Stage Racing Round-up

Throughout 2013, Orwell has entered teams in stage races the length and breadth of the country, and we’ve pulled together as many of the results from these as possible.

Throughout 2013, Orwell has entered teams in stage races the length and breadth of the country, and we’ve pulled together as many of the results from these as possible. Full results are not available in all cases, so please excuse any omissions.

Results don’t always tell the full story anyway, they lack the narrative that defines the toughness of a race. The first outing of the year was the attritional Rás Mumhan, held in ferociously bad weather that obliterated the field. Eric Downey had a stand-out ride though, pulling on the blue A2 category jersey after stage 2.

Elsewhere in the country, Orwell teams were in action in Rás Chonamara and at the Gorey, where Brian McArdle secured the Betty D’Arcy Memorial Trophy as winner of the A3 category.

Naoise Sheridan gave the club an international aspect, riding for the Neenan Travel T2020 development squad in Scotland, while later in the year, Conor Murnane and Sean Murnane gave good accounts of themselves along with Sheridan in the SERC Youth 2 Day.

Also competing overseas were Charlotte MacDonald and Rachael Kaye-Mellor for Leinster in the Bedford 3 Day. Their rivals on the road included two former Orwell members – Lydia Boylan and Anne Dalton, who both also later qualified for the national squad in Rás na mBan.

Darragh Long was the club’s most active junior, in the Standard Life NRPT colours. Long’s selfless sacrifice for his team leader in the various stage races is typical of the Orwell riders. Brian McArdle credited his victories in Rás Dhún na nGall and Newry to work by his teammates (Neal Hudson, Patrick O’Brien, Tom Blennerhassett and Aidan Collins) as did Brian Doyle when he won the overall A4 title in Charleville (Paul Brosnan and Paul Kane).

For the second year running we had an Orwell team in each of the An Post Rás and Rás na mBan. Competing at a such a high level requires a lot of assistance, and club members past and present were active as managers, mechanics and soigneurs, as well as riders. This support was not just present at the Rásanna, but also at races like Gorey and Charleville.

Monica Marconi brought the stage racing to a magnificent close when she secured the Fedaia Vet’s prize in the Rás na mBan, while Isabel Cogan was part of an exemplary Leinster team, who won the county team GC.

This is the penultimate 2013 review, stay tuned for the championship results!

Rás Mumhan (A1-3) – 29/3/2013-1/4/2013

Stage 1 Eric Downey – 45th Aidan Collins – 85th Stephen Surdival – 97th Dan Whiting – 106th Odhrán Connors – 123rd Shane Hurley – 156th

A2 GC after Stage 1 Eric Downey – 7th Aidan Collins – 18th Stephen Surdival – 22nd Odhrán Connors – 31st Shane Hurley – 52nd

Team GC after Stage 1 DTC Orwell Wheelers – 20th

Stage 2 Eric Downey – 13th Dan Whiting – 89th Odhrán Connors – 90th Aidan Collins – 104th Stephen Surdival – 150th

GC after Stage 2 Eric Downey – 16th Dan Whiting – 84th Odhrán Connors – 87th Aidan Collins – 101st Stephen Surdival – 117th

A2 GC after Stage 2 Eric Downey – 1st Odhrán Connors – 20th Aidan Collins – 26th Stephen Surdival – 32nd

Team GC after Stage 2 DTC Orwell Wheelers – 16th

Stage 3 Eric Downey – 62nd Aidan Collins – 99th Odhrán Connors – 113th

GC after Stage 3 Eric Downey – 37th Odhrán Connors – 90th Aidan Collins – 96th

A2 GC after Stage 3 Eric Downey – 4th Odhrán Connors – 23rd Aidan Collins – 26th

Team GC after Stage 3 DTC Orwell Wheelers – 18th

Stage 4 Eric Downey – 43rd Odhrán Connors – 95th

Final GC Eric Downey – 34th Odhrán Connors – 90th

Final A2 Category GC Eric Downey – 4th Odhrán Connors – 24th

Gorey 3 Day (A2/3) – 30/3/2013-1/4/2013

Stage 1 Brian McArdle – 11th Neal Hudson – 35th Philippe Bourdarias – 48th Patrick O’Brien – 51st Darragh Long (NRPT) – 71st Diarmuid Collins – 109th Peter Gerard – 113th Liam Rowsome – 136th

