This year's Rás na mBan saw past and present Orwell members involved at all levels, most significantly a full team of current club riders, and Joe Daly Cycles sponsored a composite team. We also had Isabel Cogan selected for Leinster, while former members Anne Dalton and Lydia Boylan were riding for Ireland. Monica Marconi won the Fedaia Veterans competition, and Cogan's Leinster team took home the top county prize.

On the star-studded roster for the club team was World Masters Points Champ Orla Hendron, Orwell League victor Lucy Soden, National U16 Champ Rachael Kaye-Mellor, Collins Christle Memorial winner Monica Marconi and Rás veteran Charlotte MacDonald. With only Junior Kaye-Mellor not having competed in a previous Rás, the Orwell squad were well prepared for the difficult five days that lay ahead, and would be well supported by veteran manager Eddie Lynch, and mechanic Dick O'Brien. Masseuse Gary Reid was on hand for rubs, support and logistical assistance.

Joe Daly Cycles through club president Dave Tansey sponsored a composite team, featuring former national representative Lauren Creamer, Lucan rider and Rás sophmore Maria Mulvany, Ironwoman Karen Robinson of Garda/Richies/Ethos CC, Rás Clár placed Noreen O'Toole (Westport Covey Wheelers) in her first Rás, and another Rás débutante in Sarah Dennedy from DID Dunboyne. Essentially a development squad apart from Creamer, the Joe Daly Cycles were aiming to earn their finishers' medals, and garner as much experience as possible along the way. Creamer was aiming for a high GC spot after being forced to abandon with illness in last year's Rás. They were aided by two Orwellians in first-time manager Brian McArdle, and regular sportiver David Hendron as mechanic.

Scattered throughout other teams were other current and former club members, with Leinster Hill Climb Champ Isabel Cogan riding for a strong Leinster team under manager Mags Donnelly, and Anne Dalton alongside Lydia Boylan on the national team. Jenny Fay was home from Australia riding for Bike-Aid.de, and happily staying in the same hotel as the Orwell, Joe Daly and Leinster teams, which led to great Orwell family dinners in the evening.

Declan Quigley was handling press and presentations for the Rás, while former Orwellian Caroline Martinez was covering the race comprehensively for StickyBottle.com. 2011 guest rider for Orwell Fiona Cooke was also heavily involved in helping race director Valerie Considine produce this year's sterling edition of the An Post Rás na mBan.


Orwell Wheelers


Joe Daly Cycles, missing Lauren Creamer


Stage 1: Fixx Coffee House

The 2013 Rás opened on a dull Wednesday evening, with a 56km stage starting and finishing in Ennis. Riders had to deal with two categorised climbs, the first only a cat 3 as the race passed through Tulla, but it was on the ascent of the cat 2 Maghera that everything blew apart. The race was strung out along the 6.4km peak, but 200m before the QOH line, a crash at the front of the lead group brought down several riders.

Creamer required a bike change but was underway again swiftly, working her way through the cars to tag back on to the bunch before the close. Cogan came down hard, with a nasty cut to her knee, but herself and MacDonald worked together to limit their losses.

Fay and Boylan both tried late solo attacks, but the stage finished with a bunch gallop of nearly 70 riders, including Boylan, Fay, Creamer and Dalton. Marconi was sitting comfortably at the back of the bunch, with Robinson, Cogan, Soden and MacDonald coming in five minutes down. Kaye-Mellor, Hendron, Dennedy and Mulvany were less than two minutes further back, and O'Toole came in three minutes up on race patron Sonia O'Sullivan.


Stage 2: Beast of the Burren

Thursday's stage was the appropriately named 'Beast of the Burren', made memorable by the heavy mist, five categorised climbs (including the infamous Corkscrew Hill and the finish line at Carron), and the fact that it was the race's longest stage at 96km. Both Soden and Dennedy came down in the first few kilometres, with Soden also becoming entangled with Sonia O'Sullivan, who was riding for Munster. Thankfully both were back in the saddle and trooping onwards through the bleak Burren landscape after some brief attention. Dalton was not so lucky, with injury forcing her abandonment, and likewise Creamer who fell ill.

