July 1999

News Flashes

Saturday, July 31st--- As previously stipulated, I have not got all of the results for July. If anyone does, could you please forward them to me, as that would be very helpful.
However, yesterday saw the Harry Reynolds Memorial Race at Balbriggan. It was won by S. Whelan of McNally-Swords.

Harry Reynolds Memorial Race
1. S. Whelan McNally-Swords
2. P. Dunne Emerald
3. B. Moore Stamullen CC
4. A. Meehan unattached
5. S. O'Sullivan Bray
6. F. McCormack Kildare
1st B. P. Reid Finglas Ravens
1st J. O. Gray Cycleways
1st V. B. McCormack Finglas Ravens CC
1st L. L. Manning Fat Heads CC

Monday, July 19th--- This weekend saw the Irish 50-Mile TT Championships, the Castlebar Grand Prix (first of the four Classic League events) and also a criterium in Castlebar on Saturday evening.

Castlebar Grand Prix - S1,S2,J,V

In this year's new look Classic League, there are only four events - one in each of the four provinces. The first one was held in Castlebar yesterday afternoon. And it proved to be an exciting spectacle, won by local-man David O'Loughlin. He outsprinted Paddy Moriarty, Ray Clarke and John McCarthy to take the race, after the four riders formed the leading group. Other riders, such as Ciaran Power were in that group, but due to punctures and the pace of the race, it came down to just those four.

1. David O'Loughlin Team DCM-Belgium
2. Paddy Moriarty Les Jeunes
3. Ray Clarke Clarke-Nissan
4. John McCarthy Killorglin CU CC
5. Gary McQuaid Emerald CC
6. Ciaran Power Comeragh CC
7. Aidan Crowley TSB-Midleton CC
8. Paddy Sweeney Navan-Avonmore
1st B. Mick Wall Finglas Ravens CC
2nd B. John Horgan Cork CC
1st J. B. O'Brien Clarke Contractors
2nd J. Michael Dennehy Kanturk CU CC
3rd J. Conor Murphy McKenna Fireplaces Emyvale CC

Castlebar Crit - ALL

This criterium, held on Saturday evening, was just a small hint as to what was going to happen in Castlebar on Sunday. After many crashes split the race, it came down to Ciaran Power to win it, ahead of Ray Clarke.

1. Ciaran Power Comeragh CC
2. Ray Clarke Clarke Contractors
3. Willie Curtin Kanturk CU CC
B. Michael Devinns Éire Óg CC
V. Dessie Woods Annagh Whls
J. Brian Aherne Bell Orwell
L. Lorraine Manning unattached

Irish 50 Mile TT Championships - S1,S2,V

This was another exciting event, with things heating up for the Classic League, and also for places on the Irish team for the Tour of the Cotswolds. It came down to Paddy Moriarty to win it by exactly 3 minutes from Tommy Evans. David Peelo was in third.

1. Paddy Moriarty Les Jeunes
2. Tommy Evans Clarke-Contractors
3. David Peelo Sorrento CC
4. Colm Barry Banbridge CC
5. Mark Greer Maryland Whls
6. Gary Cranston Northern CC
7. Chris White Northern CC
8+V. Mark Birney Maryland Whls

Thursday, July 15th--- Yesterday saw the BCR Press Grand Prix in Navan. Again, nothing much to report on in Irish cycling.

Navan Grand Prix - ALL

The BCR Press Grand Prix was held in Navan last night. It was won by Paul Butler of Clarke-Nissan, with team-mate Tommyt Evans in second.

1. Paul Butler Clarke-Nissan
2. Tommy Evans Clarke-Nissan
3. Aidan Crowley Midleton
4. Bill Moore Stamullen
5. Colm Farrell Navan-Avonmore
6. Peter Dunne Emerald
B. JP Hillard Les Jeunes
J. Thomas Lavery Finglas Ravens

Wednesday, July 14th--- Not much happening this week so far. However, starting from tomorrow, there is a series of events in Mayo, climaxing with the Mayo Grand Prix, the first of this year's Classic League events.
I also, have to make a correction on last week's results. I named Michael Devins as cycling with Fintona CC instead of Éire Óg.

Palmerstown House Grand Prix - ALL

This race was held over a 30 mile course in the Phoenix Park, Dublin. In the end, it was won by Keith Bannon (Bray Wheelers), with Ciaran Bracken (Les Jeunes), in second place.

