League & Sportif Round Up

The Bike Station Cycling League is now into the second half with 10 of the
rounds completed. The latest event was especially tough with a finish atop
the Long Woman's Grave. The race was also made that much tougher with the
extremely strong headwind as the rider's headed towards Carlingford.

In race 1 group 4 used their handicap and numerical advantage to stay ahead
from the chasing group's and take the win. At the top of the climb first
home was Dunleer rider Andrew McAffee of White River Wheelers. he took the
win from Ardee CC's Patrick Gorman, with South Down Armagh rider Johnathan
Carrol in third. League leader, junior rider William Loughlin was just off
the podium in fourth to add further to his points tally.

Behind group 4, the scratch group had caught group 5 and were bearing down
on group 4. However the circuit was just not long enough and Alan Grey led
home this group.

In race 2 Cuchullainn CC had a clean sweep of the podium, with Mickey
Laverty taking a fine win ahead of Brian Grogan and Niall Clerkin in second
and thrid respectively. Junior rider Lorcan kilkenny put in a strong
display on the climb to take fourth. The next round is the longest of the
league, a 50km route that goes through Carrickmacross, Ardee and back into
Dundalk.

On the leisure front the club has been very active as the sportive season
is in full swing. The big one every year is the Wicklow 200, where this
year cyclists braved 200km of Wicklow mountains along with wet & windy
weather. 10 riders from Cuchulainn fought and beat the conditions.

On the same day the club had over 40 riders take part in the shorter 100km
Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust Cycle.Held on local roads it also featured a
section in the Cooley Mountains to ensure all those finished had had a hard
day in the saddle.