Between the Corkscrew and the exposed coastal roads of the west coast, the race split to pieces. Fay was best on the stage, getting away in a break of three with a pair from the Irish National Squad, who doubled up on her to leave her with 3rd place - a very worthy achievement on the tough parcours in the conditions. With that result she moved up to 3rd overall, and also took the mountains jersey from DID guest rider and UK Crit Champ Hannah Barnes.

Behind her, Boylan finished in 6th place to take 6th on GC, and Marconi continued her strong riding - sticking in a group containing many high calibre riders, including the defending Rás na mBan champ and Danish National Champ Kamilla Sofie Vallin. After 90km of fast riding, with everyone else's legs stinging, Marconi then attacked the group 7km from the line, embarking on the closing climb solo. She was only caught on the line atop a steep ramp by a small group of three, including Vallin, but was first over the chalk nevertheless, marking it a standout ride for the vet. With that jump she clinched the position of highest unplaced vet, with only GC leader Olivia Dillon ahead of her.

Cogan did well to only lose 12'40", while MacDonald, Robinson and Kaye-Mellor worked together in a group of about twenty which only broke up climbing in the final few kilometres. Kaye-Mellor was doing more than her fair share of work on the flat, and paid for it at the end, while MacDonald shot ahead to come in just under 25 minutes down. Robinson and Kaye-Mellor were only a few seconds behind.

Dennedy and Soden recovered from their earlier encounters with the tarmac to pass a lot of stragglers and slower groups to finish 88th and 89th, a second apart - a great display of teamwork from the duo. Hendron came in ahead of Mulvany, who suffered with back pains during the stage, while O'Toole took the lantern rouge after becoming turned around on the course.


Orla Hendron at the rear of the field on stage 2


A bleak day in the Burren, with Charlotte MacDonald, Rachael Kaye-Mellor and Karen Robinson working together to get through the course quicker


Stage 3: Clare Sports Partnership Team Time Trial

Friday featured a split stage, starting with a 14km team time trial in the morning. With the two teams off in the first five slots, it was an early start with breakfast at 6.30am. With the roads still wet, the The Joe Daly Cycles squad were first off, and so had the honour of setting the course record, finishing with all four riders crossing the line together in 22'21".

Orwell's well-drilled squad  put nearly two minutes into that time, zooming along the course with Marconi lunging for the line, and the front four being given a time of 20'47". Kaye-Mellor couldn't quite keep the pace with her restricted gearing, and soft-pedalled the course to finish four minutes later.

Leinster had to undergo a quick gear change from plain skinsuits (only team kit was allowed) to their post-race jackets, but despite their aerodynamic disadvantage, still completed the course in a blistering 19'29". Cogan was an integral part of that effort, which put them 9th on the stage. Boylan was part of the winning Irish push (18'00"), moving her up to 3rd overall, while Fay's weaker team in 14th meant she slipped to 18th on GC.


The Joe Daly Cycles squad were first off


Photo thanks to Paddy Doran


Orwell ready for their TTT (photo thanks to Caroline Martinez)


Photo thanks to Paddy Doran


Monica Marconi lunges for the line


Stage 4: Cummins Car Centre Circuit Race

The women then tackled a 4.1km circuit for the evening, an hour of high octane racing with plenty of local spectators coming out to Ballyalla to check out the action. Thankfully the rain held off and the roads were dry by the time the riders started off. Most of the crew were pulled out with a lap to go, for fear of being lapped. Marconi was consistent in finishing in the bunch sprint, along with Boylan, Fay and Cogan.

Lucy Soden produced her best individual performance of the Rás, working hard at the back of the bunch in small groups to stay in contact, and finishing just 17" off the winner.


Orwell signing on at the podium before the circuit race


Stage 5: An Post

Lisdoonvarna was the venue of Saturday's stage, at the centre of a figure of eight loop around west Clare. It was a mercifully sunny stage after Thursday's damp affair, and the roads were unrecognisable from that beastly stage.

That didn't help Mulvany however, who fell victim to crippling back pains and had to retire just beyond Kilfenora. She had the comfort at least of Brian Mc's personalised Father Ted Tour of County Clare. The rest soldiered on, and Dennedy in particular displayed remarkable fortitude, keeping ahead of the broomwagon despite being ill the night before. O'Toole remained alongside her - a true teammate - keeping spirits high and the pair eventually crossed the line hand in hand.