Stage 2 TT Brian McArdle – 26th Liam Rowsome – 47th Neal Hudson – 80th Peter Gerard – 82nd Philippe Bourdarias – 106th Darragh Long (NRPT) – 110th Patrick O’Brien – 154th

GC after Stage 2 Brian McArdle – 9th Neal Hudson – 64th Philippe Bourdarias – 82nd Darragh Long (NRPT) – 85th Patrick O’Brien – 105th Peter Gerard – 111th Liam Rowsome – 136th

Stage 3 Brian McArdle – 12th Philippe Bourdarias – 31st Neal Hudson – 50th Peter Gerard – 68th Patrick O’Brien – 71st Darragh Long (NRPT) – 77th Liam Rowsome – 122nd

GC after Stage 3 Brian McArdle – 8th Neal Hudson – 60th Philippe Bourdarias – 74th Darragh Long (NRPT) – 77th Patrick O’Brien – 92nd Peter Gerard – 100th Liam Rowsome – 128th

Stage 4 Brian McArdle – 13th Patrick O’Brien – 19th Neal Hudson – 42nd Darragh Long (NRPT) – 73rd Peter Gerard – 86th Liam Rowsome – 103rd Philippe Bourdarias – 118th

Final GC Brian McArdle – 8th Neal Hudson – 46th Patrick O’Brien – 66th Darragh Long (NRPT) – 73rd Peter Gerard – 86th Philippe Bourdarias – 99th Liam Rowsome – 117th

Mountains Brian McArdle – joint 2nd

Final Team GC DTC Orwell Wheelers – 5th NRPT – 8th

Rás Chonamara (A2/3) – 30/3/2013-1/4/2013

Stage 1 John Dillon – 17th Nick Watson – 63rd

Stage 2 TT John Dillon – 56th Nick Watson – 69th

Stage 3 John Dillon – 52nd

Stage 4 John Dillon – 22nd

Final GC John Dillon – 36th

Youth Tour of Scotland – 5/4/2013-7/4/2013

Stage 1 Naoise Sheridan – 21st

Stage 2 Crit Naoise Sheridan – 17th

Stage 3 TT Naoise Sheridan – 21st

Stage 4 Kermesse Naoise Sheridan – 22nd

Final GC Naoise Sheridan – 21st

Kanturk 3 Day (A2/3) – 4/5/2013-6/5/2013

Stage 1 Aidan Collins – 11th Diarmuid Collins – 88th

Stage 2 TT Aidan Collins – 61st Diarmuid Collins – 73rd

GC after Stage 2 Aidan Collins – 32nd Diarmuid Collins – 68th

Stage 3 Diarmuid Collins – 64th Aidan Collins – 72nd

GC after Stage 3 Aidan Collins – 33rd Diarmuid Collins – 63rd

Stage 4 Aidan Collins – 29th Diarmuid Collins – 65th

Final GC Aidan Collins – 29th Diarmuid Collins – 57th

Tour of Ulster – 3/5/2013-6/5/2013

Stage 1 Odhrán Connors – 22nd Daniel Whiting – 55th

Stage 2 Daniel Whiting – 69th Odhrán Connors – 72nd

GC after Stage 2 Odhrán Connors – 21st Daniel Whiting – 60th

Stage 3 Odhrán Connors – 39th Daniel Whiting – 59th

GC after Stage 3 Odhrán Connors – 29th Daniel Whiting – 69th

Stage 4 Odhrán Connors – 55th

Final GC Odhrán Connors – 31st

Bedford 3 Day – 4/5/2013-6/5/2013

Stage 1 Lydia Boylan (Team CTC) – 4th Anne Dalton (DID) – 30th Charlotte MacDonald (Leinster) – 78th Rachael Kaye-Mellor (Leinster) – 88th

Stage 2 TTT Team CTC – 6th DID – 8th Leinster – 9th

Stage 3 Lydia Boylan (Team CTC) – 30th Anne Dalton (DID) – 45th Charlotte MacDonald (Leinster) – 73rd

Stage 4 TT Lydia Boylan (Team CTC) – 10th Anne Dalton (DID) – 14th Charlotte MacDonald (Leinster) – 71st

