Folks Club will be back winter training Saturday October 05 for light training spin around 60km or so to start off with.
Please note that the Club AGM takes place at 8pm, Monday October 14th at the Castletroy Park Hotel. All members are encouraged and welcome to attend. There are vacant positions to be filled:
We’ll also be discussing the Youth Development Project underway at Limerick Racecourse and other plans for next year.
Winter Training starts on the now traditional 1st weekend of October so we hope to see as many of you as possible at 9:00am at Arthurs Quay starting Saturday 5th October and every Saturday thereafter, we hope to issue routes in advance each week. Some suggested we meet at his house but he told us to meet at his Quay instead. We’ll be ‘keeping it steady’ of course, working at Low HR and building up the distance over the weeks and months. While its mild just now, please come prepared over the Winter and think about your tyre thread, nutrition over the long distance, and spare tubes. Also worth considering fitting mudguards as these keep water off the back of your legs and off the face of the rider behind! This is a great opportunity for group riding and developing and maintaining your bike skills in a group.
Day 1, Stage 1: 90KM, Satge 2, 4km Hill Climb
It was a successful day for the club today as the strong winds and constant rain only strengthened resolve. Colm Dillon forced his way into the break of the day to come a very strong 5th on stage 1 which was a lumpy but fast 90km. Brian Hart came home in 11th place having joined a chase group which edged off the front with 10k to go. He came in just behind good friend of the club Alan Loftus. Dave Bourke finished to the fore of the remaining peloton, which had latched on to the second chase group on the finish line.
In the A3 race, Anthony Gahan finished at the front of the bunch. While attacks were rampant, nothing stuck, so Anthony and indeed all of us had GC on our minds going into the evenings hill climb TT, but not before a post stage massage by local masseur Craig Hore in the Community Centre that was race HQ for the two days.
The Hill climb consisted of a 3.6km climb in 3 definite stages, it was steep at the start and even steeper at the end, but there was a flat km in the middle into a strong headwind. Unfortunately there were no GC places posted after stage 2, but after posting a superb time of 8:48, Gahan would have been highly perched. In the A2/3 race Hart limited his losses, coming home in 36th place. But Colm Dillon placed himself in joined 4th with a superb effort which we thought initially was going to be good enough for Yellow. Time then for grub at the hotel, a review of the days proceedings and a chat about the tough assignment ahead on day 2.
Day 2, Stage 3: 110km
Having dried off the gear, we were glad to see the Sunny Southeast live up to its reputation. Porridge and poached eggs, fill the bottles, check-out of the hotel, load the car and get to the start for the last time. The omens were getting shaky. Within a minute Bourke had been stung by a wasp, flatted on the warm up, and then one other rider arriving lost his car-roof mounted bike to an Orica Green Edge effort with the Finish Line Gantry…and it started to rain. With two minutes to spare Bourke was back on the start line and ready to go, heart rate suitably raised. If yesterday was lumpy, today was lumpy with extra portions for good measure. There were two spikes on the second of two loops of each of three 37 km laps. The second of these saw an early break attempt with Hart as part instigator. Short enough lived, but long enough to know that the legs were in rude health. Bide the time. Early in lap 3 the attacks volleyed with half a dozen up the road with 50 seconds. Brian Hart chased with one other and two passengers to establish contact with the leaders. As they came onto the main road there were two serious drags, which subtracted 6 from the 10, and not long more before one more faded. On then to the testing second loop of the last lap. The remaining three which included Aqua Blues John McCarthy worked hard and together they put over two minutes into the main bunch. The stage was theirs to decide and the overall GC it seemed by now was also being redefined. Hart had the most telling kick in the end and he duly took the stage while McCarthy had done enough on the hill climb the night before to land Yellow, Hart one place behind. Each time Hart has been promoted up a category, it has come with a win.
Anthony Gahan came home with a bunch finish to round off a great first A4 stage race for himself. As the season draws to a close, the number of riders who have registered a win this season (Shane O’Hara, Sean Yelverton, Stephen Shanahan, Bobby Coleman and Brian Hart) has surely underpinned Limerick CC’s pedigree as a racing club. All aspirant underage, junior and A4 riders can take encouragement from the fact that Brian Hart was racing A4 only a few years ago. The last two weeks have seen some incredibly strong results with wins and podiums at all levels and so it was again this week with Harts win coinciding with Stephen Shanahan’s excellent Silver Medal (as a first year Junior) at the National Junior Championships in Omagh.
Brian Hart, Winner Stage 3 Staffords Wholesale Wexford 2-Day
Brian Hart 2nd Overall A2/3 Staffords Wholesale Wexford 2-Day
Colm Dillon, 5th Stage 1, Satffords Wholesale Wexford 2-Day
The racing season is almost over but continued success to all as we have two local races coming up, namely the Charleville 2-Day and Rás Cill Mocheallóg. Keep it lit lads!
The club carries race form at all levels into this weekend. After a great weekend of racing at the Dan O’Donovan Memorial in Fermoy last week, the club can take away success at A4 and A3 levels with maiden victories respectively at those levels for Bobby Coleman and Stephen Shanahan. Sean Yelverton steps up on so many podiums he doesn’t even know if he is walking up the stairs at this stage, and so it was again for him in Fermoy where he placed a fine 3rd, how consistent is this young man?! More underage success for Evan O’Donnell placing a fine 6th in the U14 race. And of course Brian Hart rounded off the day for Limerick CC with a creditable 2nd unplaced A2 in the A1/A2 race. previously the same week, Jurgen Simpson was in fine form at the JJ Kinahan Memorial race where he just lost his position on the last sequence of bends narrowly missing out on what would have been his first points finish.
