Raymond Dunlop Wins Club Championship
Club Championship Road Race on Wednesday 4th July 2007
The Fourth of July was a notable date this year, not only was it American Independence day but more importantly it was the date of the Lakeland Cycle Club Championship. The title everyone in the club wants, the coveted “maillot jaune”.
Last year Kenny Boylan won it for the first time pushing Wesley Foster off the pedestal he had owned for the previous two years. Wesley has been in great form recently showing that he wanted the title back, this was personal.
Fifteen riders contested the event. The 40 mile race started on the 5 Points to Gortatole road heading towards Gortatole then turned left to Florencecourt. At Florencecourt it turned left down through the village and on to the bridge where it turned left again back onto the 5 Points Gortatole road where it all began again and again and again, four laps of this circuit finishing before the bridge on the last lap.
The field was split into two groups with the main group given a start on the ‘scratch’ group. Riders were going off the front of the group on breaks but were reeled in. John McManus went on a break with Raymond Pauley for most of the second lap but was eventually brought back by the peloton. Half way round the last lap Raymond Dunlop went off the front and Kenny Boylan went off shortly after him. Nobody could catch these two men and they kept ahead in that order to finish first and second. Third place was more of a contest with everyone watching to see who would jump first. John McManus led the charge for the line and held off the rest to take third.
This is the first year Raymond Dunlop has been Club Champion but with his form this year in club events and at the Ras Dun na nGall, in particular, his victory was no real surprise and well deserved. Thanks as always to the marshals who make all the events possible.
RESULT OF CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
1. Raymond Dunlop
2. Kenny Boylan
3. John McManus
4. Peter Martin
5. Dane Dunlop
6. Ian Caldwell
7. Neil Armstrong
8. Wesley Foster
9. Kenny Dunlop
10. Glen McCleery
11. Willie Dunlop
12. Raymond Pauley
13. Mark McGirr
Results
| Pos | Cyclist | Club | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raymond Dunlop | LCC | |
| 2 | Kenny Boylan | LCC | |
| 3 | John McManus | LCC | |
| 4 | Peter Martin | LCC | |
| 5 | Dane Dunlop | LCC | |
| 6 | Ian Caldwell | LCC | |
| 7 | Neil Armstrong | LCC | |
| 8 | Wesley Foster | LCC | |
| 9 | Kenny Dunlop | LCC | |
| 10 | Glen McCleery | LCC | |
| 11 | William Dunlop | LCC | |
| 12 | Raymond Pauley | LCC | |
| 13 | Mark McGirr | LCC |