Stage 5 Lydia Boylan (Team CTC) – 27th Anne Dalton (DID) – 36th Charlotte MacDonald (Leinster) – 64th

Final GC Lydia Boylan (Team CTC) – 15th Anne Dalton (DID) – 22nd Charlotte MacDonald (Leinster) – 67th

An Post Rás (A+-3) – 19/5/2013-26/5/2013

Stage 1 Eric Downey – 96th Diarmuid Collins – 119th Odhrán Connors – 123rd Aidan Crowley – 131st Aidan Collins – 171st

County GC after Stage 1 Eric Downey – 23rd Diarmuid Collins – 39th Odhrán Connors – 41st Aidan Crowley – 45th Aidan Collins – 83rd

Cat 2 GC after Stage 1 Diarmuid Collins – 10th Odhrán Connors – 11th Aidan Collins – 28th

Stage 2 Eric Downey – 95th Aidan Collins – 124th Aidan Crowley – 136th Diarmuid Collins – 141st Odhrán Connors – 153rd

GC after Stage 2 Eric Downey – 90th Diarmuid Collins – 113th Aidan Crowley – 123rd Odhrán Connors – 149th Aidan Collins – 157th

County GC after Stage 2 Eric Downey – 21st Diarmuid Collins – 35th Aidan Crowley – 39th Odhrán Connors – 63rd Aidan Collins – 70th

Cat 2 GC after Stage 2 Diarmuid Collins – 9th Odhrán Connors – 20th Aidan Collins – 25th

Stage 3 Eric Downey – 105th Aidan Crowley – 135th Diarmuid Collins – 139th Aidan Collins – 140th Odhrán Connors – 155th

GC after Stage 3 Eric Downey – 85th Diarmuid Collins – 111th Aidan Crowley – 112th Aidan Collins – 152nd Odhrán Connors – 158th

County GC after Stage 3 Eric Downey – 17th Diarmuid Collins – 32nd Aidan Crowley – 33rd Aidan Collins – 66th Odhrán Connors – 72rd

Cat 2 GC after Stage 3 Diarmuid Collins – 9th Aidan Collins – 19th Odhrán Connors – 23rd

Stage 4 Eric Downey – 103rd Diarmuid Collins – 112th Odhrán Connors – 116th Aidan Crowley – 119th Aidan Collins – 149th

GC after Stage 4 Eric Downey – 98th Diarmuid Collins – 116th Aidan Crowley – 117th Odhrán Connors – 141st

County GC after Stage 4 Eric Downey – 22nd Diarmuid Collins – 37th Aidan Crowley – 38th Odhrán Connors – 59th

Cat 2 GC after Stage 4 Diarmuid Collins – 10th Odhrán Connors – 16th

Stage 5 Aidan Crowley – 129th Eric Downey – 131st Diarmuid Collins – 133rd Odhrán Connors – 135th

GC after Stage 5 Eric Downey – 108th Aidan Crowley – 115th Diarmuid Collins – 118th Odhrán Connors – 140th

County GC after Stage 5 Eric Downey – 31st Aidan Crowley – 36th Diarmuid Collins – 39th Odhrán Connors – 59th

Cat 2 GC after Stage 5 Diarmuid Collins – 11th Odhrán Connors – 16th

Stage 6 Eric Downey – 118th Diarmuid Collins – 121st Aidan Crowley – 122nd

GC after Stage 6 Eric Downey – 106th Aidan Crowley – 115th Diarmuid Collins – 116th

County GC after Stage 6 Eric Downey – 32nd Aidan Crowley – 41st Diarmuid Collins – 42nd

Cat 2 GC after Stage 6 Diarmuid Collins – 10th

Stage 7 Eric Downey – 68th Aidan Crowley – 114th Diarmuid Collins – 128th

GC after Stage 7 Eric Downey – 97th Aidan Crowley – 113th Diarmuid Collins – 114th

County GC after Stage 7 Eric Downey – 27th Aidan Crowley – 41st Diarmuid Collins – 42nd

