda CC);
2, Pierre de Leaster (Waterford);
3, Conor Trihy (Comeragh CC).
 
 
Veterans:
1, Aidan Reade (Black Rose);
2, Terry Ferris (Murphy & Gunn).
 
 
A4 Race
1 Shane Scully (Tullamore CC);
2 Brian McArdle (Orwell Wheelers);
3 Phil O'Flaherty (Swords CC);
4 Daniel Crichton (Blanchardstown);
5 Barry Murphy (Wexford Wheelers);
6 Ger Dunne (Clonard CC).
 
 
 
YOUTH RACES
 
Under 16-Stephen Arrigan Memorial Cup
1, Darragh Long (Orwell Wheelers);
2, Fintan Ryan (Sorrento CC);
3, Joshua Francis (Kanturk CC);
4, Jude Roche (Newbridge);
5, Jack O'Connor (Orwell);
6, Sam Gilmore, (Bray Wheelers).
 
 
Under 14
1, Adam Stenson (Lucan CRC);
2, Adam Thatcher (Slaney);
3, Ryan Byrne (Slaney);
4, Reece Young (Slaney);
5, Fionn Jordan (Slaney),
6, Timothy Kaye-Mellor (Orwell Wheelers).
 
 
Under 12
1, Elliott Young (unattached);
2, Luke Coll (Stamullen);
3, Will Ryan (Bray Wheelers);
4, Marc Thatcher (Slaney);
5, Matthew Kaye-Mellor (Orwell Wheelers);
6, Uisneach Sheridan (Orwell Wheelers).

 

Corkagh Park Closed Circuit Race - 28th April

Organised by South Dublin Road Club

A1 - A2 Race
1, Philip Lavery (Node4);
2, Gary Gorman (Stamullen M Donnelly RC);
3, Brian Ahern (Orwell Wheelers CC);
4, Fiacha O'Muire (DID Dunboyne CC);
5, Mark Gill (South Dublin CC);
1st Unplaced A2: Art McManus (South Dublin CC).

A3 - A4 Race 

1, Shane O'Donoghue (Waterford);
2, Barry Griffin (Comeragh CC);
3, John Caffrey (Stagg Cycles Lucan CRC);
4, Graham Thomas (Stagg Cycles Lucan CRC);
5, Gareth Gormley (Rocky Mountain).

1st Unplaced A4: Brian McArdle (Orwell Wheelers).

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