Well done to all those who completed the Corkman 3-Day stage race at the weekend in Kanturk, Co. Cork.
The list of Limerick CC riders is as follows:
A2/A3 Brian Hart. Mike Yelverton, Senan O’Dwyer.
A4 William Cooke, Denis McSweeney, Brian Cotter.
Under 16 Stephen Shanahan, Henry Cooke, Mark O’Callaghan, Sean Yelverton.
Under 14 Laura Cooke.
Under 12 Evan O’Donnell, Jonathan Cooke.
Full results/ race reports to follow……
Limerick Classic Tour hosted by Limerick Cycling Club
Distance: 180km OR 120 km option
THE TOUR WILL BE SPLIT IN TO TWO GROUPS:
1st GROUP (180KM) STARTS AT 9am
2nd GROUP (120KM) STARTS AT 9.05am (2nd group may be split to cater for slower riders 25kph, depending on numbers)
Date: Sunday 20th May
Sign on venue: Millennium Centre, Caherconlish, Co.Limerick
Sign on time:8am
Tour Start time: 9am Sharp
Price: €15 euro with license €25 without license
Services: First Aid, Repair Van, Showers, refreshments during and after
Contact Pat Spaight 087 2421812, Arthur Schmid 087 9693905 or email limerickcc@gmail.com
Directions to Caherconlish;
180km route; Caherconlish – Herbertstown – Hospital – KnockLong – Garyspillane – Galbally – Lisvarrinane – Glen of Aherlow – Tipperary Town – Donohill – Hollyford – Milestone – Inch – Rearcross (Food stop) – Anglesey Bridge – Curreeny – Dolla – Silvermines – Newport – Rearcross – Gannavane old – Bridge – Pallasgreen – Beary’s Cross – Caherconlish
120km Option; Caherconlish – Pallasgreen – Herbertstown – Hospital – Knocklong – Garryspillane – Gallbally – Tipperary – Donohill – Hollyford – Rearcross – (Food Stop) – Pallasgreen – Beary’s Cross – Caherconlish.
Stephen Shanahan day 3
UNDER 16 RAS NA NÓG 2012 – U16
A very competitive field of 60 riders headed off to cover 7 laps
of the circuit and pretty much stayed together for much of the race. A strong
attack from Stephen Shanahan [Munster] on the last lap split the field with
Shanahan moving ahead. He kept his momentum up and was an easy winner in the
end, Mark Downey the overnight leader led in the chasers, thus retaining his
lead at the top of the leaderboard.
Stage 3
1st Stephen Shananan,
Munster
Overall
1 Mark Downey, Banbridge;
2 Matthew Taggart, Banbridge;
3 Stephen Shanahan, Munster.
Well done Stephen great result
The Limerick Cycling Club Summer League resumes April 17 at 7pm Dalys Cross, all CI licence holders are welcome to take part in this. The race will be as per last year starting at Daly’s Cross out to Nenagh roundabout on the old N7 and finishing before Birdhill roundabout.
Silver Pail Grand Prix 1st April 2012 A3 & A4 Race Reports
Mike Yelverton showed his class today in Fermoy taking 2nd in the A3 race! Mike managed to jump across to a group of 12 riders which had escaped on the 3rd lap of the 80km circuit. Working well together the group managed to gain a 90 second advantage on the peloton. Coming in the road a number of riders lost contact but, remaining in a great position as the race entered the final 500meters, Mike crossed the line in an excellent 2nd place. Mike Lynch, Brian Hart, Colm Dillon and Senan O’Dwyer were all very active off the front of the race before the break went away.
In the A4 category race Richie Clifford again led the lads into battle! Denis McSweeney, Stephen Bourke, Emmett Ryan Jurgen Simpson and Martin Murphy completed the Limerick team today. Just shy of 110 riders started the A4 race in glorious sunshine with all the lads finishing strongly within the bunch.
Des Hanlon Memorial Road Race Carlow 2012 Race Report – A3 Cat.