1. Keith Bannon Bray Whls
2. Ciaran Bracken Les Jeunes
3. C. Farrell Navan-Avomore
4. S. Byrne Dublin Wheelers
5. J.P. Hillard Les Jeunes
6. P. Dunne Emerald
J. O. Gray Cycleways
V. B. McCormack Finglas Ravens
L. L. Manning unattached

Monday, July 12th--- This weekend saw three events take place: The Tuam Grand Prix; the Stena Dun Laoghaire GP; and the JJ Foley Trophy in Aglish.

Tuam Grand Prix - S2,J,V,L

This race was held over a 65 mile course. The riders were fairly jumpy for about the first 30 miles, hinting that anything could happen. However, by the time nine riders got together to form the leading group, it was all over for the other 50 or so riders. These nine riders held the main group at about 4 minutes for the latter half of the race.
With about 10km to go, Irish Junior Road Champion Michael Dennehy (Kanturk CU CC) attacked the group, and only fellow junior Conor Murphy (Emyvale CC) could stay with him. Despite the efforts of Seamus Kennedy and Mark Kavanagh, both juniors lasted until the finishing sprint, when Murphy's shoe came out of his pedal, handing the race to Dennehy.

1. Michael Dennehy Kanturk CU CC
2. Conor Murphy Emyvale
3. Mike Devinns Éire Óg
4. Seamus Kennedy Navan-Avonmore
5. Simon Dennehy Kanturk CU CC
6. Fintan McCormack Newbridge CC
7. Mark Kavanagh Fintona CC
8. Paul Nolan Navan-Avonmore
9. Paddy Sweeney Navan-Avonmore
10. David Elwood Orchard Wheelers
V. Sean McIlroy Cidona-Carrick Wheelers
L. Marie Reilly Bohermeen CC
J. Willie Curtin Kanturk CU CC
U-16. Paidi O'Brien Kanturk CU CC
U-14. P. Brady Emyvale CC
U-12. S. McKearnan Emyvale CC

Stena Dun Laoghaire GP - S1,S2

After twenty laps of a short circuit, David O'Loughlin beat Paul Butler in the sprint for first place. 17 riders broke away after 5 laps, and then 3 of those formed their own group. They were O'Loughlin, Duff and Butler. On the final lap, O'Loughlin attacked, and Butler only just managed to stay with him until the finish line. Duff finished in third position, while Crowley lead the next group across the line, 2 minutes and 58 seconds down.

Also, apologies to David O'Loughlin. Several weeks ago, I incorrectly named him as riding with Western Lakes CC. He actually rides with Team DCM-Belgium.

1. David O'Loughlin DCM-Belgium
2. Paul Butler Clarke-Nissan
3. Aidan Duff Dan Morrissey
4. A. Crowley Midleton CC
5. M. Sittlington Cyprus
6. Ciaran Bracken Usher's IRC
7. Ciaran Power Comeragh CC
8. Tommy Evans Clarke-Nissan
9. David Peelo Sorrento CC
10. D. Smith Naas CC
B. J. Reidy Newbridge CC
J. D. Farrell Hillcrest CC
V. Sean Lally McNally-Swords

JJ Foley - ALL

This race was held in Aglish, Co. Waterford, but unfortunately did not see as many star riders as hoped. Alot of the Category A riders in the country went to race in Dun Laoghaire. However, there were still enough in Aglish to make it an entertaining race. It was finally won by Cidona-Carrick Wheelers' Brian Kenneally, with team-mate Eddie O'Donoghue in second.

1. Brian Kenneally Cidona-Carrick Wheelers
2. Eddie O'Donoghue Cidona-Carrick Wheelers
3. Paddy Moriarty Les Jeunes
V. P. Power Cidona-Carrick Wheelers

Thursday, July 8th--- Tuesday saw the Monie Nolan Memorial RR in Balbriggan, while Wednesday saw the cancellation of the Tallaght GP due to heavy traffic.

Monie Nolan Memorial - ALL

1. A. Meehan unattached
2. A. Crowley Midleton
3. P. Byrne Dublin Whls
4. D. McQuaid UCD
5. P. Sharkey Stamullen
6/J. O. Gray Cycleways
V. S Kennedy Navan-Avonmore
L. L. Manning unattached

Sunday, July 4th--- This weekend saw the Carlow 2-Day event (in Carlow of all places), the Mooney Cup and the Markievicz Cup (both held in Colooney, Co. Sligo).

