Drogheda ace Craven takes spoils in Moynalty

RIDERS from the Drogheda Wheelers and Stamullen clubs - and in particular Niall Craven and Craig Sweetman - were to the fore on Sunday as Moynalty CC promoted a full day of cycle races, catering for all age groups.

More than a hundred cyclists lined up to take part in the 118km Moynalty GP and this race wass contested over four laps of a tough but brilliant racing circuit,, with hills, drags, flats and longg straights all in the mix.

Just after the half-way mark, a four man break pulled clear of the main field but never really gained any more that a one-minute lead at any time over the peleton.

With 12km of racing remaining,, Mark Dowling from the Dundalk-based Team Asea and Daire Feeley from the iTap team inn Galway forged further ahead, butt Feeley was unable to match pacee with the much stronger and more experienced Dowling.

So while Dowling distanced himself from the rest of his breakaway companions, who in turn were swallowed up by the main field, the leader went on to finish alone and claim victory by a winning margin of 24 seconds.

Declan Mulholland, a teammate of Dowling’s and recently crowned Co Louth Road Race champion, finished second, Sean Lacey from the Aqua Blue club in Cork was third and Sweetman (Stamullen Road Club) claimed seventh spot.

In the Senior A2 section there was a great battle between two riders from local clubs, with Craven (pictured) from the Drogheda Wheelers CC getting the verdict from Arek Klus from Stamullen Road Club.

Elsewhere, on Monday evening of last week the third round of the Mark Mullen Memorial Handicap League, promoted by Drogheda Wheelers CC, was held from Donore.

As has been the practice since the beginning of this league, more and more new faces keep turning up to compete in this very popular event, swelling the entries.

The handicap on the night was very generous, with a nine and a half minute gap from the first group to leave the start line to the scratch group, who were the last group to depart Donore.

Over the five and a half laps hugehu efforts were being made by the scratch group to try and bridge the enormous gap to the leaders. However,Ho at the end seven of the originalorig leading group managed to sstay out front and to everyone’s surprise,sur Bryan Harvey - a virtual ‘ununknown’ having only joined the promotingpro club a week previously - popowered home alone to claim a fine victory.

Gareth Enright from the Kilcullen cu CC in Co. Kildare lead the charge home for second place,pla Paul Dagg from Cuchulainn CC was third, Ken Shevlin from Drogheda Wheelers CC fourth, Johanna Rogan from Ardee CC fifth and Anthony Connor from Drogheda Wheelers CC sixth.

Drogheda Wheelers CC provided the top placings in the underage race, with Sean Lenehan, Darragh Lenehan and Ciaran Connor respectively taking the 1-2-3 and Liam Lynch and Seamus Connor finishing fourth and fifth.