By Declan Quigley

Orwell scooped the honours in two of the three races that made up the round five fare at Black Bull yesterday (April 28th).Brian Ahern showed the value of, and few ill effects from, the four tough days of racing at Ras Mumhan as he sprinted ahead of breakaway companions Dylan Rafter (orwell) and Shane Baker (Irish Road Club) at the end of the scratch-semi scratch race.

Ahern, Rafter and Baker were part of the scratch group that completed the catch of the semi scratch on the Summerhill Road shortly after half the 40km race distance. Rafter, himself coming off the back of a successful Ras Chonamaera, jumped clear with 10km to go and was soon joined by Ahern and Baker to form the winning move.

Another huge entry, no doubt swelled by the balmy weather, meant that the event was split into two separate handicap races with the semi limit and limit groups also coming together to form a large group sprinting for the win where Peter Gerrard showed a clean, and impresively swift, pair of heels to the baying pack with Romano Morelli third, John Lanigan fifth and Mick McKenna sixth.

In the women's league race which ran concurrently with the semi liit/limit race, Roisin Kennedy (Lucan) held off five Orwell riders headed by Ciara Kinch, who is enjoying a dream week. Mags Donnelly showed impressive form in third ahead of Orwell Crit league stars Sandra Telford, Anne Dalton and Caroline Martinez.

Kinch now enjoys a three point lead over Kennedy in the women's interclub league and sits 12th in the overall standings which continues to be led by Barry Dunne who tok his bow with the semi scratch group in round five.
Also in the top three of the points standings are Dylan Rafter and Patrick O'Brien while Romano Morelli makes it four Orwells in the top six of a league that has already featured 203 competitors.