League Updates

The sudden arrival of the good weather saw a large turnout for round 8 of the FPM Accountants Summer Cycling League. 60 riders were spread across 6 different groups & it came down to a very close finish with less than 500ms separating the winner from the last group. The circuit was the demanding Ravensdale Loop with the tough climb leading off the Carlingford Road up to Ravensdale graveyard. By the end of the second lap groups 1 to 4 had all come together as had scratch & super scratch behind them. Knowing that they were in the hunt for the win the scratch groups kept driving the pace as the large group up ahead desperately held onto their narrow lead. In scratch riders like James Flynn, Gerry McCabe & Sean Loughran were taking monsters pulls on the front of the bunch to try & close the gap. However up ahead riders knew if they dug deep they could hold out for the win. As such it was Kevin Trainer, Paul Le Blanc, Darren Murphy & others driving the pace. Eventually the scratch group just came up short, having run out of road. In the sprint for the line Newry's Conor Campbell edged out Declan Grey, from Paul MaGee. Paul Duffy had an excellent ride to come home in 4th. Less than 500ms behind Alan Grey won the sprint in the scratch group from James Flynn. Meanwhile in the mountain bike league Sandra O`Hagan took the big result that she has been threatening to do for so long & was first home. Sandra held off a fast charging John Sharkey from Group 3 & from even further back in group 5 Stephen Kelleher. The course, 2 laps of the Castle, was a repeat of one used a few weeks ago & such was Sandra's improvement over the weeks that she was over 4mins faster. This Sunday (June 5th) will see many of the club's cyclists line up for the annual Tour of Louth, alongside a number of children riding the family 10km event.