It was another beautiful evening in Brittas for the third round of the club league which was again raced as a DMS. For the first time, the Ladies got their own group which was twelve riders strong.
The first two riders across the line were Lucan’s Sandra Fitzgerald and Orwell’s Anne Dalton, the latter placing again for the second time this week, confirming her place as a potential leader of the women’s squad.
The two women attacked on the first stretch of lap two and worked together to maintain a breakaway of over 40 seconds on the rest of the group.
Dalton, who will soon be warming up the crowds at the upcoming RAS, sprinted to the line with a flat front tyre that may have cost her the win. Three Orwell ladies placed, Anne Dalton, Ciara Kinch and Orla Hendron, second, fourth and fifth, respectively.
The scratch/semi scratch three lap race started with an immediate attack from Tiernan’s Alan Cody, quickly followed by Orwell’s Tom Blennerhassett . The duo worked hard to stay away until the sprint finish with over thirty seconds in hand on the bunch as they came to the line.
The win went to Cody ahead of Blennerhassett whose impressive effort earns him his final upgrade to scratch. Dylan Rafter won the bunch sprint with Patrick O’Brien taking second for well deserved fourth and fifth places in this group, while Eddie Lynch grabbed a share of sixth place in a sprint that was too close to call.
Orwell next success of the night came from the Semi limit group which was led home by UCD’s Tom Doyle. Orwell’s Barry Dunne, Mark Horan and Ed O’Mahoney crossed the line second, third and fifth, with Dunne taking over the league lead overall as a reward for his efforts.
The last placing in the last race went to new boy Neal Hudson, taking sixth out of Limit group to round off the night.
Eleven riders placing in four races: another successful night at the races for Orwell Wheelers.
Tom Blennerhassett (photo: Brian McArdle)
Interclub League
Brittas, April 21st
Women
1, Sandra Fitzgerald (Lucan);
2, Anne Dalton (Orwell);
3, Róisín Kennedy (Lucan);
4, Ciara Kinch (Orwell);
5, Orla Hendron (Orwell);
6, Aoife Lynch (Lucan).
Scratch/Semi-Scratch:
1, Alan Cody (Tiernans);
2, Tom Blennerhassett (Orwell);
3, Frank Billings (Lucan);
4, Dylan Rafter (Orwell);
5, Patrick O'Brien (Orwell);
6 Eq,Eddie Lynch (Orwell)
6 Eq, John Caffrey (Lucan).
Semi Limit
1, Tom Doyle (UCD);
2, Barry Dunne (Orwell);
3, Mark Horan (Orwell);
4, Brian Quirke (Usher);
5, Edward O'Mahony (Orwell);
6, Neil McKenna (Lucan).
Limit
1, Diarmuid Lynch (Tiernans);
2, Louis Twomey (UCD);
3, Neil Dunne (Tiernans);
4, Declan Murphy (Lucan);
5, Ken Nelson (Usher);
6, Neal Hudson (Orwell).