Conditions were absolutely perfect for racing in Carlow on Sunday last as the Limerick lads took on the first real race of the 2012 season. The Des Hanlon Memorial also known as “The Hanlon” has over the years developed a reputation as a seriously tough race. This years A3 race was just shy of 73 miles taking in 6 climbs along the way. Brian Hart, Senan O’Dwyer, Mike Yelverton and Colm Dillon made up the Limerick Team this weekend setting off after the A1/A2 race in a peloton of well in excess of 120 riders.
After the roll out and the dropping of the flag the race took off at a very fast pace. A long early drag on the way out to the first lap put a lot of riders under pressure. As in all of the A3 races so far this year an early break slipped away. Missing out on the break Limerick’s 4-man group then suffered the misfortune of being caught behind a crash at the foot of the first climb. Having to chase hard to get back into the main bunch the lads settled in to the rhythm of the race and remained in a good position as the race entered the mid-way point. With 3 of the 6 climbs now complete the race came back together as the early break was reeled in. The bunch had at this stage been whittled down to about 70 riders. A relentless pace was being set up each climb with more and more riders getting dropped. Colm and Mike were again caught behind a crash and this time there was no getting back on. As the race crested the final hill Senan was now in the lead group of 20 with a larger group of 25 containing Brian just 10 seconds behind. With no-one willing to take it on in the lead group Brian’s group regained contact on the descent and the race was now on with less than 10 miles to the finish. It became a very hairy last few miles as the jockeying for position (and dodging of cars!) provided a nervous finish. Going into the last 500 meters with the bunch now the full width of the road the lads were eying up a potential gap but it was not to be as the sprint was just too congested. Brian having to brake in the last 100 meters still finished in a very respectable 9th with Senan crossing the line in 12th. Russell Treacy (St. Finbars) having found himself in the chasing group coming over the final climb got up to take an excellent victory with Thomas Fanning (Comeragh) winner of Ras Luimni taking second.
Brian Hart got just deserves for his hard work in this years A3 race at Ras Luimni coming home in 3rd place and was unlucky not to take the win. The race began at a ferocious pace with the bunch completing the first lap in a similar time to the A1/A2 race! Once the peloton turned at Ballyneety on the first lap attacks came thick and fast.
Limerick CC riders Mike Lynch, Colm Dillon, Brian Hart and Senan O’Dwyer were very active. However a flying peloton kept all attacks within arms reach and it had fully come back together as it passed through Caherconlish for the first time. One of Limerick CC’s newest signings Colm Dillon and Senan O’Dwyer took the pace on at the front of the bunch as it passed the start finish line leaving a number of riders in trouble out the rear. The front of the race continuously changed but it was on this second lap that the first serious split in the peloton took hold. A large group of about sixteen riders got a gap on the main field with Brian and Colm on the right side of the split! This group seemed to be working well together and it took about 15km for it to be brought back.
It was now Mike and Senan’s time to have a go but again attacks were unsuccessful. After some valiant attempts by the lads it left them exposed to counter attacks and this is exactly what happened. Brian was alert to this though and went with the in-form Michael O’Mahony from Blarney CC. A number of riders jumped across to the lead group as the race entered the last 30 km. For those left behind it soon became obvious that the race was now over as Comeragh, Blarney, Limerick, Carrick, Dungarvan and St. Finbars all had riders in the break. Brian was now riding smartly within this small group and at the turn in Caherconlish with 800 meters to go was in a good position. This new and much tougher up hill finish saw the weaker riders loose touch but Brian, now having to close a gap, was left with too much to do. Tom Fanning Comeragh CC and Michael O’Mahony Blarney CC took the first and second spots with Brian Hart Limerick CC crossing the line in a still excellent third place!
The A4 riders were not as fortunate despite a big turnout including John Gahan Dan Maloney Bryan Cotter Pat McSweeney Joe Walsh David Bourke Colm O Duinn Andrew Kett Jeff Punch and Mark Sartini to name just a few who competed. Both Mark and Andrew finished well up in the bunch finish with John Gahan not far behind. Unfortunately Bryan Cotter suffered a fall at the last corner in Caherconlish dislocating his shoulder and spoiling both his chances of a strong finish and causing a split among many of the Limerick riders, an exciting race right down to the last few meters.
Cycling Pursuits Cup 2012 4th March – Broadford, Co. Limerick.
