The Wexford underage county championships will be hosted by South East Road Club this year for the first time. With a big field of underage riders in the county, there should be a great day of racing. Sign on from 10am at the rugby club road, just off the Arklow bypass. Sat 11th of Sept. First race is at 11am. Categories: U10, U12, U14, U16. Prizes for the first 3 places across the line in each race and first unplaced girl in each race. Contact Matt Heaney on 087 6482787  or Mick Considine on 087 9866992

TALKTALK NATIONAL “B” CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIPS

DATE: SUNDAY SEPT. 12TH, START TIME: 12.00PM, SIGN ON FROM: 09.30AM, ENTRY FEE: €20.00 PRE ENTRY ONLY (Race numbers will be issued). SIGN ON VENUE: WIT, SPORTS COMPLEX, CARRAIGNORE(On the outer ring road, just off the new bypass). RACE DETAILS: 100K (5 LAPS OF A 20KM CIRCUIT). PRIZES FOR THE FIRST 10 ACROSS THE LINE, PLUS FIRST 3 UNPLACED A3 RIDERS. “LIVE UPDATES OF THE TALKTALK NATIONAL B CHAMPIONSHIPS ON http://WWW.COMERAGHCC.COM”

SEPARATE A4 RACE ON THE DAY. START TIME: 12.10PM SIGN ON FROM: 09.30AM ENTRY FEE: €10.00 (This race is not pre-entry, riders must use their own numbers) RACE DETAILS: 60K (3 LAPS OF A 20KM CIRCUIT) PRIZES FOR THE FIRST 8 ACROSS THE LINE.

Leinster Road Race Championships 19th September 2010 – Portlaoise

Photo courtesy of Kieran Clancy

Frank O’Leary took a great win in the Charleville 2 Day stage 3 in Cork today. Attacking soon after the start of the stage, Frank came to the finish in a three man group beating Conor O’Shea, winner of the Eddie Tobin road race into second. Frank also took 3rd overall. Both Alan and Frank crashed on yesterdays stage but came out strong today with Alan in a chasing group that was caught by the main field just before the end. Following a difficult year with a broken arm first and then broken ribs following a crash in the Mullingar 2day, Frank is ending the season in great form and heads for the National B champs in Waterford next week where he will be supported by Alan, Dan Szczech and Shane Kelly. 

Betty Darcy Memorial Road Race

Slaney had a big turnout of Dan Szczech, Shane Kelly and Caimin Ruth in the A2/A3 race and Rita Boyle, Stephen Kelly, Mick Howe, Tonto Brady Alan Murphy and Mike McLean in the A4 race today. However the win went to another Wexford rider Patsy McCaffery who took the bunch sprint with teammate Dave Allen in 5th. I think Rita was best Slaney finisher in 6th or 7th. All in all another great day for Wexford cycling. More Pictures added…..

Don’t forget Sunday sees Slipstream host the Betty Darcy Road Race on the Craanford course. If anyone is planning on riding the Gorey 3 Day next year then this rerun of stage 3 is a must. Race sign on from 10.00am races start at 12.00. 4 laps for A2/A3 (KOH prize on lap 2/3). 3laps for A4. (KOH prize on lap 2)

Next Saturday South East Road Club will host the Wexford Underage County Championships. There will be races for all age groups so I hope we have a good turn out of the next Slaney generation! Details to follow.

Performance enhancing……..porridge??

Click on photo for link to Sean Kelly Tour photo site. Some great photos of John Busher cresting Mahon Falls, Davy Hynes climbing out of Bunmahon and Mick Howe attacking the coffee and buns at one of the feed stops.

John Busher and his son Jamie also completed the recent Etappe Hibernia in Clare. Bill Jordan and Mick Howe also rode and put in some very fast times.

Youth National Championships

Gold medal in the Time Trial, Bronze in the Criterium!

Following a great day yesterday when Adam won the National U12 TT title and then was 3rd in the afternoon criterium, todays road race didn’t go as planned. Peter will do an update later but I understand Adam was away in a break with several other riders but the group were reeled in by the main pack and unfortunately Adam was unable to place in the resulting sprint. Although understandably disappointed, Adam has had a brilliant season winning since the start and we ‘re proud of his achievements this year. SERCs Reece Young was just 5 seconds behind Adam in the TT taking second position. Stephen Bracken also took 6th in the U15 TT.

Frank O’Leary was in Donegal this weekend and brought the bike along to the final round of the National League series held in Clonmany on the Inishowen Penisula. The race was won by Adam Armstrong(Eurocycles) but Frank took a very good 5th place in the quality field.

Details & pictures from these events can be found on Tommy & Marian Lambs excellent Cycling Ulster website. (Pity Cycling Ireland couldn’t replicate!)   

Jordan Bracken (Slipstream) leads Conor Ruth (Slaney) and Jake Walsh (Wex Wheelers)

Another great days racing on the grass at Bellefield this morning. They must have been enjoying it as no one wanted to go home! Thanks to everyone for travelling. Weather permitting we’ll try for next Saturday afternoon again. I’ll try and get a few more pictures up later.