Royal-Sun Alliance Criterium

Friday saw the Royal-Sun Alliance held in Galway, but for the moment all I know is that it was won by Nigel forde of Thermo King C.C., with Simon Kelly (T.K.C.C.) in third and Emmet Hogan (T.K.C.C.) in fifth. The Concannon brothers (Michael and Eoin) from Killorglin again completed a double by wining the under-16 and under-14 categories respectively.

Mooney Cup - S2,J,V,L

Emmet Hogan (Thermo King CC) won the Mooney Cup in Collooney on Saturday. After disappointment on Friday evening in Galway, he punctured on the second last lap, he failed to make the decisive break in Sligo. However, with that group holding a 30 second gap over the main bunch, Hogan attacked the bunch, and bridged the gap on his own. With 2 kilometers to go, he then attacked the leading group, none of whom were able to stay with him to the finish line.

1. Emmet Hogan Thermo King C.C.
2. P. Mulligan Omagh Whls
3. M. Kavanagh Fintona CC
4. Dessie Foley Sligo CC
5. Dara O'Neill Realt-Tuam CC
6. S. Gibson Bell Orwell
J. Mark Quigley Mayo Whls
V. C. Shortt Newry Whls

Markievicz Cup - S2,J,V,L

The Markievicz Cup was won by D. Rafter of St. Tiernan's. The race stayed together for some time, until the main climb of the day was reached. At the top of the hill, first year junior Jonathon Kelly (Thermo King) was away with another rider. However, their lead was not to last long, and a five man break got away including Hogan, looking to claim a double victory. However, at the end, Rafter took it from Shortt with Hogan in third.

1. D. Rafter St. Tiernan's
2. C. Shortt Newry Whls
3. Emmet Hogan Thermo King CC
4. C. Murphy Emyvale CC
5. E. Roche Navan-Avonmore
6. S. Gibson Bell Orwell
J. Jonathon Kelly Thermo King CC
V. J. Mulligan Omagh Whls

Carlow 2-Day - S1,S2,V

The Carlow 2-Day, originally planned as a three day event, only just about got underway. However, it attracted most of the big names in Irish cycling, (except myself of course) and was eventually won by 1998 FBD Milk Rás winner, Ciaran Power (Comeragh CC). Power took the first stage, a three mile time trial, and came second on the 60 mile long 2nd stage, won by Paul Butler (Clarke-Nissan). The third stage, 80 miles, was won by last year's National Champion, Ray Clarke (Clarke-Nissan). In the final overall, Power was 17 seconds ahead of second placed Paddy Moriarty (Les Jeunes).

Stage 1 - 3 mile TT
1. Ciaran Power Comeragh CC 6.002
2. Paul Healion Usher IRC 6.009
3. Martin Briggs Planet-X 6.03
4. Ray Clarke Clarke-Nissan 6.07
5. Stephen O'Sullivan Bray Whls 6.08
6. Bill Moore Stamullen 6.10
Stage 2 - 60 miles
1. Paul Butler Clarke-Nissan
2. Ciaran Power Comeragh CC
Stage 3 - 80 miles
1. Ray Clarke Clarke-Nissan
2. David McQuaid Team Zalfrior
Final Overall
1. Ciaran Power Carrick-Cidona 5:36:04
2. Paddy Moriarty Les Jeunes @ 0:17
3. Paul Butler Clarke-Nissan @ 0:18

Friday, July 2nd--- Under the Annual Sports Grants Fund, several Irish riders have benefited nicely. In total, the ICF were given £32,400, to allocate to these riders:

Annual Sports Grants
International
Ciaran Power Road      £7,000
Robin Seymour MTB £7,000
Development
Mike McNena Road £3,600
Mark Scanlon Road £3,600
C. Brady MTB £3,000
T. Owens MTB £3,600
Junior
Stephen Gallagher      Road £1,200
Denis Lynch Road £1,200
D. Nally Road £1,200
Shane Prendergast Road £1,000


June.... July ....August


Back to the Results Page
Back to The Main Page

©Copyright, Barry Murphy 1999.