Dominant McCrystal increases her lead in National Road Series

LOCAL cyclist Eve McCrystal confirmed her dominance in the women’s Elite Road Race at the Gas Networks Ireland Visit Nenagh Classic last weekend.

The paralymic medalist was again on top in the women’s 80km event, setting up a breakaway with last year’s National League champion Claire Milwaine, Des Hanlon third Katharine Smyth and Scott-Orwell rising star Orla Walsh.

Riding tempo on the front, McCrystal rode Walsh off her wheel first, then McIlwaine at the next climb, before pushing down just enough power to leave Smyth behind on the downhill run to the town centre finish.

Having won the first two races in the Women’s National Road Series, McCrystal leads with 80 points, Smyth and McIlwaine sharing second on 65 points, and Nenagh fifth Walsh sitting back in fourth with 45 points.

Eve is hoping to follow in the footsteps of her brother Bryan who won the men’s series in 2015.

Round three for the women is the Deenside Cup in Kilkenny on May 7. DUNDALK IT experienced more sporting glory last weekend, when Ronan Brennan claimed yet another Irish Inter-Varsity Surfing title.

Ronan, a Sports Scholarship student in his fourth and final year of BA (Hons) in Social Care, successfully defended his Stand-Up Paddle Board title.

This was Ronan’s fourth successive victory at what is the highlight of the inter-varsity surfing calendar. Hosted this year by the University of Limerick, the event took place