Limerick Cycling Club

Latest on Underage Racing

The Limerick lads have been very busy for the past few weeks racing up and down the country.

Henry Cook made the long drive to Wexford which was well worth his while; taking his second race win at the Frank O’Rourke Memorial race In Camross.

Steven Shanahan upheld club honors at the Cycling Pursuits 3 Day taking a super second on day one and third on day two of this tough event.

The John Drum race in Currow was all about the 4 Limerick riders with Shane O’Hara going clear on the second lap to a solo victory with his team playing a major role in the peloton ensuring no one got to chase him down. Henry claimed 3rd in the sprint with Steven and new Limerick rider Mark O’Callaghan coming in with the bunch after working hard to prevent any escapees getting clear.

The Limerick TT Championships was a very tight affair with Cork rider Dylon O’ Callaghan winning by 1 second with Shane in second followed by Henry, Steven and Mark all separated by seconds.

The lads’ first win in a TT continues to elude them. The Munster TT championship was won by Michael O’Loughlin in a stunning time of 6:11, Henry Cook was best of the Limerick riders this time in second place while Shane was 5th, Steven 6th and Mark an excellent 7th in his first Championship. Some serious TT training will have to be done before the all Irelands if the lads are to pick up the top medals in this discipline. Another Limerick rider In the U12 TT Laura Cook finished a super 3rd ahead of several more experienced riders.

Shane made the trip to Navan last Sunday for the Tommy Brady Memorial race in Robinstown in preparation for the final round of the youth league on July the 25th. His trip was well worth his while taking an excellent win sprinting past first Michael O’Loughlin and then taking Darragh Long before the line.

The next event for the lads is July 25th and has Henry, Steven and Mark heading to Kanturk for the Munster Road Race Championship, meanwhile Shane will be heading to Roscommon for the National Youth League where he goes in to the final round with a slender lead of just 1 point from Craig Crawford.

Senan O’Dwyer 4th in Cobh

Limerick CC rider Senan O’Dwyer finished 4th in the A4 race in Cobh. Well done Senan.

David Hourigan RIP

David Hourigan 1971-2010. RIP

Requiem Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Ennis Road, on Saturday, June 19th, at 11am. Burial afterwards in Ballycannon Cemetery, Meelick.

An abiding memory of Dave that I have was on a training ride one January day in 1992. There were about twenty-five riders in the group. We were on the N7 Dublin road heading towards Nenagh. After passing Birdhill there is a long drag (At Buckley’s Nursery). I was beside Dave at the front, the pace was high, very high! I could barely make conversation with him. Trying to breathe was more of a priority.
Then he very casually put his hand in his pocket and took out an apple and started eating it. Only David Hourigan could do that at 20mph – going uphill! I doubt if the apple was for energy, he was probably flossing his teeth.
There are many stories like that, encapsulating the prowess of the man.
It was a pleasure to have known a cyclist of such talent.
I extend my sympathy to his family. May he rest in peace.

Pat Spaight Chairman L.C.C.

Adrienne McCarthy wins the Ladies race in Currow

Aidan Gallery 8th in the A1/A2 race.
Well Done Adrienne and Aidan

CYCLING PURSUITS 3 DAY

Tom Shanahan, Aidan Gallery, Damien Roche and Mike Lynch in the break climbing the Mass Rock on Stage 4

Limerick CC were involved in the action on all stages of the Cycling Pursuits 3 Day.  In Stage 1 of the A1/A2/A3 race Aidan Gallery finished 4th. In Stage 3 Mike Lynch and Martin Phillips were 4th and 5th over the finish line, while on Stage 4 Mike lynch came home in 5th place. Tom Shanahan returned to the racing scene on stage 4 for the 3 ascents of the dreaded Mass Rock, finishing in the top 10 on the day and helping his team mates in the process. In the overall competition, Aidan Gallery finished 7th and Mike Lynch finished 9th.

In the A4 race, Brian Hart finished 5th on stage1, well done Brian.

Video clip of Mike Lynch and Martin Phillips finishing 4th and 5th on Stage 3

Some pictures taken by Amy-Norah Farrell

Shane O’Hara wins in Emyvale

Shane O'Hara takes the win

A fine day in Whitechurch provided mixed fortunes for the 3 Limerick underage riders. There was a good entry with all the top Munster riders present. The race was won by Eddie Dunbar of Kanturk making a fine break on the second lap and holding out to the flag. Steven Shanahan was the best of the Limerick lads this time with an excellent 4th place beating Michael O’Loughlin winner of the Corkman to the line. Henry Cook and Shane O’Hara both had a subdued performance both clearly feeling unwell after the first lap. The 3 lads were joined by a new Limerick rider for this race Mark O’Callaghan who finished an excellent 8th in his debut road race.

Emyvale GP Monaghan

Date May 24th

This was the third round of the national youth league which Shane O’Hara was a joint leader with Craig Crawford. After spending the week in bed with tonsillitis Shane would be severely tested on the hilly 10 mile lap . Twenty five riders took to the start line on a scorching day; the young riders had 2 laps of the tough 10 mile circuit. The first lap was steady as the riders got familiar with the undulating circuit. The first attack happened just approaching the end of the first lap with a Newry rider going clear on the long drag to the start/finish line. Shane had been hovering at the back of the bunch and decided to test his legs and jumped over to the solo rider. The two lads soon had a nice gap however realizing the danger Darragh Long and Craig Crawford took off after Shane and soon the breakaway had 4 riders. However with the extremely warm temperature the break ran out of water and ended sitting up looking for help from the team cars, Shane dropped back into the bunch for a bottle of water and all riders were soon back together.

The full peleton stayed together until they came back to the main road when the tempo was upped by the riders on the front and soon strung out riders all along the hill to the finish line. Darragh Long of Orwell wheelers was first to jump clear, however he was far too early and the long climb proved too much for him as first Craig Crawford and then Shane pulled him back. As the riders neared the top Craig jumped next with Shane on his wheel and timing his run to the line perfectly Shane passed the Ballymena rider and took his most important victory to date.

This win gives Shane the lead of the National youth league with one round to go in Roscommon on the 25th of July.

The Limerick Classic Tour

Limerick Classic Tour hosted by Limerick Cycling Club

Distance: 180km OR 80 km option
Date: Sunday 23rd May
Sign on venue: Millennium Centre, Caherconlish, Co.Limerick
Sign on time & Fee: 8.00am-8:45am, sign-on fee €10
Tour Start time:  9am Sharp
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

80km Option;

Corkman – Underage Report

Three Limerick U14 riders turned up in Kanturk hoping to continue their good form from Rás Na nÓg. Needless to say they did not disappoint with Henry Cook finishing 2nd overall followed home by Shane O’Hara in 3rd and Steven Shanahan in 10th. The weather for the weekend was wet and windy making racing conditions dangerous and very tough on the young lads.
Visit the Youth Racing Page for reports on Limerick CC’s youth racing team

Sponsored Cycle Cratloe Clare

When? June 12th; Sign On 8am; Dept. 9am
Where?  Cratloe Co. Clare.
Distance;  52 & 104 mile options.
104 mile route; Cratloe – Killaloe – Ballina – Portroe – Break – Portumna – Whitegate – Bodyke – Sixmilebridge – Cratloe.
52 mile route; Cratloe  – Killaloe – Tuamgraney – Break – Bodyke – Kilkisheen – Cratloe.
BBQ & Trophy presentation at the finish.

Please contact Pat Gleeson @ 0863843561 or email southclarewheelers@gmail.com

Please advise if you plan on attending.
Sponsorship cards available on request.

Cycling Pursuits TT League Results

TT League 2010 Week 2 Results