Write a commentNewry Wheelers Race Report (Mid Ulster GP & Bohermeen & FPM League Update)
Newry Wheelers Women – Top 10 at Mid Ulster GP
Newry Wheelers women riders Alwynne Shannon, Caitriona Featherstone & Catherine Sands finished in Top 10 at the womens race at the Mid Ulster GP today in Cookstown. The race promoted by Harps Cycling Club was a 32 mile route covering 4 laps of 8 miles. The route was lumpy and rolling route with plenty of crosswinds. However the Wheelers ladies worked well together in the group all finishing in a bunch sprint at the end, Alwynne took a superb 4th place with newcomers to open racing, Caitriona & Catherine were hot on her wheel in 6th & 7th respectively.
Meanwhile in the men’s A1/2/3 race Kevin Lynch (A2) and Declan Gallogly (A3) rode strong over the 60mile route. Lynch was in fine form giving it his all starting a break and rode hard to stay away in the three man break. The trio however were joined by 8 other riders who bridged the gap ending up with 14 riders in the break at the finish. With 1km to go Lynch attacked again with hopes of staying away but it didn’t happen for Kevin. Brian Walsh rode well also in the Men’s A4 race.
Clarke – 2nd in Bohermeen, Waller Cup ( Paddy Clarke)
Cathal Clarke was competing down in Bohermeen, Navan taking a fine 2nd place to add to his already quality palmares on Sunday against a bumper 150 A3 and Junior bunch. It was only 5km into the race that Cathal made his move to instigate a breakaway getting away with another local man in the form of Alan Bingham. The breakaway swelled to 9 riders approaching the 70km to go to go mark as the gap from the hard working breakaway grew to 2 minutes on the peleton. Cathal's teammates Drew McKinley, Conor McLoughlin and Darren McCullough were all ever present at the front of the bunch disrupting any chase groups that formed or covering any dangerous attacks showing the good teamwork from the Newry lads. Coming into the final lap Cathal sethimself up for a sprint finish covering all the dangerous moves and making sure it was a group finish. With 200 metres to Cathal launched his sprint for victory, it was a head to head sprint with another upcoming Junior and Irish National teammate Adam Stenson. Both riders lunged at the line with Stenson getting the verdict by half a wheel over Clarke, a promising result for the young lad from Sheepbridge ahead of the local race of the Tour of the Mournes in 2 weeks.
FPM League Round 2 – Group 1 Stay Away!
75 riders turned up for Round 2 of the FPM league took place on Tuesday evening on the Warrenpoint/Newry dual carriageway. Weather conditions were ideal throughout. There were 2 races on the night and in Race 1 with 2 laps to be completed it was Andy Ruck in Group 1 who took the spoils with Joe MC Eldowney in 2nd and Louis O’Hare took 3rd place. First Lady across the line was newlywed Caitriona Featherstone taking 5th overall with Catherine Sands 6th and Ciara Havern finishing in 8th place in her first league race. In the 3 lap race young gun Cathal Clarke took the win with Alan Bingham from visiting Cuchulainn CC taking 2nd place and Drew McKinley taking 3rd place. FPM League Round 3 will be the Kilcoo Route.