Cat 2 GC after Stage 7 Diarmuid Collins – 10th

Stage 8 Eric Downey – 99th Aidan Crowley – 101st Diarmuid Collins – 114th

Final GC Eric Downey – 98th Aidan Crowley – 113th Diarmuid Collins – 115th

Final County GC Eric Downey – 28th Aidan Crowley – 41st Diarmuid Collins – 43rd

Final Cat 2 GC Diarmuid Collins – 10th

Rás Dhún na nGall (A2/3) – 31/5/2013-2/6/2013

Stage 1 Patrick O’Brien – 14th Brian McArdle – 28th Darragh Long (NRPT) – 29th Neal Hudson – 43rd

Stage 2 Brian McArdle – 30th Darragh Long (NRPT) – 34th Neal Hudson – 36th Patrick O’Brien – 61st

GC after Stage 2 Brian McArdle – 29th Darragh Long (NRPT) – 32nd Neal Hudson – 33rd Patrick O’Brien – 54th

Stage 3 Brian McArdle – 11th Neal Hudson – 20th Patrick O’Brien – 28th Darragh Long (NRPT) – 71st

GC after Stage 3 Brian McArdle – 27th Neal Hudson – 29th Patrick O’Brien – 44th Darragh Long (NRPT) – 68th

Stage 4 Brian McArdle – 1st Neal Hudson – 16th Patrick O’Brien – 50th Darragh Long (NRPT) – 64th

Final GC Brian McArdle – 5th Neal Hudson – 20th Patrick O’Brien – 47th Darragh Long (NRPT) – 66th

Mountains Brian McArdle – 5th Patrick O’Brien – 10th

Final Team GC DTC Orwell Wheelers – 3rd

Newry 3 Day (A2/3) – 28/6/2013-30/6/2013

Stage 1 Neal Hudson – 14th Brian McArdle – 15th Tom Blennerhassett – 32nd Aidan Collins – 39th

Mountains after Stage 1 Brian McArdle – 1st

Team GC after Stage 1 DTC Orwell Wheelers – 4th

Stage 2 TT 31 Brian McArdle – 31st 41 Neal Hudson – 41st 46 Tom Blennerhassett – 46th 71 Aidan Collins – 71st

GC after Stage 2 15 Brian McArdle – 15th 21 Neal Hudson – 21st 39 Tom Blennerhassett – 39th 52 Aidan Collins – 52nd

Team GC after Stage 2 DTC Orwell Wheelers – 5th

Stage 3 Brian McArdle – 5th Aidan Collins – 17th Tom Blennerhassett – 25th Neal Hudson – 52nd

GC after Stage 3 Brian McArdle – 10th Tom Blennerhassett – 31st Neal Hudson – 33rd Aidan Collins – 39th

Mountains after Stage 3 Brian McArdle – 1st

Team GC after Stage 3 DTC Orwell Wheelers – 4th

Stage 4 Brian McArdle – 24th Tom Blennerhassett – 45th

Final GC Brian McArdle – 13th Tom Blennerhassett – 35th

Final Mountains Brian McArdle – 1st

Junior Tour – 2/7/2013-7/4/2013

Stage 1 TT Darragh Long (NRPT) – 37th

Stage 2 Darragh Long (NRPT) – 39th

Stage 3 Darragh Long (NRPT) – 33rd

Stage 4 Darragh Long (NRPT) – 55th

Stage 5 Darragh Long (NRPT) – 37th

Stage 6 Darragh Long (NRPT) – 26th

Final GC Darragh Long (NRPT) – 43rd

SERC Youth 2 Day – 13/7/2013-14/7/2013

Stage 1 TT Sean Murnane – 8th (U14) Conor Murnane – 22nd (U16) Naoise Sheridan – 25th (U16)

Stage 2 ?

Final GC Sean Murnane – 10th (U14) Conor Murnane – 19th (U16) Naoise Sheridan – 23rd (U16)

Suir Valley 3 Day (A+-3) – 3/7/2013-5/7/2013

Stage 1 Brian McArdle – 76th Diarmuid Collins – 113th

Stage 2 Diarmuid Collins – 84th Brian McArdle – 95th

Stage 3 Diarmuid Collins – 54th Brian McArdle – 65th

Stage 4 Brian McArdle – 58th Diarmuid Collins – 76th

Final GC Brian McArdle – 63rd Diarmuid Collins – 76th

Stafford Wholesale Wexford 2 Day (A1, A2/3) – 17/8/2013-18/8/2013

Stage 1 – A1 Brian McArdle – 12th

Stage 2 TT – A1 Brian McArdle – 5th

Stage 1 – A2/3 Odhrán Connors – 15th Patrick O’Brien – 25th Neal Hudson – 29th Cormac Bracken – 37th Aidan Collins – 41st Ed O’Mahoney – 73rd Jamie Busher – ?

