2003 League & Racing Round-up
The 2003 Club League was run over 18 events under the expert guidance of Sean Lally and served to improve the standard of all who participated. It is after all a training league and the h/caps are there to ensure all of us are stretched to the limits (and further!!!) of our ability. This year’s winner, Sean Rock, in his 2nd year at U16 has been participating for 6 years and during that we have seen him going from strength to strength. Indeed he also won the Mark Mullen Memorial League after being placed in all 5 rounds, and took the Gold in the Leinster TT C/ships in which brother Niall, and father Mick also won medals. Brian Crinion showed his TT prowess in those C/ships also taking the gold in the C category. Our 2003 League was well attended and special mention to our many new members, many coming from Triathlon, who competed at an impressive standard. We were also pleased to have so many Stamullen riders competing along with our regular visitors. These helped raise the standard and will certainly benefit our developing talent. Special mention to Pauline, Johnny & Fred who each contributed greatly to the smooth running of the league. One of the highlights of the league was our Club Road Race C/ship which was a closely fought affair won by the narrowest of margins by John Shortt and a separate event for the ladies won by Grace McNally. Report & photos on this race (and many others) are posted on our club website.
In the closing weeks of the IVCA season we have seen wins from Mick Rock, Joe McNally & myself and both Sean Lally and Anto McMahon winning three times each!!!! One that sticks out for me was an impressive 1/2/3 in the age related C/ships (40-49) with Anto winning from John Shortt & Liam Maguire with an impressive display of ability & tactics.
Late Summer also saw our U/age riders compete in the International Kerry Youth Tour with nearly 100 riders in each age group incl. many riders from as far afield as Holland, Belgium, Wales & South Africa. Some performances of note, a win by Michael Daly (U16), 4th J in the National TT C/ships by James Whelan, and 4th from Sean in the Isle of Man, Niall placing 5th the National C/ships , not forgetting his impressive ride in our club Road Race although I don’t think he was on restricted gears that night!!!!
And what a closing week by Keith Daly!!! It started ‘quietly’ placing 1st Junior in the Park on a Tuesday, followed by his first senior win in the Duane Delaney Memorial on Thursday, took the bunch gallop for 5th in the Andy Mahon on Saturday and another win in the John McCormack on Sunday. We weren’t too disappointed with the 5th on Sat as Anto McMahon took the win in that one!!!! It was especially pleasing to see the photos of Keith’s first win being replaced by the photo of his second one as the cover shot on IrishCycling.com.
Sean Rock was the star of the Christmas Races placing 2nd to the Megastar himself in our own event after the two of them escaped the bunch with over a lap to go. He went one better the following week when he was involved in another 2-up escape and took what must be one of his biggest wins to date. In the final Christmas race he placed 3rd in a race won by Simon Whelan. Next Season will be Sean’s first year as a Junior and Keith will be joining the senior ranks. They both are serving their ‘apprenticeships’ well and both having such strong finishes to their respective seasons bodes well for their futures.
Our Club League is there to provide competitive, enjoyable racing, to give a stepping stone to those new to the sport and to develop our riders and I think we can agree that it succeeds on all fronts!!!!
