May 1999

News Flashes

Sunday, May 30th--- We are now back to normal calendar racing after the Rás and the Prutour. Saturday saw Keith Bannon win the Leinster RR Championships, while today saw three races: The Willie Slattery Memorial; the Kevin McInerney Memorial; and the Bann Valley Classic.

Leinster RR Championships

1.	Keith Bannon	Bray
2.	Sean Whelan	Mc'Nally-Swords CC
3.	Paul Healion	Ushers IRC
4.	Stephen O'Sullivan	Bray
5.	Ciaran Bracken	Ushers IRC
6.	Derek Finnegan	Navan-Avonmore

Willie Slattery Memorial

1.	Eddie O'Donoghue	Carrick-Cidona
2.	Aidan Hederman	Dan Morrissey
3.	S. Kelly	Usher IRC
4.	Simon Kelly	Thermo King CC
B	John Horgan	Cork CC
J	D. Lynch	Kanturk CU CC
U-14	S. O'Halloran	Duhallow Whls
U-12	A. Kenneally	Kanturk CU CC

Kevin McInerney Memorial

1.	Tosh Lavery	Garda CC
2.	Laurence Roche	Roche Cycles CC
3.	T. Brady	Cuchullain CC
J	D. Geary	Dungarvan CU CC
V	O. McQuaid	Duhallow Whls
L	Susan O'Mara	Dublin Whls
U-16	Stephen Adair	Northern CC
U-14	K. Daly	Drogheda CC
U-12	S. Rock	McNally-Swords

Bann Valley Classic

Results Not in yet !!

Sunday, May 23rd--- Today saw a 37 year old win the FBD Milk Rás, and also the Emyvale Grand Prix, which was won by ______.
I also have results from Galwegian Emmet Hogan, who is studying in Manchester at the moment. After a difficult start to the season, he is now finding form. Last week, he won the John Maughan Memorial Crit in Liverpool, and came second in another crit in Blackburn this week.

Emyvale GP

1.	Laurence Roche	Roche Cycles
2.	Willie Curtin	Kanturk Credit Union CC
3.	O. McQuaid	McQuaid Cycles
4.	Thos Lavery	Garda
5.	P. Mulligan	Omagh CC
6.	S. McGreevy	Clann Eireann
Jun	C. Murphy	Emerald CC
Lady	J. Martin	Bray CC
U-16	Ryan Patton	Clarke Contractors
U-14	E. Concannon	Killorglin CU CC
U-12	A. Petriarmst	Northern CC

Saturday, May 15th--- Today sees the start of the 47th FBD Milk Rás. It's a nine stage affair, lasting until Sunday 23rd. Results can be got here on this site, or else on the official site @ http://www.iol.ie/~sshortal/Ras99/overview.html !!!

Friday, May 14th--- Female Irish cyclist Teresa Quinlan is being forced to hand her 1998 European Masters Title back, as she tested positive for a high level of the stimulant caffeine. The results of the drugs test have been known for some time, but Quinlan has continuously denied she took caffeine as a performance-enhancer. After an inquiry by the ICF, she has been banned for three months as of May 11th. She is the first Irish athlete ever to have to hand back a championship medal because of a positive test.
Quinlan has been involved in a legal dispute with the UCI regarding the testing of her B sample. It is not sure whether or not he will appeal her ban. If she does it will be heard at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, who are currently deliberating over Michelle de Bruin's case.

Thursday, May 13th--- Mike McNena came second in the first stage of the Tour of Valcluse, and went on to finish sixth overall. Today, he won the Grand Prix de Gap. Three riders, including himself broke away with 20 kms to go, and with 1 km to go, McNena broke away from them, winning the 180km race in fine style. Things are looking good for the Irish at the Prutour.

Last night, Wednesday, saw the Harstown Grand Prix, held in Dublin. It was won by Laurence Roche, of Roche Cycles. No other domestic news for the moment.

Harstown GP

1.	L. Roche	Roche Cycles
2.	A. Crowley	TSB Cork
3.	P. Reid	Finglas Ravens
4.	O. McQuaid	McQuaid Cycles
L	L. Manning	unattached
J	T. Lavery	Finglas Ravens

Tuesday, May 11th--- The Connacht Cycling Federation sent a team to race in Holland's Omloop Van Kant - I'm not sure of the spelling - on Sunday last. The team was: Johnny Kelly (Thermo King), Mike McDonagh (Thermo King) and Mark Quigley (Mayo Wheelers). McDonagh finished 32nd, in a bunch sprint. He tried to break with 1km to go, but failed to gain enough of an initial gap to last until the end. Kelly crashed out after 20km, and Quigley also failed to finish.
In slightly related news, the Italian who finished second to Mark Scanlon at the Worlds in October last (F. Pozzato), has allegedly been caught for taking drugs. More on this, if it is true, to follow.

