Cronin and Walsh win in Round 2

Martina Cronin and Muirna Walsh took the wins in round two of the Wheelworx Orwell Ladies’ Crit League in Sandyford on Tuesday night, while Sandra Fitzgerald did enough to retain the leader’s Jersey.

Martina Cronin and Muirna Walsh took the wins in round two of the Wheelworx Orwell Ladies’ Crit League in Sandyford on Tuesday night, while Sandra Fitzgerald did enough to retain the leader’s Jersey.

After recent bad weather, the sun shone and the wind abated setting the scene for a smashing night of racing at Rd 2 of the Wheelworx sponsored and Orwell organised Ladies Crit League in Sandyford Industrial Estate with a record turn-out of 48 riders taking part.

With the majority of riders in the 15 lap handicapped B Race making their racing debut, the race was neutralised for 3 laps with seasoned racers, Orla Hendron (Orwell) and Kate Rudd (Black Rose) mentoring the newcomers around the technical corners of the circuit.

When the racing got underway, a seven rider breakaway clipped away and worked well together to stay away to mop all the placings. The group comprised of Muirna Walsh (Lakeside) who attacked with 3 laps to go opening up a 40 second gap to take a solo win and secure her lead in the B Division. Siobhan O’Connor (Orwell) sprinted in for 2nd ahead of Noreen Garahy (Wolftrap) taking an excellent 3rd in her first ever race.

Promising 1st Year Junior, Nicole Evans (SERC) took 4th with Sarah Pratt (Bray) and Teena O’Malley (Lucan) netting 5th & 6th places. 7th placed Michelle Carter (Bray) also put in a very good ride to complete the breakaway group.

B Race Top 10 Results

1 Muirna Walsh, Lakeside 2 Siobhan O’Connor, Orwell 3 Noreen Garahy, Wolftrap 4 Nicole Evans, SERC5 Sarah Pratt, Bray6 Martina O’Malley, Lucan7 Michelle Carter, Bray8 Catherine McAteer, Garda9 Sarah Dennedy, DID Electrical10 Celeste Marin, Orwell

Division B League Table (after Round 2)

1 Muirna Walsh, Lakeside, 46points2 Noreen Garahy, Wolftrap, 423 Nicole Evans, SERC, 384 Siobhan O’Connor, Orwell, 355 Sarah Pratt, Bray, 306 Michelle Carter, Bray, 277 Catherine McAteer, Garda, 268 Celeste Marin, Orwell, 249 Diane Crean, Orwell, 2310 Martina O’Malley, Lucan, 23

The A race was run over 20 laps, split into two groups. Martina Cronin (Iverk Carrick) captialised on her advantage attacking from the Limit group and getting a gap before she was joined by Sandra Telford and Rachael Kaye Mellor from Orwell. Caroline Martinez (Sundrive) bridged over from the Limit group and contributed to the break while Scratch riders such as Lucy Soden and Isobel Cogan (Orwell) did a lot of work to reel back the Limit group but the breakaway trio could not be caught.

After putting in a number of concerted attacks, Orla Hendron (Orwell) and Kate Rudd (Black Rose) managed to get away but the gap to the three escapees was just too big and they settled for 5th and 6th place respectively. Having saved her powder until the closing laps, Patricia Buckley (Orwell) put in a massive attack and powered by all the other riders to take a fine 4th place. Martina Cronin (Iverk Carrick) took a fine win in a three-up sprint against Orwell’s Sandra Telford in 2nd and Rachael Kaye Mellor in 3rd.

Going into the next round, Sandra Fitzgerald (Garda) hangs on to the A Division lead keeping the Wheelworx Leader’s Jersey by just a point which should make for some exciting racing in the four rounds to come!

A Race Top 10 Results

1 Martina Cronin, Iverk Carrick 2 Sandra Telford, Orwell3 Rachael Kaye-Mellor, Orwell4 Trish Buckley, Orwell5 Orla Hendron, Orwell6 Kate Rudd, Black Rose7 Charlotte MacDonald, Orwell8 Ciara Kinch, Orwell9 Monica Marconi, Orwell10 Lucy Soden, Orwell

Division A League Table (after Round 2)

1 Sandra Fitzgerald, Garda, 56 points 2 Martina Cronin, Carrick, 55 3 Monica Marconi, Orwell, 50 4 Ciara Kinch, Orwell, 48 5 Rachael Kaye-Mellor, Orwell, 44 6 Charlotte MacDonald, Orwell, 43 7 Lucy Soden, Orwell, 38 8 Silvia Gallagher, Bespoke, 37 9 Ailbhe Carroll, Shannon, 37 10 Isabel Cogan, Orwell, 36

Many thanks to our sponsor, Wheelworx and all who helped out and supported the races. Thanks also to Brendan Culleton for all the photos. Don’t forget that the 3rd Rd next Tuesday 23rd April 2013 takes place in Corkagh Park, Clondalkin, sign-on @ 6.30pm for 7pm start. For further information, contact orwellwomen@gmail.com or telephone Aideen Collard on 087 4179967. All female riders still welcome and bring along your friends too!