Geoghegan, Hendron and Lynch in the prizes at National Championships
All-Ireland Championship Road Race, Dunboyne, Co. Meath, 27-28th June
Orwell Wheelers riders were busy in three of the four events that made up the National Championships in Dunboyne last weekend with Michelle Geoghegan going agonisingly close to a medal in the women's event.
Geoghegan and teammate Orla Hendron were prominent throught the 88km Women's Road Race which eventually came down to a group sprint featuring the strongest local and foreign based riders. Heather Wilson (Maryland Wheelers) edged a very close decision from Olivia Dillon (Touchstone) with Geoghegan finishing within a tyre width of bronze medallist Mary Costelloe and a similar margin ahead of Hendron.
The lead club duo were joined by a number of Orwellians making their championship debut including Sandra Telford and Julia Phillips while track ace Aideen Collard was looking forward to the bunch gallop but got caught up in a crash on the last of three laps, thankfully without injury, but which ruled her out of contention.
Eddie Lynch produced a fine finishing kick to secure ninth place in the Veteran's Championship Road Race over 104kms. The race was run in blissful weather at an appropriately scorching pace and Lynch tried his luck in an early move on the Summerhill Road.
Thereafter Stephen McNally pushed hard to prise a gap between himself and a supermotivated bunch but was not able to break clear. Malcolm Garland, Patrick Kindillon and Declan Quigley were also in the thick of the battle throughout but Robbie Lawless was unfortunate to miss the big sprint wind-up when he punctured about ten km from the finish.
On Sunday the Elite/Under 23 Men's Road Race was run off at a frenetic pace and Orwell's quartet all achieved their main aim of making it to the conclusion of the 168km event. Graham Thomas missed out on the ice cream he had planned to eat at half distance by which time he expected to be a spectator and instead delighted himself with a safe bunch finish along with Odhran Connors, Mark Dunne and Mathieu Fragniere.
The Orwell organisational machine clicked into action to produce service back up for all three races and the riders were quick to praise the support of Lloyd Berry, Brian Cleary, Gary McNulty and Dave McLoughlin.
The event proved to be a logistical and sporting success for the Dunboyne Club who put on an impressive show for the residents of Dunboyne throughout the two days.
Results
Women's Road Race Championships
1. Heather Wilson (Maryland Wheelers), 83km in 2 hours 15 mins 50 secs
2. Olivia Dillon (Touchstone)
3. Mary Costelloe (Alliance Environmental)
4. Michelle Geoghegan (Orwell Wheelers DTC)
5. Orla Hendron (Orwell Wheelers DTC)
6. Siobhan Dervan (Fenixs) all same time
Veteran's road race championship
1. Rory Wyley (Dan Morrissey Carrick Wheelers) 104km in 2 hours 24 minutes 52 seconds
2. Andre Engemann (St. Tiernans) at 2 seconds
3. Tom Shanahan (Limerick) at 1 minute 13 seconds
4. Brendan Whelan (Lucan CRC) at 1 minute 35 seconds
5. Anto Moran (Ravens CRT)
6. Barry Sutton (Engraveit.ie)
7. Mark Greer (Maryland Wheelers)
8. Paul Dolan (Usher IRC)
9. Eddie Lynch (Orwell Wheelers DTC)
10. Simon Curry (Banbridge CC) all same time
Team: Dan Morrissey Carrick Wheelers (Rory Wyley, Martin O'Loughlin and Kieran Smith)