Every success then to the two squads competing this week with our all conquering Junior squad of Mark, Stephen and Henry going to Omagh for the National Champs. The returning Wexford 2-Day sees Anthony Gahan compete in the A4 race, and Brian Hart, Colm Dillon and Dave Bourke in the A2/3 race.
Best of luck all, hopefully we’ll be regaling tales of glory at Tuesday’s league race. We hope to do updates over the weekend, if your racing and we have not mentioned you above, please drop Dave Bourke a line at the club face book page.
We had a number of riders competing in Tralee this weekend including:
U16 Sean Yelverton
A4, Bobby Coleman and Anthony Gahan
A3/Junior Stephen Shanahan, Mark O’Callaghan
A2 Brian Harte
We don’t yet have a comprehensive race report from the club but our congratulations to Sean Yelverton and Stephen Shanahan on each of their respective 2nd places, very well done both! Plenty of photos from the Tralee Manor West GP here
Looking forward to seeing you all for tomorrows Tuesday Summer League Race.
Wow, what a few weeks its been for the club. Sean Yelverton has been getting placing’s for kicks of late, but pulled off the victory recently in Carrick. Sean has been busy doing Olympic qualification events, as has Laura Cooke and we wish them continued success on that circuit.
All at the club we re very proud of the recent exploits of Stephen, Henry and Mark who brought honour to our club as they proudly represented their province in the recent Junior Tour of Ireland. Each of the lads had their own great highlights and high placings, perhaps best culminating in Stephens 6th overall, and 3rd in the White Jersey of 1st year Junior. Stephen wore the White Jersey on Stage 3. Henry went on to place 6th in that same category. When you see these lads doing so well on an international stage, and you remind yourselves that they are 1st year Juniors, you know they have a bright future ahead. When you add this success to earlier wins, podiums and placings achieved with Shane O’Hara too, perhaps we should have kept a log, it would be a long one by now!
Some good showings lately from riders who raced in nearly all quarters of the country include Anthony Gahan’s promising 13th in the A4 race in Bunclody last Sunday. Away in an earlier break which looked good for a time, Anthony dug deep in the bunch sprint for 2nd, coming in 12th. Jurgen Simpson and Eoin O’Donoghue scooped top tens at the recent Clare Co. Champs, Eoin taking third, and Jurgen taking 8th. Eoin went on to claim 10th in Millstreet last weekend. On Friday night Joe Donworth went close in Cong, Co Mayo just missing out on a top ten placing on the handicapped race hosted by Cunga.
Meanwhile the Tuesday league continues to draw the numbers. Lads and lassies could be forgiven for having ice cream in Kilkee or Ballybunnion this weather, but the numbers coming each Tuesday have allowed us to maintain a three group format which is hopefully giving everyone a chance to find their own level where they can contribute to their group as much as possible…thus ensuring we all get the best out of it. Thanks to all for marshalling of course, as we all now how necessary this is.
On the open racing front, please note that the Dan O’Donavan Memorial that was scheduled for Fermoy for Sun 21st July is now deferred to August. In its place is a race hosted by Midleton Cycling and Triathlon Club taking place in Cloyne – home of the best hurler in the Country’s history…after Mick Mackey of course (Christy Ring if your not into the camán). Also, after a gap of 20 years the Wexford 2 Day makes its return on 17/18 August.
We recently had some queries about membership which is always welcomed. One enquirer is visually impaired and is looking for co-riders for his tandem bike. If anyone is interested, Declan has the email address.
Good luck to all racing in Tralee this weekend for the inaugural Tralee Manor West GP. This is not a Handicapped race, and has a prize fund of €1000. Keep the Green and White train rollin’
The Limerick Cycling Club Classic Tour takes place on 19th May. Its 120km long, and sign on is at the Caherconlish Millennium Centre at 8a.m. There will be plenty of grub and refreshments there afterwards.
There will be two groups departing, a 30kph group leaving at 9:00 and a 25kph group leaving at 9:10. Each group will have its own Lead Car, Back-up Van and Ambulance. Foodstops and Regrouping at the Bottom of The Glen of Aherlow and Rearcross.
Entry is €15 with a license, and €25 without. We’ll post the route map soon.
Further details from:
Pat Spaight 087 2421812
Arthur Schmid 087 9693905
We hope you can join us on the day!
Kanturk is the destination for our high flying A2/A3 and Junior contingent this May Bank Holiday weekend. The team entered is as follows:
| 42 | Stephen Shanahan | Limerick C.C. | A3J |
| 43 | Mark O’Callaghan | Limerick C.C. | A3J |
| 44 | Henry Cooke | Limerick C.C. | A3J |
| 45 | Jurgen Simpson | Limerick C.C. | A3 |
| 46 | Eoin O’Donaghue | Limerick C.C. | A3 |
| 47 | Brian Hart | Limerick C.C. | A2 |
National Youth Championships 2012 Link
Results below:
TT U11B U12B U13-16G U13B U14B U15B U16B
Final Results Including Criterium
collection of photos can be found here on our Facebook page
The club had some exceptional performances today with Stephen Shanahan taking Silver in the boys U16 TT, Jonathon Cooke taking 3rd in the TT, Laura Cooke 3rd in the Road race and Stephen taking 2nd again in the afternoon road race resulting from a breakaway in the final lap holding clear. However the entire Limerick club performed exceptionally well, finishing strongly and well up in the rankings of their respective races were, Sean Yelverton, Henry Cooke, Shane O’Hara, Mark O’Callaghan, Laura Cooke, Jonathon Cooke and Evan O’Donnell.
Sunday continued as Saturday started with some outstanding performances again from Limerick with Jonathon Cooke and Evan taking third in U11 and U12 and Shane O’Hara second in U16. Some very aggressive riding from all age groups and deserving results from Limerick CC all round.