Stage 2 TT – A2/3 Patrick O’Brien – 15th Neal Hudson – 18th Aidan Collins – 29th Cormac Bracken – 44th Ed O’Mahoney – 56th Jamie Busher – 64th

Stage 3 – A2/3 Patrick O’Brien – 7th Aidan Collins – 11th Jamie Busher – 21st Neal Hudson – 30th Cormac Bracken – 40th Ed O’Mahony – 43rd

Final A2/3 GC Patrick O’Brien – 10th Aidan Collins – 15th Neal Hudson – 27th Cormac Bracken – 28th Edward O’Mahony – 50th Jamie Busher – ?

Stage 1 – A4 Brian Doyle – 64th Donnacha McCormack – 65th Jules Cantwell – 68th

Stage 2 TT – A4 Donnacha McCormack – 67th

Charleville 2 Day (A2/3, A4) – 7/9/2013-8/9/2013

Stage 1 – A2/3 Philippe Bourdarias – 5th Aidan Collins – 25th Jamie Busher – 40th Liam Rowsome – 42nd David Halpin – 76th Cormac Bracken – 84th OisÌn Boland – 112th Peter Gerrard – 129th

Stage 2 TT – A2/3 Liam Rowsome – 35th Peter Gerrard – 36th Philippe Bourdarias – 44th Jamie Busher – 50th Cormac Bracken – 53rd Aidan Collins – 55th OisÌn Boland – 108th David Halpin – 109th

A2/3 GC after Stage 2 Philippe Bourdarias – 29th Aidan Collins – 32nd Liam Rowsome – 44th Jamie Busher – 49th Cormac Bracken – 61st David Halpin – 80th OisÌn Boland – 101st Peter Gerrard – 113th

Stage 3 – A2/3 Philippe Bourdarias – 5th Aidan Collins – 11th Liam Rowsome – 37th Jamie Busher – 38th Cormac Bracken – 46th Peter Gerrard – 53rd David Halpin – 101st

Final A2/3 GC Philippe Bourdarias – ? Aidan Collins – 22nd Liam Rowsome – 42nd Jamie Busher – 45th Cormac Bracken – 52nd David Halpin – 83rd Peter Gerrard – 85th

Final A2/3 Team GC DTC Orwell Wheelers – 3rd

Stage 1 – A4 Paul Brosnan – 38th Paul Kane – 43rd Brian Doyle – 45th

Stage 2 TT – A4 Brian Doyle – 2nd Paul Brosnan – 22nd Paul Kane – 60th

A4 GC after stage 2 Brian Doyle – 2nd Paul Brosnan – 20th Paul Kane – 56th

Stage 3 – A4 Brian Doyle – 13th Paul Kane – 41st Paul Brosnan – 58th

Final A4 GC Brian Doyle – 1st Paul Kane – 43rd Paul Brosnan – 56th

Final A4 Team GC DTC Orwell Wheelers – 4th

Rás na mBan – 11/9/2013-15/9/2013

Stage 1 Lydia Boylan (Ireland) – 12th Jenny Fay (Bike-Aid.de) – 19th Lauren Creamer (Joe Daly Cycles) – 24th Anne Dalton (Ireland) – 64th Monica Marconi – 67th Karen Robinson (Joe Daly Cycles) – 73rd Isabel Cogan (Leinster) – 79th Lucy Soden – 80th Charlotte MacDonald – 85th Rachael Kaye-Mellor – 88th Orla Hendron – 89th Sarah Dennedy (Joe Daly Cycles) – 93rd Maria Mulvany (Joe Daly Cycles) – 94th Noreen O’Toole (Joe Daly Cycles) – 99th

