Wins for Cuchulainn's ladies Baxter & Dolan

Saturday was a fantastic day for Cuchulainn with 6 riders competing in the Cycling Ulster Youth Festival at the Eikon  Arena, on the site of the old Maze prison. Each of the riders had to take part in 4 events (2 time trials, a mass start  and an elimination race) all on a traffic free circuit. The weather was fantastic and the organisation was second to none. 

Michael O’Rourke was the first rider in action and despite being one of the youngest riders in the Under 8 event he still managed to finish 8th overall.

 Ffion Dolan and Grace O’Rourke competed in the Under 10 Girls race. Grace finished 6th overall and took a fine 4th place in the elimination race. Ffion Dolan was the surprise of the weekend taking part in her first race taking the over-all honours following her win in the elimination race and 2nd place in the mass start race.

Shane Meegan also made his competitive debut and was joined by Tiernan O’Shaughnessy in the Under 10 Boy’s event. In a very competitive event both boys were in the thick of the action in all events and benefitted greatly from the experience.

Rhiannon Dolan took part in the Under 12 Girl’s event and was unlucky not to make the podium following her 4th place finish in two events.

Underage cycling continues every Monday 7-8pm over the summer, contact Karl on 087 2219810 for more info.

 

On Thursday last Dunleer's White River Wheelers hosted both the Leinster & Louth Time Trial Championships on the link road from Dorians pub to Ardee & back, for a total of 16km. Lucan's Conn McDunphy was the fastest on the night to take the Leinster crown, with Cuchulainn's Liam Dolan claiming the silver medal. Dolan was also crowned Leinster Champion ahead of club mate Owen Martin & Drogheda's Richard Becton in 3rd

 

In the ladies race Eve McCrystal, who was 7th fastest overall on the night, was champion of both Leinster & Louth. Eve will carry this form into the National Time Trial Championships this weekend in Sligo where she will be a safe bet for a medal. Louth silver and bronze went to Celine McPhilips and Claire Ludlow respectively.

 

Other racing over the weekend was Round 3 of the First Track Enduro Series, which was held  in Rostrevor. Cuchulainn's Brendan Fowley was runner up in the Master's event and club mate Maedbh Baxter was the winner in the women's event.

 

Finally Declan Rafferty traveled to his native county of Donegal to compete in the grueling Donegal Ultra. The 550km event covers just about every climb in the county with in excess of 6,000m vertical gain. Rafferty finished the event in just over 25hrs, having raced through the night, ably supported by his crew led by his wife