Stokes & Gorman Crowned Louth Championships

Sunday last saw Cuchulainn Cycling Club host the Louth Road Race Championships for both men and women. Despite the atrocious weather a good turn saw the riders start at Oriel Park, head to Carrickmacross, across to Ardee on to the links road, past Dorian`s pub and into the finish at the Fane Bridge some 60km later.

 

In the men's event the racing was aggressive from the start with Gerry McCabe the first to put in a meaning full attack and his lead grew to over a minute at one stage. However reluctant to give a strong rider such an advantage the main bunch began to up the tempo and eventually McCabe was brought back just after Carrick. The racing to Ardee saw attack after attack, with the bunch slowly but surely being whittled down until finally a select group emerged. On the run in from Castllebellingham a fast pace ensured that the race would come down to a sprint and with 500m Karl Dolan was the first to make a bid for glory. However Dromin's Gary Gorman was the quickest to react and put in a blistering acceleration that saw him pull clear of everyone else and take the win ahead of Richie McMullen or Ardee and Dundalk's Alan Bingham in third.

 

In the women's event Linda Stokes put in a huge display to simply ride away from her opponents and take the chequered flag in a solo victory. The silver county medal went to Ardee's Johanna Rogan and Dundalk's Jan Conlon in third. Jan's bronze medal went with her gold medal she won earlier in the week at the Leinster Hill Climb Championships, also promoted by Cuchulainn. Here Linda Stokes was also to the fore taking the silver with Rosemary Gibson taking the bronze. The men's title went to Meath's Chris Reilly ahead of Cuchulainn's Ray O`Shaughnessey and Tomas McCabe in 3rd. The junior title was won by Cuchulainn's David Finnegan with Lorcan Kilkenny taking the silver.