Sunday, May 9th--- On the senior front, today saw the Tour of Galway, the Shay Elliot Memorial and the Waller Cup. The Tour of Galway was won by local man Nigel Forde (Thermo King CC) in impressive style. He won by about three minutes over team-mate, who was a further 3 minutes ahead of Killorglin's John Blackwell.
Today also saw the concluding two races for selection for the Irish team to go to the Youth Olympics, namely a time trial and road race, both held in Galway.

Women's Only Race in Bohermeen

1.	Jane Martin	Bray CC
2.	Louise Quinlan	McNally-Swords
3.	Lorraine Manning	unattached

Waller Cup

1.	C. Green	Clann Eireann
2.	S. Whelan	McNally-Swords
3.	T. Hughes	Stamullen
4.	S. Byrne	Dublin Whls
5.	B. Holmes	Slane Cycle's
6.	C. Lynch	McNally-Swords
Juniors
1.	C. Murphy	Emyvale
2.	R. Ahern	Benn Orwell
3.	R. Aiken	Banbridge

Shay Elliot

1.	Brian Kenneally	Carrick-Cidona	2:53:51
2.	David Peelo	Sorrento CC	@ 2-58
3.	Brendan Graham	VC Glendale	@ 3-57
4.	Brendan Doherty	VC Glendale	@ 3-58
5.	Ray Clarke	Clarke-Nissan	@ 4-01
6.	Thomas Hogan	Dungarvan CU	@ 4-08
7.	Joe Fenelon	Dan Morrissey's	@ 4-10
8.	Adrian Hedderman	Dan Morrissey's	@ 4-12
9.	Stephen O'Sullivan	Bray CC	@ 4-13
10.	Paddy Moriarty	Les Jeunes	@ 4-14

Tour of Galway

1.	Nigel Forde	Thermo King
2.	Simon Kelly	Thermo King
3.	John Blackwell	Killorglin CU
4.	Padraig Marrey	Western Lakes
5.	Denis Lynch	Kanturk CU
6.	Philip Ahern	Duhallow Whls
7.	Sean Lacey	Tralee
8.	Frank Barrett	Thermo King
9.	Dave Nugent	Thermo King
10.	Desi Foley	Sligo CC

Galway Time-Trial (U-16)

1.	Barry Meade	Kanturk CU	13mins 54.18secs
2.	Ryan Patton	Clark-Nissan	14-10.14
3.	Stephen Adair	Dave Kane Northern CC	14-14.75
4.	Michael Concannon	Killorglin CU CC	14-30.40
5.	Paidi O'Brien	Kanturk CU	14-44.84
6.	Edward Kelly	Dungarvan CU CC	14-50.39
7.	Philip Duignan	Four Masters	14-57.24
8.	Joe Marrey	Western Lakes CC	15-04.41
9.	Stephen Enright	Aqua IRC	15-37.07
10.	PJ O'Halloran	Duhallow Whls	15-38.67

Galway RR (U-16)

1.	Michael Concannon	Killorglin CU
2.	Ryan Patton	Clark-Nissan
3.	PJ O'Halloran	Duhallow Whls
4.	Barry Meade	Kanturk CU
5.	Philip Duignan	Four Masters RC
6.	Stephen Enright	Aqua IRC

As a result of the past five qualification races, both Barry Meade and Ryan Patton will represent Ireland at the Youth Olympics in Denmark this July.

Saturday, May 8th--- Today saw the Ulster Road Race Championships, the Brendan Campbell Memorial, and the Galway Criterium for U-16s. Both Barry Meade and Ryan Patton got away from the main group, but the race was won by Meade after he attacked Patton on the last lap. I too got away from the group, but only away from the back as oppossed to the front, due to a lack of fitness, and not due to my knee or asthma as originally thought.