It was a case of much endevor but little to show for it last weekend in a cold and windy Broadford. In the A4 race, which also contained the largest field, the pace was high right from the off. Richie Clifford, Andrew Kett and Joe Walsh spent much of the day up the road in a breakaway group only to be pegged back by the main peloton. However the elastic was being stretched on each occasion the bunch began the climb outside the village. When it eventually snapped sending a small group clear there were no Limerick CC riders present. Martin Murphy was unlucky not to make it over with the lead group as he was climbing well. Limerick did however have a strong line-up with Declan, Emmett, Denis, Jurgen, and Stephen making up the rest of the team.
In the A3 race Limerick had four riders setting off. Brian, Senan, Mike Lynch and Mike Yelverton had 5 laps of this tough circuit to complete. Mike Lynch, Senan and Mike Yelverton rode comfortably in the bunch for the entire race as Brian seemed to be the most active off the front. He was in an early break on the first and second laps, but it was only when he later managed to slip away with a chasing group, that he made it stick. This chasing group began to make inroads on the leaders but it was left too late and the gap was not bridged sufficiently to make a challenge for any placings.
Limerick CC road race Sunday March 11.
Start time:12.30.
Sign On Details: 9am Caherconlish Millennium Centre.
Categories: A+ A1, A2, A3, A4. Distance:
A+ 1 & 2 category, 4 laps X 31km 125 km
A3 Category, 3 laps X 31Km 93km
A4 Category, 2 laps X 31Km 62km
Note No Youth race as Limerick will host the NYC later in the year.
Contact Details: Pat Spaight, 087 2421812
Declan Fagan limerickcc@gmail.com
Click on map for route…
RAS Luimni 2012 course
Directions to Caherconlish from Limerick….
Sponsors of Ras Luimni 2012
Contact Joe and Team O’Connell Avenue Limerick
Phone 061-315900
Lacey Cup Low Down
Well done to the Limerick Cycling Club contingent who travelled to Tralee on Sunday last. The 188 strong field was a record for the Lacey Cup. It was also the fastest ever running of the race.
Bob Murray, Richie Clifford, Jurgen Simpson, and Denis were first into battle as they contested the first prime of the day over the Gleann na Gealt. The Jackie O’Connor Memorial Trophy was won in 2011 by Limerick CC’s Senan O’Dwyer. However Tralee BC rider Barry Horgan was to take the spoils on this occasion setting a ferocious pace up the climb. All the afore mentioned were in the lead group on the road when caught by the A3 group which now also included Sean Lacey (Dan Morrisey-Speedy Spokes) and Richard Hooton and Simon Ryan (DMG-Visit Nenagh). The race was now on as Brian Harte, Bob Murray and Senan O’Dwyer instinctively latched on to Sean Lacey and Richard Hooton and the pace increased dramatically. The lads rode close to the front all the way to the foot on the Inch Climb stringing out the huge peloton. At this point Lacey and Hooton attacked again leaving all in their wake. As panic came over the chasing bunch a crash on the descent ended the day for a number of riders.
As the chasing field raced back towards Tralee there was a lot of activity off the front of a now smaller peloton. Brian Harte, in particular was involved in a number of, what looked like, decisive breaks. However all attacks were chased down as the peloton began the torturous ascent of the final climb of the day at Slieve Mish. Lacey had already taken the Prime dropping Hooton along the way. With Paidi O’Brien (formerly of An Post now with Dan Morrissey) and Robin Kelly setting the pace, the Limerick lads were now being severely tested. Senan crested the Hill in a group of 6 riders just behind the leading chasing group with Brian (having worked so tirelessly back the road) just behind. This group stayed together on the short descent and despite a strong finish from the lads all were outside the placings. Sean Lacey was victorious for the 4th year running. Well done to him as he is a good friend of the club and a worthy winner.
West Coast Wheelers Cup
Michael Lynch got away in a twenty man break on the climb with Mike Storan helping to keep the pace up, break stayed away until the finish with Mike finishing in a credible 10 place overall, not bad for a guy with half a winters training completed.
Well done lads, great results for the club and augurs well for the future.
So for the brave and fearless its a case of straight back into it next weekend as the racing turns to Co. Meath on Saturday and then the Cycling Pursuits Cup on Sunday, best of luck lads.
