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Da Cooley Thriller a Huge Success (Setember 22nd 2008)

Cuchulainn Cycle Club hosted ‘Da Cooley Thriller’ XC mountain bike race last Saturday on the Cooley Peninsula. Mountain bike enthusiasts from all over the country. It was an early start for those up from Cork. The Carlingford Sailing Club was to be the sign-on venue and the weather was to be kind for a change as the sun shown from mid day once the early morning mist lifted from Slieve Foy and surrounding hills. It was a neutral start through the village with a Garda escort, and from above the village up the fire road it was race on with 50k of road and trail ahead. In all 14k of surfaced road, 6k of fire road and 32k of open windswept mountain single-track. Into an early lead went Aidan McDonald and Gerry McCabe and by the time they reached the Mast on Black Mountain it was developing into a two man race. Meanwhile back down through the field the rest of the pack were shredding down the ‘Roller Coaster’ through tight single track after descending down the ‘Black Run’, along the ‘Quad Tracks’, up and around ‘Ray’s Loop’ through ‘Aidans Canyon’, up the Castles’, along ‘Skull Ally’ to the Famine Road’ and down to the finish line. The bottle drops at the Mast and the Windy Gay were a welcome sight for the weary bikers, the heat beginning to take its toll. McCabe was to puncture on two occasions allowing McDonald off the hook and built a slight lead which he was to hold to the finish line in a time of 3:15:45. McCabe was to follow in a time of 3:27:37. Other local riders posting times of:- 6th Johnny McCabe 3:38:39; 9th Peter McConville 3:51:33; 10th Michael Laverty 3:57:14; 13th Declan McCabe 4:07:44; 16th Kevin Lynch 4:17:45; 20th Alan Bingham 4:27:12; 21st Ciarán Gormley 4:27:13; 34th Jarleth Farmer 4:41:46; 35th Tony Kelly 4:41:50; 37th Aidan Cunningham 4:44:35; 45th Eamonn McConvey 4:55:30; 48th Derek Finnegan 4:57:11; 2nd Lady - Ann McConvey 5:18:00; Rory Johnston 3:13:34 (Short) Thanks to G.O’Loughlin Red Cross, the local Garda, Joe, Ronan and Paul bike marshals, Carlingford Sailing Club, Prize sponsors Tommy the Bike, Outdoor Xchange and Carrick Cycles, Coillte and all others who helped out on the day, it was memorable.

Flynn, Quinn & Dolan are 2009 Club Champions (Sept 15th 2008)

James Flynn backed up his win in the first round of the Cuchullainn Cycling Club Hill Climb Championships by winning the second round held on Jenkinstown Climb. His time of five minutes and fifteen seconds was six seconds ahead of second place finisher Colm Quinn, with Aidan Cunningham in third. This is Flynn's second time winning the hill climb title, however his combined times for the 2008 event were over half a minute quicker than his 2006 winning times and would also have won him the 2007 event. This improvement is testament to the hard work Flynn put in over the winter, when despite the weather he was always ready to ride at 9:00am on a Sunday morning. Meanwhile in the FPM Accountants Summer Cycling League, Colm Quinn's second place in the Hill Climb Championship has secured him the 2008 title. This is the icing on the cake for what has been an outstanding season for Quinn. 2007 was his first year competing in the league, where he started out riding in the second group and managed only one or two nights in scratch. The 2008 league didn't start well for Quinn when on the opening night back in May he struggled on the Greenore circuit. Since then it has been his supremacy in the time trials and consistency in the road races that have seen him land the title. In addition to his club success he has also finished the season having won an open race, in Emyvale during the summer, take a Leinster Time Trail Championships and also post a number of good results in open road racing. Points for the rest of the placings in the league are still being calculated and a full round up will be ready soon. Liam Dolan completed the trio by taking the title in the Carrickmacross Cycles Time Trial League. Although primarily a triathlete Liam demonstrated just how fast he can travel by bike. He completed the 55 mile event (3 x 10TT plus 1 x 25TT) in a time of 2:02:57 an average speed of 26.8mph (42.9kph) finishing just ahead of Leinster Champion Colm Quinn.