Ulster RR Champs

1.	Ian Chivers	Clarke-Nissan	2:22:10
2.	Denis Easton	Planet X Pro	@ 0:38
3.	Norman Campbell	unattached	"
4.	Stephen McElroy	Cyprus CC	"
5.	Ian Morrisson	Northern CC	"
6.	John Grant	Banbridge CC	"

Brendan Campbell Memorial

1.	Colm Bracken	Usher IRC
2.	Ruarí Mitchell	unattached
3.	Cian Lynch	McNally-Swords
4.	Tom Hughes	Stamullen CC
5.	Ger Madden	Obelisk CC
6.	Aidan Crowley	TSB Cork
J	D Brady	Stamullen CC
V	P. O'Shaugnessy	Cuchullain CC
L	M Reilly	Bohermeen

Galway Crit (U-16)

1.	Barry Meade	Kanturk CU
2.	Ryan Patton	Clark-Nissan
3.	Stephen Adair	Dave Kane Northern CC
4.	Philip Duignan	Four Masters
5.	Paidi O'Brien	Kanturk CU
6.	Michael Concannon	Killorglin CU
7.	Edward Kelly	Dungarvan CU
8.	Stephen Enright	Aqua IRC
9.	Joe Marrey	Western Lakes CC
10.	Ray Dowling	Stagg Lucan

Wednesday, May 5th--- Aidan Duff was involved in a crash over the weekend, and cut an artery in his arm. Because of this, he'll be in hospital for a day or two, but will also miss out on the Rás. His place on the Irish team goes to David O'Loughlin.
Also, the Underage Committee has decided to change the format for selecting riders for the Irish Youth Olympics Team. Instead the planned three final races, it has been decided that the three events in Galway this weekend will count. There is a Criterium on Saturday night, and a Time-Trial and race on Sunday. I challenge anyone to beat me at my home race. (Bear in mind that I'm out of training for about 4 months).

Tour of Ulster, May 1st-3rd--- The Tour of Ulster continued today, with two stages being held. The first was won by Brian Kenneally (Carrick-Cidona), while the second was won by John Grant (UCF U-23). Ciaran Power won the overall, the points and the mountains classifications.

Tour of Ulster

Stage 1 - 130 km
1.	Paul Griffen	Dan Morrissey	2:56:57
2.	Dave O'Loughlin	Mayo Wheelers	"
3.	Mark Scanlon	Rabobank	@ 0:10
4.	Bill Moore	Leinster CF	"
5.	Ciaran Power	Comeragh CC	"
6.	Derry McVeigh	Dan Morrissey	"
7.	Eddie O'Donoghue	Carrick-Cidona	"
8.	Paul Butler	Clarks-Nissan	"
Stage 2 - 120 km
1.	Brian Kenneally	Cidona-Carrick	2:54:57
2.	Bill Moore	Leinster	@ 0:05
3.	Ciaran Power	Comeragh CC	"
4.	Ian Chivers	Clark-Nissan	"
5.	Mark Scanlon	Rabobank	"
6.	Eugene Moriarty	Listowel CC	@ 0:10
Overall After Stage 2
1.	Bill Moore	Leinster CF	5:51:44
2.	Mark Scanlon	Rabobank	"
3.	Ciaran Power	Comeragh CC	"
4.	Ian Chivers	Clark-Nissan	"
5.	Paul Griffen	Dan Morrissey	"
6.	David O'Loughlin	Mayo Whls	"
Stage 3 - 40 miles
1.	Brian Kenneally	Carrick-Cidona	1:41:26
2.	Ciaran Power	Comeragh CC	"
3.	Dennis Easton	Planet X	@ 0:21
4.	Paul Griffin	Dan Morrissey	"
5.	Tommy Evans	Clark-Nissan	@ 0:22
6.	Mark Scanlon	Rabobank	"
Stage 4 - 1.2 miles
1.	John Grant	UCF U-23	2:20.51
2.	Ciaran Power	Comeragh CC	2:22.51
3.	Simon Coughlan	Navan-Avonmore	2:25.45
4.	Tommy Evans	Clarke-Nissan	2:25.47
5.	D Finnegan	Leinster	2:25.57
6.	Brian Kenneally	Carrick-Cidona	2:26.37
Final Overall
1.	Ciaran Power	Comeragh CC	7:35:32
2.	Mark Scanlon	Rabobank	@ 0:28
3.	Paul Griffin	Dan Morrissey	"
4.	Tommy Evans	Clarke-Nissan	@ 0:33
5.	David O'Loughlin	Mayo Wheelers	"
6.	Dennis Easton	Planet X	@ 0:47

Sunday, May 2nd--- Today saw two races outside of the Tour of Ulster. They were the Ben McKenna Memorial in Balbriggan and the Kay Stratton Memorial in Blarney.

Ben McKenna Memorial

1.	D. McQuaid	UCD
2.	D. Peelo	Sorrento
3.	K. Conlon	Kildare
4.	G. Miley	St. Tiernan's
5.	P. Dunne	Emerald CC
6.	F. McCormack	Kildare
B	M. Shortt	Newry
J	T. Lavery	Finglas Ravens
V	S. Lally	McNally-Swords
L	M. O'Reilly	Bohermeen