Sometimes among all the reports of popping champagne corks on the top step of the podium, it’s easy to forget that races contain many other stories – stories of tenacity, teamwork, comradery…. and sometimes just good old fashioned hilarity!

Roche GP 2015 results Brian Mc Stephen Roche GP 25 June 2015 Results inside from the Stephen Roche GP, in association with Dundrum Credit Union. Congratulations to our senior winners Fiona Meade and Jake Gray! Thanks to all the sponsors, riders, marshals, organisers and supporters - this race always draws a crowd, and last night was no exception! Full report to follow. Youth races sponsored by Joe Daly cycles Under 12 1st, Lucy O'Donnell, Limerick CC; 2nd, Andrew Ryan, Orw

Results inside from the Stephen Roche GP, in association with Dundrum Credit Union. Congratulations to our senior winners Fiona Meade and Jake Gray!

Two races in early September saw two A4 performances of note – one a regular racer, the other almost a complete novice. David Maher got his long-overdue upgrade to A3 with a 3rd at the head of the bunch sprint in Laragh, while Chris Mollaghan made a impression at his first stage race, with 12th in the TT and 5th in the final stage, narrowly missing out on a top ten overall spot. Plenty more racing action below!

As the IVCA league spent August drawing to a close, the Orwell vets weren’t spent just yet, with Barry Dace clocking up another couple of results, and Arthur Ebbs, Romano Morelli and William Parnell all getting top ten finishes, including a podium spot for Ebbs.

The Orwell vets have been cleaning up again, with Ciara Kinch, Barry Dace and William Parnell all notching up wins since our last update. Read on for all the action!

Four of Orwell’s youngest members were out last night to fight for victory in the opening round of the Underage Interclub League – Killian O’Brien, Alice O’Brien, Andrew Ryan and Uisneach Sheridan. Read on to see how they got on!

Last week we had two wins from two breakaways, as Pat O’Brien showed just why he’s top of the league at the moment, then leaving his rivals Barry Dace and Jamie Busher behind. Graham Scanlon and Keith Harte did the same to the rest of Limit and Semi-limit, with the former coming out on top for a fine win.

Last weeks league crit saw a repeat win for Conor Murnane, and Liam Rowsome taking a maiden triumph from a break, while the weekend was packed with results – Barry Dace winning in the vets, Neal Hudson taking silver on the road, and Orla Hendron an actual silver on the track. Fionn Sheridan also won bronze, and Ciara Kinch placed in the National League race.

A weekend’s worth of racing in Roundwood paid dividends for Fionn Sheridan, taking two prizes, including the coveted Kieran Hammond trophy. Keith Harte and David Maher placed in the Roundwood GP, while several members scored results in the Hammond Memorial TT event. And last week in the league, Uisneach Sheridan, Paul Tansey and Brian Ahern won the sprints in Corkagh Park.

Last week’s club action saw two bunch sprints taken with small gaps by classy winners Bryan Geary and Owen O’Flaherty. Read all about it!

While Pat O’Brien unleashed his trademark sprint to take the Scratch race, the talk of the night was newcomer Greg O’Donnell’s outstanding win from Limit. Update: Now with extra on-bike footage from Scratch race!

Here’s a little piece from the archives, Brian Ahern’s Rás diary from 2004, ten years ago. An eventful race for the Orwell legend, he goes into great detail on what is an eight day sufferfest for most. It’s revised and updated, as he claims he originally typed it with one finger of one hand (spoilers!).

On the same day that Marcel Kittel sprinted to victory in Belfast, our own Bernard English did the same a little further south. Mark Mulcahy and Eamon Finn also placed at Dunsany, while earlier in the week Claire McEntee chalked up a superb time in Dundalk to take the Leinster 10TT title.

On a gorgeous night in Corkagh Park, it was two strong riders with perfect timing who came out best – Bryan Geary in the Limit race, and David Swift in the Scratch.

Nearly sixty riders signed on in gorgeous conditions last night, with two riders coming out on top in the senior races – Davids Maher and Halpin. A tie in the junior race meant both Uisneach Sheridan and Andrew Ryan claimed first place.

Aidan Collins brought home the best results of the weekend for the club, with a 4th in the Stamullen GP on Sunday, and an unplaced prize on Friday. Odhrán Connors and Stephen Barry also featured in Stamullen, while the Orwell women were active in Nenagh, with a TTT win, and placings for Ciara Kinch and Monica Marconi.

The winners of the first 2014 Orwell crit came from both ends of the spectrun – young rising star Conor Murnane, and experienced Rás veteran Brian Ahern. Read on for more!

Eric Downey increased his lead in the club league at round 16 in Corkagh Park after netting a convincing win in the A race over breakaway companion Gavin Dodd. In the B race a break of three stayed away, with Julian Moore taking the win ahead of Ronan Grimes and Brian Doyle.

The Orwell results started pouring in last Tuesday, with two placings at Corkagh Park courtesy of Isabel Cogan and Siobhán O’Connor. Cogan repeated her success with 7th at the weekend in Bunclody, while Oisín Boland earned himself an upgrade with a super 3rd place in the A4 race, and Neal Hudson broke his barren streak with a fine 8th in the A3 edition.