Road Race 3
Wednesday 28th April 2010 at 7:00 pm
All Quiet on the Western Front
Road Race 3 in the Lakeland Cycle Club calendar took place on Wednesday 28th April. Three laps of the 5 Points-Gortatole-Florencecourt velodrome, or 29 miles in old money, finishing near Brockagh Bridge.
There were two packs of riders led out by none other than the County High Sherriff, Anthony McGirr, lights flashing and guns blazing, with his able deputies deployed at the various road junctions on the circuit. Thankfully these are very law abiding people round these parts and riders were made feel mighty welcome by the courtesy shown to them by other road users.
Fergal Corrigan, Sean Bradley, Raymond Kerr, Arnold Hunter and one of the locals, Gerry Kingston, were welcome new names on the sign on sheet. With an experienced chasing group, on exposed roads, into strong headwinds, the tactics of the front group to try to maintain their 6 minutes advantage meant furious pedaling with the inevitable loss of Julie Mulligan, Ken Dunlop and Arnold Hunter.
The second group was driven hard by the experienced, hard working cyclists, Kenny Boylan, Willie Dunlop and Omagh’s Seamus Keenan. Into the second lap of the race, former professional rider Ondrej broke clear of this group, although he was only supposed to be out for a training ride with his upcoming Tour of Ulster 3 day race, so a concerted effort was not made to chase him down. Willie Dunlop had a close call on the second lap at the Gortatole junction with muck on the road, just managing to correct it and stay upright, only to hit the same muck again on the last lap and come off. Thankfully he is made of stern stuff and the peloton eased off and very sportingly Kenny Boylan and Raymond Dunlop stayed with him and rode him back onto the group and then the race resumed.
Ondrej caught and passed the front group and opened up a good lead to go on and comfortably win the race. As the peloton swallowed up the remnants of the front group and raced down through Florencecourt, riders jostling for position for the final sprint, Kenny Boylan was driving up on the very left of the road, in a move more akin to mountain biking, Michael Holland (now riding with Omagh Wheelers), bulled his way up the gravel on Kenny’s left to finish in second place. Mark Kavanagh completed the podium places. Willie Dunlop, despite coming off and breaking a strap on his shoes, managed an impressive 5th place, the adrenalin really kicked in after his spill. Fergal Corrigan had a very good result in 8th place, great debut.
Thanks again to Sheriff McGirr and all his able deputies, luckily they didn’t have to circle the wagons, gather a posse, or head anyone off at the pass and the whole event went off mighty peaceful. The locals had probably heard that Anthony slings a mean pistol!
RESULT OF ROAD RACE 3
1. Ondrej Siobodnik
2. Michael Holland (Omagh)
3. Mark Kavanagh
4. Raymond Pauley
5. Willie Dunlop
6. Mark McGirr
7. Neil Armstrong
8. Fergal Corrigan
OTHER RESULTS
Newly formed ‘West Tyrone Velo’, formerly Fintona Cycle Club, had their first road race on Sunday 2nd May. Four Lakeland riders were there. In the tough, hilly 30 mile race out from Omagh to Cregagh, Greencastle, Gortin and back to Omagh, Kenny Boylan came in 5th with Robert Wilson riding clear of West Tyrone Velo’s main man Patrick Withers at the finish for a top ten placing.