Club

Cesar Lopes took a win for Orwell in the first round of the Inter Club League, while Declan Malone and David Harrington got results in this weekend’s open races.

Entries are now open for the Inter Club which will be run weekly from April 12 until August 17. Get your weekly fix of racing against five other local clubs.

Orwell’s Club League moved to Corkagh Park for the past three weeks, where some high octane racing blew off the winter cobwebs. While some of the club’s seasoned racers acquitted themselves well, it was a number of up and coming youth riders who stole the limelight.

After last week’s prologue, the bunches got into some fast and furious crit racing this week, with separate nights for the Limit and Scratch groups. John Blennerhassett emerged triumphant from the winning break on Wednesday, while Valdis Andersons once again displayed his dominance on Thursday.

The 2016 club league of Scott-Orwell Wheelers kicked off on Thursday with the Pine forest prologue TT. This was on the same course as has been used for the past three years, and has proven a popular starting point. Valdis Andersons reports back…

Registration for the 2016 Orwell League will close at the end of February, so make sure you get your entries in before then. To whet your appetite for a bit of racing, we’re finally publishing a round-up on last year’s league, as well a report on the last round, won by Stephen Barry, with Colin Caesar hot on his heels.

The TTT round of the league went down to the wire this year, with only six seconds separating the top two teams after the handicaps were applied, while the hill climb championships were even tighter, Fionn Sheridan winning by less than a second from Brian McArdle.

We’ll take advantage of a quiet Friday afternoon to do some catching up on the club league, going back to Conor Murnane’s sprint to victory at the club champs in Mondello, and Damien Long’s tactical masterstroke of a win on the Green Sheds.

Previous holder of the 25TT title, Tom Blennerhassett retook it in imperious style in R15 of the club league, while Ann Horan blazed to the women’s title by nearly a minute over her nearest rival. R16 saw the lowest turnout yet for a round, with Eoin Byrne emerging triumphant in horrendous conditions.

Eric Downey showed that his form hasn’t dipped much since his 2013 overall league win, while Valdis Andersons got the victory that has eluded him since he was upgraded to Scratch that same season after running riot in Corkagh Park.

The last two rounds of the club league had a eerily familiar feel to them, with Brian McArdle taking a fine solo win at Mondello last week, and Dick O’Brien and Aideen Keenan demolishing their respective fields in the 10TT Championships last night. Conor Murnane was also crowned Junior 10TT Champion – the first time that title has been awarded in a quarter-century.

Two full handicap road races over two weeks saw two winners take to the line with clear gaps over the bunch. The difference in the size of the gaps was substantial, as Scott Gilchrist’s race-long solo break last night ended two minutes ahead of the chasers, while Brian McArdle’s late attack last week gave him just enough for a comfortable victory.

The first of two Sallygap finishes ran over a tougher than usual circuit, and produced one worthy winner in the shape of Diarmuid Collins. All the action below!

One dramatic chase resulted in Seán Murnane taking a large bunch sprint, while another duller affair saw Semi-scratch settle affairs with Freddie Stevens fastest in a small gallop. Corkagh Park racing is different every race, full reports below!

The opening road race of the club league saw the two front groups show their strength to stay away and swamp the placings in the hunt for the win. Robbie Dolan and Mark Holland were the ultimate victors, but all who shared the load should be proud of their efforts.

The first 10TT of the club league saw a new course record from overall winner Brian McArdle, and some other great performances and new PBs across the field.

There must be something in the water in the Murnane household, with both races this week won by the emerging riders. Seán Murnane won a aggressive race on Wednesday, while Conor Murnane came out on top from a more negative competition on Thursday. All the action below, including videos of both finishes!

Mark Holland made it two in a row by following up his 2nd place last week with a fine win at the head of a bunch sprint in Corkagh on Wednesday, while yesterday Conor Murnane claimed his latest result from a three man sprint. All the action below!

The first races of the league saw two strong performances in each, with Seán Murnane and Brian McArdle each on the attack in their respective races. Murnane capped it off with a strong sprint, while McArdle did it the hard way with a solo effort from the halfway mark.

At Pine Forest last night, all eyes were on Dick O’Brien and Tom Blennerhassett after their recent Rás Mhaigh Eo showings, and they duly did their duty and delivered despite a dismal Dublin deluge dampening their deeds.