Feast Of Racing In Tydavent
Emyvale Grand Prix on Sunday 24th May 2009
By Patrick N Clarke, Q Cycling News.
If you were not at the FBD Insurance RAS for the final concluding stage of the event, then the next best place to be was in the County Monaghan village of Tydavent, when the promoting club McQuaid Tyres Emyvale Cycle Club had a feast of cycling for all.
It was a long day for all involved as signing-on was open early with underage racing commencing at mid morning. Jake Gray (Juiced Orchard Wheelers) who has had a couple of top three placings so far this season took the win in the Under 12 category.
Bann Vally cyclist Conor McAteer was the proud winner of the Under 14 category race. In the Under 16 race it was a first three for the Juiced Orchard Wheelers underage cyclist who took the glory. Adam Turner was first with Robert Anderson and Nathan Mehaffey were second and third over the line. This is not the first time that Juiced Orchard Wheelers cyclists have taken the first three place in an underage event.
The 100 kilometres Emyvale Grand Prix was the showpiece event of the day with a large entry of cyclists which included first and second category rider along with selected junior and veteran.
These riders had to race six laps of a nine mile circuit and toward the end of the race, Paul Mulligan (Unattached), Craig Sweetman, Robert Moore (both of Stamullen M Donnelly RC), Mark Greer (Maryland Wheelers) and Andrew Meehan (Swords CC) shook of other members in the group.
When it came to the line it was Craig Sweetman who took the prize ahead of Mulligan (U/Att) who was second with third place going to Meehan (Swords CC). Maryland Wheelers Mark Greer was fourth and Sweetman's team-mate Robert Moore was fifth. Northpole junior cyclist Rory Devlin was sixth.
Racing for Juniors and veterans was also held but they had only five laps of the same circuit and like the high pace of the FBD Insurance Ras several riders were to the fore in the bunch. Several groups formed as the race entered the last lap but out of the front group from the Cork St Tierans club Andre Engermann up the pace and gained a gap of second place man from Dromara CC namely Ronnie Smith with Adam Rayner taking third place.
It was a busy weekend for Ballymena Scott Tiles man Tommy Wilson, as he was involved in the Red Hand Trophy race the previous day,but came home in fourth place.Fifth and sixth places went to Ernie Magwood (Autoparts East Tyrone RT) and John Cieslik (Dromara CC).
A four lap race was on for the senior 3 category riders and with 60 competitors the ability of all the riders was considered as par and no break got more than 20 to 25 seconds. Would an Ulster rider be the one to spoil the joy of the southern competitors as the first places in the Emyvale GP and “B” race had gone to southern riders, then expectations were hopeful of an Ulster rider taking the “C” race prize.
It was not to be as Noel Wilson (Autoparts East Tyrone RT) failed in the sprint and lost out to Aiden Cunningham of the Cuchullian CC of Dundalk. Omagh Wheelers John Paul Connelly was third over the line. Fourth place went to John McAuley (Apollo CRT), while Conor Quinn (Newry Wheelers) was fifth and sixth place taken by Patrick Sheilds (Stamullen M Donnelly CC).
The Sportactive Cycling Ulster Womens league race was held also today in Tydavent and this event also included as part of the National Women's League and so there was a large turnout of ladies to the event.
Heather Wilson (Maryland Wheelers) was the winner of the ladies race and just managed to beat Michelle Geoghan (Orwell Wheelers) into second place while Sarah Piner (Lakeside Wheelers, Mullingar) was third. Fourth place went to Lurgan teenager Ciara Mulholland (Clann Eireann) who finished in fourth place beating the more established and seasoned senior ladies. Fifth place went to Wendy Bates (Lakeside Wheelers) and sixth place was given to Kay Hack (Bann Wheelers).
Cycling Ulster Women's League sponsored by SportActive seen Julie Mulligan (Omagh Wheelers) as the outright winner of the league. She received the SportActive Cup and a cheque from Flora Mittermair and Martin Birney. It has also been a busy week for the SportActive owners as they have also been following stages of the FBD Insurance RAS and was seen in various locations throughout Ireland.
There are no results in the database for this event.