CLUBCALL

BRAY WHEELERS

This week the racing continued in Balscadden and Stamullen in a series of races run by Stamullen Cycling Club.

On Saturday Ed O'Brien contested the A2 event, while juniors Sean Lee and Harry Brooks contested the A3/junior event.

On Sunday at Stamullen Geoff Robinson rode well in the A1/A2 event while Ian Murphy, Graham Kearns, David Hennessy and Sam Gilmore junior rode the A3 event.

There was a large contingent of vets contesting the IVCA divided mass start race at Summerhill County Meath and all rode well, dominating the events due to their large numbers.

It is now less than two weeks to go until Bray Wheelers biggest event of the year - the Shay Elliot Memorial race, which will be held on Saturday April 26 on the roads around County Wicklow and over the climb of Glenmalure. So it is all systems go in organising this huge event.

Next week's youth event is track cycling at Sundrive Velodrome on April 20 starting at 2pm.

Tuesday night training is ongoing and has changed to the earlier time of 7pm

The club races return on April 24 with an interclub 11km time trial on the N11 from Kilmacanogue, starting at 7pm.

Sundrive Velodrome's track league returns on April 30 for accreditated riders. For anyone wishing to ride the track league there will be an accreditation on April 19 at 2pm.

SOUTH EAST ROAD CLUB

The past two weeks has been a very good time for the youth section of the South East Road Club. One of the highest achievers is Nicole Evans who has really established herself on the womens' cycling scene with a number of fine performances over the past two years in which she dedicated herself to the sport.

Her dedication was amply rewarded when she became the second cyclist from the club to be a member of an Irish team, when she competed in a team time trial in Neagh over the weekend as a member of the Irish Junior Ladies' team.

She is a member of a very talented sporting family, with her father, Derrick and mother, Catherine being excellent sportspeople in their own right. The Evans family are very well- known in Gorey and Arklow.

Two members of the underage section competed in the two day Ras na Nog in Drogheda recently. This race attracts all the best under age cyclists from all over Ireland both north and south and has very large fields.

The best result was achieved by Liam Curley who as well as taking an excellent place in the third stage of the under-14 race, finished in sixth place over all having taken seventh and 10th place on the two preceding stages.

His overall placing would have been definitely higher, had he not been involved, through no fault of his own in a crash on stage one and despite a serious injury he showed great courage in resuming the race, when many others would have withdrawn. Liam is in second season and to judge from these results, he has a great future in cycling.

Matthew O'Gorman, is another cyclist with marvellous potential, and this was very much in evidence when he finished a fine 18th place overall in the very tough under16 category. Matthew who is from Ashwwod, Arklow on the Wicklow/Wexford border is shown a huge improvement in the past few months and is certain too to have a great season.

Next weekend sees the largest contingent ever from the club competing in the Gorey Three Day race which is one of the most popular races in the Cycling Calendar.

The team comprises eleven cyclists, and is a mixture of youth and experience.

Among the more experienced SERC Gorey Three Day riders are Murt Doyle, John Whyte, Frank O'Leary and Tony Barnes while among the first time entrants are Martin O'Connor, Ronan Short and Diarmuid Kavanagh.

Three riders from Barrow Wheelers will be “guesting” for the South East Road Club.

The Gorey Three Day is regarded as one of the toughest annual races with the winners of it usually going onto greater achieve- ments with many embarking on professional careers.

The race consists of four stages with the first stage from Blessington to Gorey on Easter Saturday, followed by a time trial on Sunday morning from outside Clough to Gorey.

The Sunday afternoon stage consists of four laps of a fifteen mile circuit, which includes the climb of Craanford Hill.

The club would like to thank the following sponsors: P and H Doyle, Renault Dealer, Gorey, and Derek Webb of Sprintdesign Inc. for the use of van and for provision of clothing, Hickeys Pharmacy, club member, Garret McCabe of Health Matters, Peter Sinnott of Revolve Bike Shop, Gorey and Oakfield Nursing Home.

The club runs two simultaneous Sunday morning spins both leaving their assembly points at 9.30am. The assembly point in Arklow is on the Wexford Road and in Gorey it is at Revolve Bike Shop, The Avenue, Gorey. New members are more than welcome.

BRAY WANDERERS

Seagulls Lotto - There was no Jackpot winner on Sunday, April 13 for a jackpot of €5,050. The numbers drawn were, 8, 11, 24, and 30.

The five €30 lucky winners were J Kelly c/o BWSC, T O'Brien c/o Glenview FC, J Byrne c/o BWSC, N Clarke c/o Shamrock Boys FC, G and A Treanor c/o Glenview FC.

The next draw will be on Sunday, April 20 in the Hibernia Inn with a jackpot of €5,125. If anyone wishes to sell lotto tickets, please contact the club at 2828214.

Online Shop - Bray Wanderers merchandise is now available to purchase on line. The on line souvenir shop can be accessed from the Supporters club website home page www.braywanderers.com.

2014 Season Tickets - Bray Wanderers 2014 season tickets are now available priced at adult €99, child (under 16) €49, OAP €49. For details contact the club office on 01-2828214 or email carlislegrounds@eircom.net.

Travel details for Athlone match - The next away trip is to Athlone on Friday, May 2. The supporters club bus will depart at 4.30pm from Castle Street shopping centre.

