Wheelers put up a good fight in summer leagues
DROGHEDA Wheelers featured strongly on the podium in both the Ardee and Cuchulainn Summer League races held over the past week.
First up on Tuesday was round three of the Ardee Ferdia League, which returned to the Tallanstown circuit, and again there was a huge field.
Similar to the previous week, the front group managed to uphold their allocated time gap and stay out in front to sprint it out among themselves for victory.
Spectators easily recognised the man who crossed the line first, as Aidan Leonard from Carrickmacross became the first rider to take consecutive wins in this league, but Drogheda Wheelers man Paul O’Donnell sprinted to one place better than the previous week, taking second, just ahead of clubmate Andrew Watters in third. Ruaidhrí Stewart from Cuchulainn finished fifth, with Wheelers woman and Louth champion Joanne White in eighth.
On Thursday evening, in the Bike Station League promoted by Cuchulainn CC in Dundalk, it was a home victory as Jamie O’Hare from the host club claimed victory ahead of Drogheda Wheelers rival Brendan Dolan in second, with Mark O’Neill from Armagh in third. Paul McCartney from the promoting club finished fourth, with Eamon Martin from Ardee fifth, while the host club had 14 of their riders in the next 17 places.
This Thursday sees that league reach the double figure mark, with the competitors taking on round 10.
Meanwhile, last weekend North East race cyclists were glad to see a relatively local race after all the travel inflicted on them in recent times.
Navan RC promoted the annual ‘Sean Nolan Meath GP’, sponsored by Rsawards.ie and based in Simonstown GAA field where all categories were catered for, including a full set of youth races.
The local success started early as Ciaran Connor from Drogheda Wheelers finished in sixth position in the Under-14 race, which brings his prize tally to three in the same number of weeks.
Stamullen RC duo Craig Sweetman and Arek Klus spent the majority of the main race in the front group, both achieving a strong top-15 result.
Some local lads decided to continue north to Banbridge, Co Down, on Sunday for the prestigious ‘Neil Teggart Memorial’.
Cuchulainn duo Ian Clarke and Gavin McDermott took third and fourth respectively in the A4 race, which tested the competitors with nearly 100km of racing, which they completed in just under two and a half hours.
Following on from round one last night (Monday), the second round of the Mark Mullen League, promoted by Drogheda Wheelers CC, takes place next Monday evening and information can be obtained from the club’s Facebook page.
TENURE schoolgirl Lily Sheeran made a successful defence of her kumite and kata titles at the IKKU National Karate Championships in Navan, the highlight her 8-0, 7-0 and 9-0 wins in the kumite division.
And to round off a memorable weekend the IKKU Navan fighter won three gold medals at her school’s Annual Sports Day in Monasterboice.
Lotto winners NUMBERS drawn in last week’s Duleek AFC/SBG FC lotto were 3, 7, 9, 16 and the six €20 winners were Donna Kelly, John Bird, W Skally, Milish, Carmel O’Brien and B & M Beggan.
School award ST OLIVER’S Community College were named Boys B School of the Year in the category for Post Primary Schools at the Basketball Ireland Annual Awards in the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght last Saturday.
€25 prizes NUMBERS drawn in last week’s Seneschalstown GAA Club lotto were 2, 13, 18, 25 and the €25 winners were Rita Collins, Una McCabe, Ian Carroll, Owen Brennan and Anthony Mullaney.