Stage 2 Jenny Fay (Bike-Aid.de) – 3rd Lydia Boylan (Ireland) – 6th Monica Marconi – 38th Isabel Cogan (Leinster) – 51st Charlotte MacDonald – 72nd Karen Robinson (Joe Daly Cycles) – 78th Rachael Kaye-Mellor – 83rd Sarah Dennedy (Joe Daly Cycles) – 88th Lucy Soden – 89th Orla Hendron – 92nd Maria Mulvany (Joe Daly Cycles) – 93rd Noreen O’Toole (Joe Daly Cycles) – 97th

GC after Stage 2 Jenny Fay (Bike-Aid.de) – 3rd Lydia Boylan (Ireland) – 6th Monica Marconi – 40th Isabel Cogan (Leinster) – 55th Charlotte MacDonald – 77th Karen Robinson (Joe Daly Cycles) – 80th Rachael Kaye-Mellor – 86th Lucy Soden – 88th Sarah Dennedy (Joe Daly Cycles) – 90th Orla Hendron – 91st Maria Mulvany (Joe Daly Cycles) – 92nd Noreen O’Toole (Joe Daly Cycles) – 97th

Stage 3 TTT Ireland – 1st Bike-Aid.de – 14th Cycling Leinster – 9th Orwell Wheelers – 17th Joe Daly Cycles – 21st

Stage 4 Circuit Race Lydia Boylan (Ireland) – 20th Jenny Fay (Bike-Aid.de) – 31st Isabel Cogan (Leinster) – 49th Monica Marconi – 55th Lucy Soden – 64th Orla Hendron – 84th Charlotte MacDonald – 85th Rachael Kaye-Mellor – 86th Karen Robinson (Joe Daly Cycles) – 87th Noreen O’Toole (Joe Daly Cycles) – 88th Sarah Dennedy (Joe Daly Cycles) – 89th Maria Mulvany (Joe Daly Cycles) – 92nd

Stage 5 Jenny Fay (Bike-Aid.de) – 19th Lydia Boylan (Ireland) – 23rd Monica Marconi – 43rd Isabel Cogan (Leinster) – 62nd Lucy Soden – 81st Orla Hendron – 83rd Karen Robinson (Joe Daly Cycles) – 84th Charlotte MacDonald – 85th Rachael Kaye-Mellor – 86th Noreen O’Toole (Joe Daly Cycles) – 91st Sarah Dennedy (Joe Daly Cycles) – 92nd

GC after Stage 5 Lydia Boylan (Ireland) – 3rd Jenny Fay (Bike-Aid.de) – 16th Monica Marconi – 43rd Isabel Cogan (Leinster) – 51st Lucy Soden – 74th Charlotte MacDonald – 78th Karen Robinson (Joe Daly Cycles) – 83rd Rachael Kaye-Mellor – 86th Orla Hendron – 87th Sarah Dennedy (Joe Daly Cycles) – 88th Noreen O’Toole (Joe Daly Cycles) – 92nd

Stage 6 Jenny Fay (Bike-Aid.de) – 9th Lydia Boylan (Ireland) – 11th Monica Marconi – 46th Orla Hendron – 56th Isabel Cogan (Leinster) – 63rd Karen Robinson (Joe Daly Cycles) – 70th Charlotte MacDonald – 76th Sarah Dennedy (Joe Daly Cycles) – 77th Lucy Soden – 78th Noreen O’Toole (Joe Daly Cycles) – 83rd

Final GC Lydia Boylan (Ireland) – 4th S Irish National T 10h34’42” @04’02” Jenny Fay (Bike-Aid.de) – 13th Monica Marconi – 38th Isabel Cogan (Leinster) – 47th Charlotte MacDonald – 71st Lucy Soden – 72nd Karen Robinson (Joe Daly Cycles) – 74th Orla Hendron – 76th Sarah Dennedy (Joe Daly Cycles) – 83rd Noreen O’Toole (Joe Daly Cycles) – 84th

Final County Rider GC Monica Marconi – 4th Isabel Cogan (Leinster) – 6th Charlotte MacDonald – 14th Lucy Soden – 15th Karen Robinson (Joe Daly Cycles) – 17th Orla Hendron – 19th Sarah Dennedy (Joe Daly Cycles) – 22nd Noreen O’Toole (Joe Daly Cycles) – 23rd

Final Team GC Ireland – 1st

Final County Team GC Leinster – 1st