Round 10 of the Bike Station League - Long Womens Grave

By Rosemary Gibson

Round 10 of the Bike Station League was the feared Long Woman's Grave, a tough 43 km circuit with a vicious mountain top finish.

There were four ladies racing, Mary Laverty and Celine Mc Phillips (who is just back from an amazing TVR TT win with a new PB!:-in group three, Rosemary Gibson in group two, and Nuala O Donoghue in group one. Rosena Lynch and Marcella Leonard were marshalling.

This route has an eye-wateringly fast start down the hill on the Old Newry Road from the Sportsman's / Rosewood Country Club to the Ballymac roundabout, and then continues at breakneck pace along the fast Aghaboys straight to the golf club. The pace doesn't let up much the whole way along the coast, except for a couple of drags up Lordship and further on.

After a sharp left for Carlingford, the course continues along the coast to Carlingford village with a sharp climb exiting the village. On Thursday there was a strong northerly wind which made the section from Carlingford to Omeath particularly challenging.

At Davy's Pub after Omeath village, the riders turned up the steep hill for the last long drag to the finish line. A welcome tail wind up this section for almost 200m and 8km of climbing gave some respite from the strength sapping, battering wind of the previous 13km. 

Well done to all the ladies who took part, all home safe. Next week we have Carrick- Ardee to look forward to, a long one with plenty of draggy hills!

Photo Credit: Caroline Kerley