Further up the field, Robinson and all the Orwell riders bar Marconi were pushing hard in a large bunch passing spectacular views over the glistening Atlantic. They eventually finished around 12' down. Marconi once again remained near the leaders, coming across the line in one of the front chasing groups after a gritty drive to the line. She lost only 3'34", retaining her lead as first unplaced vet in 43rd place.

Fay remained with the leaders at the line, climbing to 16th on GC, but lost her mountains jersey to stage winner Barnes, while Boylan finished 28" down. A selection of about 15 riders came in within 30" of each other at the seven minute mark, including Cogan.

Heading into the final stage, the win for Dillon looked locked as the Irish National Team held all the podium spots, with Boylan in 3rd.


The riders probably didn't appreciate the views of the Cliffs of Moher, but they were amazing


Sarah Dennedy and Noreen O'Toole never faltered despite their suffering


Stage 6: Inn at Dromoland

The weather turned sour for Sunday, with 40kmph winds and the riders greeted by pouring rain at sign-on. Cogan was unfortunate to puncture and suffer a mechanical in the fast early kilometres, and a tenacious chase saw her back in contention, though she never saw the front of the race again. She eventually finished a mere 15' down.

Marconi was in danger of losing her lead in the vets competition after coming down in an early crash that snapped Munster rider Anne Keohane's front forks, but was paced back to the bunch by MacDonald, Soden and Kaye-Mellor. That was the end to Kaye-Mellor and Soden's roles in the race, as the latter endured a series of falls on roads littered with storm detritus. Being a hard woman of the Rás, she never faltered, punching up the cat 2 climb of Gallows Hill and forming a grupetto with Keohane and Dennedy, who had ended up in the ditch earlier in the race. Kaye-Mellor retired shortly after her part in the pacing, with the week taking its toll on the Junior. She stated later that she was happy with her performance throughout, and rightly so.

Having already splintered on the narrow roads of Gallows Hill, the race was ripped to shreds on the 20km stretch of road heading home by brutal headwinds, with small groups echeloning across the tarmac. Fay held on to finish a few seconds behind the front group, with Boylan a further 10" back. Marconi came in with a group of ten after a steely performance, losing only 12' and sealing her win in the veterans' competition.

Hendron was 3' further back in a group of eight, with Cogan next in the results. Robinson won her group sprint after taking charge of the group discipline on the road, including MacDonald and last year's winner, the Dane Vallin. Dennedy and Soden crossed the line together in a repeat of Thursday's finish, while O'Toole was 83rd - a notable achievement from the 105 who started on Wednesday in Ennis. Having been sent the wrong way more than once during the week, by our reckoning O'Toole rode the longest Rás, and deserves a special chapeau for that!


Lucy Soden pushing hard up Gallows Hill


Final GC

Thus in the final GC, Boylan slid to 8th overall after coming down in the final stage, but the ladies in green were top of the team GC. Fay meanwhile climbed to 10th, and was third in the mountains competition.

The ride of the Rás however belongs to Monica Marconi, who finished 38th overall, 4th county rider, and won the Fedaia Veterans competition. The Italian has had a great season, with several placings scattered across the Wheelworx Orwell Crit League, the Corkagh Park series, and the National League, including her solo win in Kilmessan. Her aggressive style of racing gained her valuable time on the second stage in Clare, and her persistence in hanging on to bunches of professional riders paid off handsomely in the end.


Monica Marconi with her Fedaia Veteran Competition prize

Isabel Cogan placed as 6th county rider at 47th overall, and her doggedness throughout the race helped her Leinster team to the top county team prize. Along with Fiona Guihen, Roisín Kennedy, Eve McCrystal and Fran Meehan, they earned their trophies with constant spirited riding - they all finished in the top ten county riders. Cogan is currently playing down rumours that she'll be trying to upgrade her provincial hill climb title to a national one, but if she skips that it'll be for a well-deserved winter break.


Isabel Cogan with her trophy won as part of the top county team


Cogan with her Leinster teammates: (L-R) Fran Meehan, Roisín Kennedy, Isabel Cogan, Eve McCrystal, Fiona Guihen (photo thanks to Mags Donnelly)

Charlotte MacDonald and Lucy Soden finished within a minute of each other on the overall, in 71st and 72nd respectively (14th and 15th on county GC), and Karen Robinson in 74th (17th). Orla Hendron was thirty seconds back in 76th (19th), and Noreen O'Toole pipped Sarah Dennedy to the lanterne rouge, of 84 finishers (23 county riders).

