With today being the date of the very open Women's Commission AGM, it seems a fitting occasion to publish this one from the drafts folder! For at least the fourth year running, Orwell fielded a strong team in the An Post Rás na mBan. With four club members in Aideen Keenan, Ciara Kinch, Ann Horan and Claire McEntee, and a guest rider Lydia Gurley, the team took home the Top Irish Team prize, 9th overall, 2nd and 3rd county riders and a combativity award! (Photos to follow!)

As the more official leisure rides wind up for the year, it's fitting that our final report comes in from none other than Orwell's hard-working leisure rep himself, Stephen Ryan. He was blessed with fantastic weather, scenery and company for the Rebel Tour in the southwest, read on to see all the photo evidence alongside the account!

With a great haul over the last couple of weeks, it's time we covered the club's senior open racing results for the last month or so. Diarmuid Collins' CX win stands out, as does Jules Cantwell's 2nd out west - he gives his account below! Envelopes also for Monica Marconi, Garry Blair, Kilian Doyle, Ken O'Neill while the Juniors are always picking up prizes regardless! We've also got some more of the women's results from Aideen Keenan, Ann Horan and Emily Brick!

A weekend’s worth of racing in Roundwood paid dividends for Fionn Sheridan, taking two prizes, including the coveted Kieran Hammond trophy. Keith Harte and David Maher placed in the Roundwood GP, while several members scored results in the Hammond Memorial TT event. And last week in the league, Uisneach Sheridan, Paul Tansey and Brian Ahern won the sprints in Corkagh Park.

Aidan Collins brought home the best results of the weekend for the club, with a 4th in the Stamullen GP on Sunday, and an unplaced prize on Friday. Odhrán Connors and Stephen Barry also featured in Stamullen, while the Orwell women were active in Nenagh, with a TTT win, and placings for Ciara Kinch and Monica Marconi.

Previous holder of the 25TT title, Tom Blennerhassett retook it in imperious style in R15 of the club league, while Ann Horan blazed to the women's title by nearly a minute over her nearest rival. R16 saw the lowest turnout yet for a round, with Eoin Byrne emerging triumphant in horrendous conditions.

On the women's open scene, Monica Marconi scored an emphatic victory in Wexford for the final round of the National League, while Ciara Kinch came home a fine 5th. Kinch then went on to notch up Gold in the Leinster Hill Climb Champs, with Aideen Keenan in silver a mere 7" behind her. And Orla Hendron displayed rude form at the Track Champs to take home two national medals, while Rachel Glendon also won silver in the National Middle Distance Triathlon Champs.
Update: now with hill climb podium pic, and news of Naoise Sheridan's track league medal!

There's a touch of déjà vu about the results this weekend, with both Conor Murnane and Chris Mollaghan taking the only Orwell placings. That did wonders for their ranking points, with Murnane topping the Juniors for a day, and Mollaghan making his way into A3. The snow in Navan was the only thing on people's minds though, with five Orwell women making their débuts in the cold! Read on to see how they fared!

The Orwell women sent a team of eight women to compete in the inaugural Newcastle West 2 Day stage race two weeks ago - Mary Brady, Orla Hendron, Ann Horan, Breda Horan, Helen Horan, Monica Marconi, Siobhán O'Connor and Naoise Sheridan. Along with them was Stephen Rowan in a supporting role, and together the team got through a weekend of hard racing - check out Ann Horan's account below!

In the last few weeks we've had two rounds of the Joe Daly Cycles National League, and three rounds of the Orwell StickyBottle.com Crit League. Orwell have been active throughout - with placers including Mary Brady, Orla Hendron, Ann Horan, Breda Horan, Monica Marconi, Aishling O'Connor and Sandra Telford. Results and race reports below!