Great start to season for Kanturk cyclists

LAST weekend saw the start of the racing calendar for youth members of the O’Leary Stone Kanturk Cycling Club.

25 cyclists headed to Westport for the Ras Maigheo event, which saw them racing three events with U12 racing 5.6k on Saturday, a 2.5k time trial on Sunday and a 7.5k race also, while the U14s competed 22.2k on Saturday, 2.5k time trial and a 21k road race on Sunday.

As this is the start of the season it sees large numbers competing in each category with over 60 riders in U16. The u16’s competed in a 38k race on Saturday, 2.5k time trial and 63k race on Sunday.

It was also the racing debut for many new young members. The following members competed: U12, Maximillian Fitzgerald, Diarmuid O’Sullivan, Willem O’Connor, Stephen Sheehan; U14, Sean Tarrant, Quillan Donnelly, Ewan McConville, James O’Sullivan, Luke Moynihan, Patrick Morley, David Shine, Matt Griffin, Rachel McAuliffe, Danielle Brennan; U16, Ronan Leahy, Ruairi Murphy, Thomas Gould, James Aspell Punch, Sean Barrett, Tom Moriarty, Arnaud Dumoulin, Luke Thompson, Daniel Yonhin, Liam Crowley, Lucy O’Donnell.

The club had great success over the weekend. Following race 1 the following members were presented with the following jerseys: U14, David Shine, Polka Dot Jersey; Quillan Donnelly, White Jersey; U16, Sean Barrett, Green Jersey and Lucy O’Donnell, Pink Jersey.

The results: U12 Road Race 2 Stephen Sheehan 3rd and finished 4th overall for the weekend. U14 King of the Mountains David Shine 3rd U14 Road Race 1 1st U13 Quillan Donnelly; Time Trial: 1st U13 Quillan Donnelly and Road Race 2 1st U13 and Quillan was also 1st in General Classfication for the weekend.

In the U16 category, Sean Barrett was 2nd and he was also 2nd for King of the Mountains. Lucy O’Donnell was 1st in Girls U16 road race 1, 2nd in Time Trial and 1st in Road Race 2.

All in all it was a very successful weekend for the club and great experience for all the riders.

The Junior/Senior members of the club headed to Caherconlish, Co Limerick for the Ras Luimni on Sunday. In the A3 category, Stephen Gilman competed over a 90k course. In the Junior section, Denis Murphy and Neil Hodges competed over the the same course and in the A4 race, Mick O’Shea, Billy Allen, Anthony Lynch and Daniel Lynch competed over a 60k course. This was a tough and testing course and Stephen Gilman came home 6th for the club.

Racing continues next weekend for the senior members.