Inter-Club 1 (Omagh)

Tuesday 19th May 2009 at 7:30 pm

Strong showing at first inter-club race

Last Tuesday saw two teams from the Pauley Cable Jointing/Pedalware sponsored Lakeland Club travel to Omagh for the first road race of the Inter Club season. This league pits the Lakelanders against the clubs of East Tyrone, Fintona and Omagh Wheelers. Two races based on rider ability and category are staged and the riders gain points according to position. The team with the most points at the end of the series are crowned champions.

The hilly 29 mile course for this race hosted by the Omagh Whelers Club leaves Omagh towards Cookstown, left at Creggan Cross through Roosky to Gortin and return to Omagh via the Glen. The Fermanagh outfit were represented in the “A” race by the on form cousins of Dane and Raymond Dunlop along with their Tour of Ulster team mates Kenny Boylan and John McManus and in the B race by Kenny Donnell, Sean Fee, Brendan Fee and Eddie Carson. All riders were in the scratch group of their respective races.

First underway was the A race and from the off it was Raymond Dunlop making the pace to bridge the 4 minute gap to its front group. This group was filled entirely by Omagh Wheelers giving their members no incentive to chase and putting the onus on Lakeland and East Tyrone to attempt to bridge the gap. Should this group not be caught then Omagh would amass a healthy points lead in the league. Dunlop broke clear with two East Tyrone riders on the climb to Mountfield but was soon reeled in by hard work from the bunch.

By Creggan Cross the gap had ben halved and it was clear this race would be decided on the Category 1 climb out of Gortin. It was indeed here that the groups came together and the race took hold. Raymond Dunlop attacked on the climb followed closely by his cousin. They attacked again before the top of the hill and by this stage had both broken clear of the field who were spread all over the climb. They continued this progress on the descent reaching speeds of 55 mph and working together to make a gap of almost a minute over the rest of the field. On the line they crossed together with Dane taking the maximum points. Kenny Boylan was next home finishing in the bunch and John McManus finishing the Fermanagh representation strongly.

The B race started shortly afterwards with a closer gap between the groups. The Fee brothers, accompanied by Eddie Carson and Kenny Donnell did their share of the work in the group and closed the gap at Mountfield. From here it was a bunch race all the way to Gortin. In the main the group stayed in tact until the climb and first to emerge at the top was Kenny Donnell whose season continues to go from strength to strength.

The bunch soon followed with the other Lakeland representatives and the race was on to the line. A fast descent followed by the three mile long flat ride to the line at Omagh. Donnell just missed out in the sprint and was closely followed by Sean Fee Eddie Carson and Brendan Fee all earning valuable points for the club.

* Next Event

The next Club event on the calendar is Round 4 of the Pedalware Time trial league and is a short 3 mile time trial on Wednesday evening from Cornafanogue to Lisbellaw. Sign on is from 6.30pm with the first rider off at 7pm.

* Hills of Donegal

This weekend is the Ras Dunn na nGall and this is not the first time that the club have entered this event. In recent years, Robbie Bryson has been to the fore in the King of the Mountain copetition and back in 2001 Raymond Dunlop won the event in convincing style.

The team will consist of Dane and Ray Dunlop, Kenny Boylan, John McManus and Robbie Bryson. The club is hopeful of success this weekend which is considered one of the toughest three day stage race. The Ras Dunn na nGall will be based in the fishing port of Killybegs with the first stage commencing at 5 pmon Firday evening. This is followed on Saturday a time trial and another road stage. The event will conclude on Sunday with the final road stage.

The Club committee and members send all their best wishes to the team members in their quest of success and possible victory.