Foster To The Fore
Road Race 5 on Wednesday 9th July 2003
On a warm humid evening the Lakeland Cycle Club held their longest and most arduous race in their cycling calendar the 42 mile race from Enniskillen to Glensheevar via Blaney and on to Kilcoo X and Belcoo before returning to Enniskillen.
The front group, which consisted of Patrick Withers, Cecil Arthurs, Raymond Pauley, Kevin Burns and Tony Murphy, set off with an 8 minute lead.
The second group of Wesley Foster, Eddie Carson, Kenny Dunlop, Fergus McGirr and Brian Reynolds followed 6 minutes ahead of the scratch group, which included Mark McGirr, Paul McMahon, Raymond Dunlop, Michael Holland, David Dunlop and Kenny Boylan.
All groups worked hard as individual teams as they tried to maintain their lead on the other groups. The first test was the dreaded hill climb at Glensheevar. At this stage the front group had lost three minutes on their timing, the second had lost two minutes but the worst was over and the teams were about halfway through this difficult course.
By the time Belcoo was reached the scratch group travelling at speeds of 42mph had caught the middle group and the race was now on to haul in the front group before they reached Enniskillen.
The pace was fast and furious and at Letterbreen the front group had been well and truly caught, and the team spirit died, as it was everyone for themselves in an effort to win the race.
Tactics were now being applied, each rider watched the other nervously for signs of weaknesses and strengths. At this stage Kenny Dunlop and Mark McGirr jumped the pack and made a dash for the finish line but their efforts were in vain as they were caught by the chasing pack a mile from the finish. A titanic battle now took place, which any one of 10 riders could have won.
However pride of place went to a jubilant Wesley Foster who won by the narrowest of margins followed by Paul McMahon, Mark McGirr and Kenny Dunlop.
Results
| Pos | Cyclist | Club | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wesley Foster | LCC | |
| 2 | Paul McMahon | Unattached | |
| 3 | Mark McGirr | LCC | |
| 4 | Kenny Dunlop | LCC | |
| 5 | Raymond Dunlop | LCC | |
| 6 | Kenny Boylan | LCC | |
| 7 | Brian Reynolds | Emyvale CC | |
| 8 | Eddie Carson | LCC | |
| 9 | Tony Murphy | N.Monaghan/Crannog Ireland | |
| 10 | Kevin Burns | LCC | |
| 11 | Cecil Arthur | LCC | |
| 12 | Patrick Withers | Fintona CC | |
| 13 | Fergus McGirr | Fintona CC | |
| 14 | Owen Parkes | LCC | |
| DNF | David Dunlop | LCC | |
| DNF | Michael Holland | N.Monaghan/Crannog Ireland |