There are more photos available on Facebook.

Huge thanks to all who put so much hard work into organising the teams - the club and Joe Daly Cycles for their generous sponsorship, and to Dave Tansey for supplies of race food, bottles, spares, expertise, encouragement, entertainment... Those who came down at the weekend to lend a hand - Peter Gerrard, John Twomey and Sandra Telford. Thanks to Paddy Fitzimons and EuroCycles/EuroBaby for the loan of the team cars. The managers and mechanics and physios, who had to compete in the night stages, but every morning kept the atmosphere light and supportive, and prepared bikes and riders for every eventuality. And Valerie and all her committee who didn't seem to sleep at all during the race, and the marshalls and race support staff who keep everything running so smoothly.

But the Rás belongs to the riders, each and every one of whom remained positive and determined to finish, and produced plucky rides after hitting the deck, or tenacious racing to keep pace with full-time professional athletes. This year's field was the biggest yet, and arguably the best, including world and national champions, Olympic athletes and former winners of the Rás. Every finisher's medal was well earned, and each performance deserves recognition and kudos.

Women of the Rás, we salute you!


Rás na mBan 2013 - Final GC

1 Dillon,Olivia V Irish National T 10h30'40"
2 Spath,Melanie S Irish National T 10h30'40" = s/t
3 Majerus,Christine S Team Luxembourg 10h34'38" @03'58"
4 Boylan,Lydia S Irish National T 10h34'42" @04'02"
13 Fay,Jenny S Bike-Aid.de 10h35'53" @05'13"
38 Marconi,Monica V Orwell Wheelers 11h00'46" @30'06"
47 Cogan,Isabel S Cycling Leinster 11h13'10" @42'30"
71 McDonald,Charlotte S Orwell Wheelers 11h48'11" @1h17'31"
72 Soden,Lucy S Orwell Wheelers 11h48'44" @1h18'04"
74 Robinson,Karen S Joe Daly Cycles 11h49'56" @1h19'16"
76 Hendron,Orla V Orwell Wheelers 11h50'28" @1h19'48"
83 Dennedy,Sarah S Joe Daly Cycles 12h28'51" @1h58'11"
84 O'Toole,Noreen S Joe Daly Cycles 13h07'14" @2h36'34"

County Rider GC

1 Meade,Fiona S Team Munster 10h37'46" @07'06"
2 McCrystal,Eve S Cycling Leinster 10h44'19" @13'39"
3 Meehan,Fran S Cycling Leinster 10h56'21" @25'41"
4 Marconi,Monica V Orwell Wheelers 11h00'46" @30'06"
5 McManus,Ciara V Cycling Ulster 11h06'01" @35'21"
6 Cogan,Isabel S Cycling Leinster 11h13'10" @42'30"
7 Kennedy,Roisin S Cycling Leinster 11h16'28" @45'48"
8 Stephens,Niamh S Team Verge 11h18'24" @47'44"
9 Cronin,Martina S Team Munster 11h25'43" @55'03"
10 Guihen,Fiona S Cycling Leinster 11h25'45" @55'05"
11 McNally,Janine S Cycling Ulster 11h33'20" @1h02'40"
12 Stapelbroek,Lisa S Munster Developm 11h38'52" @1h08'12"
13 O'Sullivan,Theresa S Munster Developm 11h40'21" @1h09'41"
14 McDonald,Charlotte S Orwell Wheelers 11h48'11" @1h17'31"
15 Soden,Lucy S Orwell Wheelers 11h48'44" @1h18'04"
16 Oakes,Sinead S Munster Developm 11h48'51" @1h18'11"
17 Robinson,Karen S Joe Daly Cycles 11h49'56" @1h19'16"
18 Mangan,Ciara S Munster Developm 11h50'13" @1h19'33"
19 Hendron,Orla V Orwell Wheelers 11h50'28" @1h19'48"
20 Doherty,Nicola S Munster Developm 11h51'16" @1h20'36"
21 Keohane,Anne V Team Munster 11h51'31" @1h20'51"
22 Dennedy,Sarah S Joe Daly Cycles 12h28'51" @1h58'11"
23 O'Toole,Noreen S Joe Daly Cycles 13h07'14" @2h36'34"

Full results for each stage available at rasnamban.com.