Martin & Sé Cuchulainn's latest National Champions

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"145","attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter size-medium wp-image-327","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"225","height":"300","alt":""}}]]Cuchulainn Cycling Club saw two of it's riders crowned National Champions in Kentstown, Co. Meath on Sunday (August 7th). The Irish Veterans Cycling Association (IVCA) held it's national Championship & in the 60-69 years category Dundalk's Martin Grey produced a superb ride to take a solo win. The race was held over 3 laps of an undulating 27km circuit & Martin decided to take the incentive early on. After only 10km Martin attacked & held a small gap of 20-30seconds for the next 2 laps. However on the final lap with the main bunch starting to feel the effects of the miles & constant hills Martin really put the pressure on & by the end had a lead of over 2mins to take the gold medal all by himself.
 
The 50-59 years race was also held on the same circuit & here the club's Youth Officer Sé Weston was in the main bunch. Again an attack went early & Sé along with 2 other riders got away. They managed to maintain a small gap for the entire race & several times it looked like they would be pulled back. However Sé kept driving the pace & his strength was rewarded when he won the sprint for the line. Both riders will be presented with their gold medals at the IVCA Awards night in October.
 
Colm Quinn & Myles McCorry were also racing in the Tour of Armagh on Sunday. Colm was in the main break & took 4th position in the sprint.
 
The latest round of the FPM Accountants Summer Cycling League saw the riders tackle 3 laps of the Ravensdale circuit. Going into this race 8 points separated the top 4 riders in the league table. Gerry McCabe was in pole position with 38 points, 2 ahead of Damian Grey. In 3rd position on 32 points was Colm Quinn and in 4th on 30 points was last week's winner Barry Douglas. Gerry was the winner of the league back in 2004 when it was relaunched & his lead is due to consistency, coupled with strong rides in the time trial. While the scratch group seldom are first home in the road races this groups seems to have it's riders competing week in, week out moping up the lower placings along the way. It this consistency over the 20 rounds which is required to win the tough league.
 
Thursday's action involved 45 riders, in 6 different groups spread over 14minutes. The handicapping was spot on with literally all bunches coming together less than 2 miles from the finish. Before on this course the tough climbing has seen the early groups been caught very quickly, but this was not the case on the night. A number of the big guns in scratch & super scratch started attacking each other on the last lap, opening up small gaps. However none of these stuck & it looked like it would come down to a sprint, where the smart money would have been on Stamullen's Gary Gorman. However as the riders turned off the Carlingford Road, just past Fitzpatricks Restaurant, Myles McCorry made a jump & quickly opened a small gap with only 2 miles to go. So close to the finish few were willing to chase him down, expending all their energy. A number of riders tired to jump across to him but couldn't bridge the gap & when caught the speed of the group would slow ever so slightly.
 
The cat & mouse tactics behind meant that McCorry just stayed in time trial mode & rode superbly to take the win for a remarkable solo victory. A few seconds later Gary Gorman led the bunch home for 2nd spot ahead of Ray O`Shaughnessy. Colm Quinn came in 2 spots ahead of Gerry McCabe, so pulled back a few spots in the fight for the overall title. The August 25th round of the league will double up as the Louth Road Racing Championships.
 
Meanwhile in the Women's & Beginners League, which recently finished up, it was the male beginners leading the way. Michael Stokes was crowned the winner with 9 points to spare over Chris Rodgers and Anthony Craven in 3rd. Eve McCrytsal was first lady in 4th position, with Sarah Fagan close behind in 5th. Newcomer Brianán Mc Bride put in an incredible performance coming home in 6th in what was her first ever open race. This experience will really stand to her & look for her name to figure in the 2012 Ladies League.
 
The Louth Ladies Road Race Championships was won in commanding fashion by Celine McPhilips. However the race for second was alot closer & even the finish line camera could not separate Sheena Dullaghan & Suzy Mackin, so a joint second place was awarded. Sarah Fagan continued her good season by taking 4th spot ahead of Deirde Armstrong.
 
Over the weekend the Bellurgan Park hosted  the 2nd "12hour Bull Raid". Here individuals, 2 and 4 man teams completed as many laps of the custom built circuit as possible over the course of 12  hours. An endurance event if ever there was! Results are to follow.