Price for travel is €15 for adults, €10 for 16 -18 year olds (id is required) and €5 for under-16s. Non supporters club members will have to pay €3 extra, non members can sign up on the bus or at any home match prior to the date, members are asked to bring there membership cards.

If you have yet to receive your card, please call into the souvenir shop at any home match. To book a seat please text the supporters club on 087-9968969

EA Cup - Wanderers have been drawn at home to Dundalk in the Second Round of the EA SPORTS Cup. This match will be played either on May 5 and 6.

RATHNEW AFC

We had some very excited little academy kids at the weekend receiving their Easter eggs for all their hard work.

Thank you to Ian Fowler for taking over the coaching and we'll done to Gary Dempsy on completing the London City Marathon.

Well done to our U-11 outstanding match winning 6-5 great performance from all. Bring on the final. Our U-13 on winning form again winning 4-2 top notch hat trick from Reece Dignam and great goal from Brandon Aranou.

What can I say about our Premier and third team, only outstanding. Our Premiers travelled again to Newtown and what a match. Winning 3-2, they now progress to the semi-final of the Wicklow Cup, great goals from Nicky (2) and Mark.

Also on Sunday the third team travelled to Bray winning 2-0 in their Cup semi-final, goals from John and Robert.

Exciting four weeks ahead with hopefully lots of silverware to decorate our newly refurbished clubhouse.

WICKLOW ROVERS AFC

The first team were the only senior side in action at the weekend and they went down 2-1 away to Lucan. Mark Delaney put them in front on the half hour mark but the home team were level just before the break.

The lads had the chances to win the game but didn’t take them when they came their way and they were made to pay when Lucan claimed all three points when they scored against the run of play.

There was only one midweek fixture and that was the 13As shield game away to Avonmore, having already qualified for the final the lads were involved in a nine goal thriller, coming out on top by five goals to four. Shane Lincoln, Conor Byrne, Dylan Frazer, Daniel Fitzsimons and a first of the season from Tom Farrell secured all three points in a highly entertaining match.

Action on the playing field last Saturday was confined to the junior section of the club, the under-8As were involved in a high scoring encounter with Newtown Juniors, two goals from Lee Brown and one each from Jack Macklin, Tom Donoghue, Charlie Czwalina, Brian McCaul and Liam Burke saw them win 7-4 in a game that provided exciting football from both teams.

The 10Cs lost 4-0 to a very strong Greystones side in the semi final of the cup with Tom Farrelly standing out for Rovers.

The 12Bs lost 5-2 away to Arklow Town in the semi final of the division 2 cup, Jack Meaney and Charlie Christie scored their goals. Our 13A’s dropped their first points in the league, when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Arklow Town. Conor Byrne’s thirty second goal of the season earned his side a point which keeps them top of the pile.

The 14As are safely through to the premier cup final when they defeated Arklow Town A 1-0, Stuart Cox provided the all important goal to make it sixteen for the campaign and keep his sides dream of a treble alive.

On Sunday the 8Bs lost 4-1 away to Aughrim Rgrs with Eoin Kennedy nabbing their goal. Our 9As won 3-1 against St Anthonys with Charlie Phelan, Aaron Murray and Steven Gormley all getting on the score sheet.

The 9Bs had a narrow 1-0 win over neighbours Wicklow Town with leading scorer Sam Culleton getting the only goal. Well done to our under-10As who defeated Ashford Rovers in the semi final of the premier cup, a goal a piece from Chris Bouchier and Calum Gibney earned them a 2-1 win and a place in the final.

Our 11As pursuit of the treble continues as they beat Greystones Utd A in the semi final of the premier cup, two goals from Sam Bishop and one each from Sam Brown and Conor Lewins with the last coming in the form of an own goal saw the lads win 5-2 after extra time in their quest to add the cup to the league title.

The 11Bs won 2-0 against local rivals Wicklow Town with Adam O’Reilly and Finn Egan Barron hitting the net. Our 11C’s won 5-2 away to Greystones Utd C, Conor Leonard bagged an excellent hat-trick with Ben Free helping himself to a brace. The 12A’s won 3-1 against St Anthony’s with Paul Marah netting two and Nathan Sullivan scoring one.

Our 13Bs lost 3-1 to Arklow Utd, Ryan Murphy scored their goal and with better finishing the lads could have got something from the game.

The under-16s lost 2-1 to Coolboy in the semi final of the premier cup, after taking the lead with a well taken goal from Ben Fleming they had chances to extend their lead but the away side levelled against the run of play.

Coolboy went in front with a hotly disputed penalty, which proved to be the winner. The lads can count themselves unlucky in this game as on the day they were the better team but just didn’t have the luck in front of goal.

There won’t be any Saturday morning soccer academy this coming Saturday the 19th of April due to the Bank Holiday weekend, the academy will resume the following Saturday.

The club are running an Easter camp from Tuesday 22nd April to Friday 25th April.

It will run from 10 am to 2 pm daily in our club grounds at the Whitegates.

The camp is for girls and boys from the age of 4 years to 13 years.

The cost of the camp is €45 per child, family of two children is €80. Every participant will receive a ball and a medal.

For further information please contact Johnny Dunne 087-7802098, Willie O’Brien 086-1696911 or any committee member.

More information can be got from our club website where you can download a camp registration form.

Anyone with information for the club notes or the club website can contact me at 0879108706 or e-mail me at jimmy.nolan09@hotmail.com

For all news check out the club website at www.wicklowrovers.com or the club Facebook page.