Quinn Wins Leinster Title (September 8th 2008)

Over the weekend Cuchullainn Cycling Club successfully hosted both the Leinster Time Trial and Road Race Championships for the third year running. First up on Saturday was the 25mile time trial. This is the event that the "testers" love, when they get a chance to put away their traditional road bikes and take out their stealth machines. These bikes all made from Formula 1 grade carbon fiber and equipped with wheels that slice through the wind are all designed with one thing in mind, making cyclists go as fast as possibly. It was Dublin based rider, Colm Cassidy from Usher IRC, who did the course in the fastest time and winning the event outright. His time of 56minutes and 16 seconds was relatively slow for a rider of his caliber and summed up just how the hard the wind was blowing along the Carrick to Ardee road. The silver and bronze medals went to Kilcullen and to Mick Steed and Kiernan Kane respectively. Best of the local riders was Colm Quinn who won the C competition on the day. Fastest women was Orla Hendron of Dundrum Wheelers. while John Dillion took the Vets prize. Sunday the action moved to the road race and a new course. The traditional Knockbridge circuit had to be abandoned due to the Vintage Festival in the village and instead the race was held over 10laps of a 5 mile circuit up and down the old Newry road. This circuit worked out superbly and all riders were very happy with it. It was decided to run the championships, which also incorporated the Paddy Neary Memorial race a tribute to one of the area's greatest cyclists, as a handicap race. The C riders, vets and ladies were given a head start over the A and B riders. This first group rode well to hold off the faster group. At one stage it looked like it would be a home win, when an attack by Gerry McCabe and Colm Quinn got away. The pair were riding well and stretched their lead out to a maximum of 45seconds, however the pack preceded to chase them down. In the sprint to the line Wexford Wheelers rider Martin Mizgayski took the chequered flag from Martin Doyle. For the Leinster title Kilcullen brothers Ciaran and Mick Steed took gold and silver, making it a successful but somewhat frustrating weekend for Mick, coming home with two silver medals. The ladies Leinster Champion was Melaine Spath from the MAD club, while Hughie Nester took the Vets title. The annual hill climb competition started on Thursday last. The Hill Climb, held over 2 events, is the last round of the FPM Accountants Summer Cycling league. The first event is the Long Woman's Grave climb, starting in Omeath, with Jenkinstown climb coming this Thursday. The riders on the Long Woman's Grave were thankful of the recent resurfacing work as it made for a slightly easier ride. Quickest on the night was 2006 champion James Flynn. His time was a blistering 8min and 55seconds, which was considerable faster than anything that has been set over the previous 4 or 5 seasons. Second was Brian MyCrystal only 6 seconds back and Colm Quinn in third spot 21 seconds behind Flynn. Thursday night will be a dual on Jenkinstown climb between McCrystal and Flynn. The shorter climb may be better suited to the powerful McCrystal, but Flynn is always quick when the road goes up and can count on experience from previous years. September 6th 2008 Leinster 25TT Champs Senior 1 Colm Cassidy Usher IRC 00:55:16 Nick Steed Kilcullen 00:57:30 Kieran Kane Killcullen 00:58:55 Senior 2 Mark Dunne St Tiernans 00:59:01 Frank O Connor Stamullen 00:59:31 Anthony Walls UCD 01:00:41 Senior 3 Colm Quinn Cuchulainn CC 00:59:09 Gareth Enright Dublin Weelers 01:01:36 Derek Nugent Shannonside 01:05:11 Women Orla Hendron Orwell 01:04:58 Roisin Kennedy Lucan 01:08:03 Fionnuala Ni Bhradaigh Bray Wheelers 01:17:20 Veteran John Dillon Ravens 01:01:32 Alan Neenan Usher IRC 01:01:40 Loyd Berry Orwell 01:02:02 Over-All Times Colm Cassidy Usher IRC 00:55:16 Paul Brady Emyvale 00:56:42 Nick Steed Kilcullen 00:57:30 Kieran Kane Killcullen 00:58:55 Mark Dunne St Tiernans 00:59:01 Colm Quinn Cuchulainn CC 00:59:09 Frank O Connor Stamullen 00:59:31 Anthony Walls UCD 01:00:41 Kevin Donagher Swords CC 01:00:49 Simon Coughlan Donaman 01:01:09 John Dillon Ravens 01:01:32 Gareth Enright Dublin Weelers 01:01:36 Alan Neenan Usher IRC 01:01:40 Loyd Berry Orwell 01:02:02 Gerry Mc Cabe Cuchulainn CC 01:02:27 Tony O Malley AC Road Club 01:03:34 Orla Hendron Orwell 01:04:58 Derek Nugent Shannonside 01:05:11 Roisin Kennedy Lucan 01:08:03 Mike Broomfield Swords CC 01:10:40 Declan Mc Cabe Cuchulainn CC 01:10:45 Phil Omrod IVCA 01:10:50 Fionnuala Ni Bhradaigh Bray Wheelers 01:17:20 Una Stewart Cuchulainn CC 01:31:25 September 6th 2008 Leinster Road Race Champs SENIOR 1 1st Ciaran Steed (Murphy Surveyors) 2nd Mick Steed (Murphy Surveyors) 3rd Craig Sweetman (Stamullen RC) SENIOR 2 1st Stephen Halpin (Swords CC) 2nd Neil O'Connor (Lucan) 3rd Kevin Donagher (Swords CC) SENIOR 3 1st Martin Mizgayski (Wexford Wheelers) 2nd Martin Doyle (Slayney CC) 3rd Gareth Enright (Dublin Wheelers) WOMEN 1st Melanie Spath (MAD) 2nd Fran Meehan (Tullamore CTC) 3rd Sarah Piner (Mullingar Lakeside Wheelers) VETERAN 1st Hughie Nestor (Murphy & Gunne) 2nd Terry Ferris (Murphy & Gunne) 3rd Allen Slevin (Garda CC) JUNIOR 1st Axel O'Connor (Laois CTC) 2nd Orwyn Moynahan (South East Road Club) 3rd Connor Campbell (Drogheda Wheelers) TEAM Cuchulainn Cycling Club (Aidan Martin, James Flynn & Gerry Mc Cabe) Paddy Neary Memorial Road Race (Handicap) 1st Martin Mizgayski (Wexford Wheelers) 2nd Martin Doyle (Slayney CC) 3rd Hughie Nestor (Murphy & Gunne) 4th Gareth Enright (Dublin Wheelers) 5th Ciaran O'Conluani (UCD) 6th Axel O'Connor (Laois CTC) 7th Terry Ferris (Murphy & Gunne) 8th Allen Slevin (Garda CC)

