2026 April 18-19 Race Report

Orwell Wheelers
2 days ago
2 min read

Orwell Wheelers Race Report

Strong Weekend Across Wexford, Down & Kerry

Orwell Wheelers were in action across three provinces over the weekend of April 18–19, lining out at the Kilmore Road Race (Wexford), the Alan Towell Memorial (Down), and the John Drumm Cup (Kerry).

With aggressive racing, podium success, and a welcome return from injury, it proved to be a highly positive couple of days for the club.

Kilmore Road Race – Co. Wexford (Saturday)

The standout performance of the weekend came in the C3 race, where Alexander “Alex” Smythe delivered a huge ride.

From the very first kilometre, Smythe went clear alongside a Gorey rider, forming a two‑man break that would stay away for the full 82km. The pair worked smoothly throughout, holding off the bunch in impressive fashion.

In the finish, Smythe chose not to contest the sprint, allowing the local rider to take the win at the only Wexford open race of the year. While officially second, it was a performance that underlined both strength and race maturity.

Alan Towell Memorial – Co. Down (Sunday)

Orwell had a strong presence across the categories in Dromore, with results and aggressive riding throughout the day.

C1 Race

A double top‑10 capped a strong team showing:

Padraig Moran – 8th

Liam Crowley – 9th

Crowley was particularly active, spending time up the road in a breakaway.

Moran, meanwhile, showed excellent climbing form, matching the strongest riders on the hills. With the legs clearly coming around, it’s an encouraging sign ahead of the Rás, where that ability will be crucial.

C2 Race

Matt Lynch – 19th strong performance.

C3 Race

Backing up his efforts from Wexford, Smythe produced another superb ride:

Alexander Smythe – 2nd 🥈

Great to See Joe Nathan

It was also a welcome sight to see Joe Nathan back racing after a winter affected by injury.

Unfortunately delayed by a dropped chain, Nathan’s chances of a result were ended early, but simply being back in the bunch in a demanding race like the Towell Memorial marks an important step in his return. His presence adds valuable depth to the squad as the season progresses.