Gerry McCabe Crowned Irish Champion (Sept 1st 2008)

Cuchulainn CC rider Gerry McCabe was recently crowned as the Irish vets champion after winning the mountain bike Irish Championships. The race was a grueling 60km event held over two laps in the Wicklow and Dublin mountains. The wet weather over the summer months had made the track even more difficult and a greater level of technical ability was required. This was the most surprising aspect of Gerry's win, as with only five years experience in the sport it would be expected that he would loose out to cyclists who have been riding the tracks for years and developed greater skills. However it was testament to Gerry's dedicated training that he beat off such established stalwarts on the mountain biking circuit as John Dorris in second position and Robert Lamont in third position. Gerry was presented with his Irish Champion's jersey after the race and will receive his Irish Medal at the Cycling Ireland presentations at the end of the season. In the supporting event on the same day Mickey Laverty, another Cuchullainn CC rider, was the winner of the Sports race. This race was again held over the same 60km circuit and Mickey put his excellent performance down to his recent racing in the French and Italian Alps. The final road race of the FPM Accountants Summer Cycling League was held on a new Ravensdale circuit on Thursday last. The circuit was a last minute alteration to the league schedule as the course was to be tested ahead of this weekend when the club hosts the Leinster Road Race Championships. The relatively short circuit of just over three miles provide a stern test for the riders with a combination of long climbs and short, sharp hills. The up and down nature of the course made it tough for the groups to find a good rhythm as riders struggled to work with one another. It was three riders from Newry Wheelers, riding in the first group, who stayed away taking the first three spots across the line. Underage rider Cormac Clarke won the sprint from Donal Cormacan and Paul McGinn in third. The results on the night had no effect on the leader board, where with just the hill climb competition remaining, Colm Quinn leads Gary Gorman by seven points. This weekend Cuchulainnn CC is hosting both the Leinster Time Trial and Road Race Championships. The time trial will be held on Saturday starting on the Carrickmacross by-pass on the Castleblaney side. The riders will race individually out to Ardee and back, covering a distance of 25 miles, the winner being the person who completes it in the shortest time. On Sunday the action moves to the Road Race Championships, which will be held on the new Ravensdale circuit. The new circuit will make it a great race for spectators as the riders will be passing every 8 minutes or so. Sign on Sunday is from Dowdalls Hill GFC from 11:30am. The club calls on all members to come and lend a hand.