 CATEGORY GUIDELINES FOR 2011 ROAD RACING SEASON

 A workshop was hosted in Dublin on Sunday August 22^nd 2010 by the Cycling Ireland Road Commission with members of the Board of Cycling Ireland and members from the College of Commissaires. As a result of this workshop the following Guidelines will be enforced for the 2011 Road Racing season. Feedback is requested by Sept 30^th to grading@cyclingireland.ie.

A+

Consist of professionally contracted riders.

A1

Consisting of A1 riders from the 2010 season who have scored at least 1 point and those riders who apply for an A1 licence.

Riders who finish the 2010 season with zero points will be eligible to downgrade to a minimum of A2. Riders who opt for the downgrade will automatically be graded as an A2 with 7 points at the beginning of the 2011 season. A1 riders will start the 2011 season with 0 points.

A2

Consisting of A2 riders from the 2010 season who have scored at least 1 point and those riders who apply for an A2 licence.

Riders who finish the 2010 season with zero points will only be eligible for downgrade on application to the National Grading Officer via the e mail : grading@cyclingireland.ie . Such applications will only be received during the months of November/December 2010. Further applications for downgrade outside of these months will only be processed during the month of June 2011. (Halfway through the season).

Successful downgrades will see the rider categorized as an A3 with 7 points at the beginning of the 2011 season.

A2 riders who scored points during the 2010 season will carry over 50% of their year end total into the 2011 season, rounded down. 

A3

Consisting of A3 riders from the 2010 season regardless of whether points are scored or not. A3 riders who scored points during the 2010 season will carry over 50% of their year end total into the 2011 season, rounded down.

SPORT

This group replaces the A4 category. It is open to anybody over the age of 16 years.

This group will not carry any points and is aimed to cater for riders who wish to compete in a group of equal ability and with the same objectives, to race for fun. Upgrading will only be on rider request only.

There will be NO CASH PRIZES. Prizes will only be in trophy form and for the first three riders only.

Under no circumstances will this group compete with any of the Competitive Categories listed above, irrespective of whether it is a handicap race or not.

The Maximum distance allowed for this group will not exceed 50km.

No rider in this group will be eligible for ANY National Championship.

Race organizers incapable of catering for this group will not apply to promote such an event.

JUNIORS

Juniors can start the 2011 season in either the A2/A3 categories or the Sport Group.

Juniors in the A2 group will also be eligible to be upgraded to A1 if they reach the required points total. Due to the small number of races over 120km in length the distance restriction for Junior riders will be lifted.

Junior riders must adhere to the Maximum Gear Roll Out of 7.93 Metres no matter what category they are in.

GRADING POINTS

The number of points required to move through the categories have changed for the 2011 Season. The new targets are :

A3 to A2 = 15 points

A2 to A1 = 15 points

I.V.C.A

I.V.C.A members who don’t have a current Cycling Ireland Licence competing in a Cycling Ireland event will automatically be graded as an A2. If in possession of a current Cycling Ireland Licence the category stated on this will take priority.

CHAMPIONSHIPS ELIGIBILITY

Mens Elite RR Championships- A+/A1/A2

Womens Elite RR Championships- A+/A1/A2/A3

Vets RR Championships- A1/A2/A3 with “Veteran” in brackets after the licence number

Junior RR Championships-A1/A2/A3 with “Junior” in brackets after the licence number. This now includes Junior Women

Senior Mens/Womens TT Championships- A+/A1/A2/A3 with “Senior” in brackets after licence number

Junior TT Championship- A1/A2/A3 with “Junior” in brackets after licence number

Vets TT Championship-A1/A2/A3 with “Veteran” in brackets after licence number

The B Championships is renamed the National A3 Senior Mens RR Championships and is open to A3 male riders with “Senior” in brackets after their licence number only.

**********

• The final round of the The Bike Shop League on Tuesday evening was won by Dave Walsh of Wexford Wheelers. Anthony Doyle takes the overall League.

• Well done to all the under 10, 8 and 6 year old cyclists who took part in the The Bike Shop league series. The racing was every bit as fierce and competitive as the senior events even down to the arguments discussions about the handicaps! Congrats to Slaneys Marc & Josh Thatcher, Niamh, Rory & Emma Murphy, Conor Ruth and Faith Dempsey who raced strongly and always had fun at the races. Great to see so many youngsters from all the clubs at the races. Thanks to Martin Gill, David Maguire and Wexford Wheelers for the events.
• Alongside Emma Murphy (Under 6 winner) and Marc Thatcher (Under 10 Winner) Slaney also took the Under 12 league with Adam Thatcher and the Under 14 with Neil Kelly.
• Slaney’s Rita Boyle has been chosen for the Leinster Womens squad for Ras na mBan 3 day race in September. Rita also rode well in the Ladies Classic league event in Kilmessan yesterday for the Leinster team.  Press release below

Cycling Leinster Womens Development Squad
�
Team announced for Ras Na Mban
�
After a number of months of training and racing in the Women’s National League the Leinster Team has been selected for the Premier women’s event, Ras Na Mban.
�
The team is
Banfield Laura Swords CC
Beirne Heather Navan CC
Boyle Rita Slaney CC
Mc Evoy Orla Bray CC
�
Manager Coleen Foley Swords CC
�
It’s been a challenging process for all squad riders who have worked to training and racing programmes geared towards getting them in best condition for Ras Na Mban. There have been a number of specific training sessions with Gillian Mc Derby who has done sterling coaching work with the squad during races and training. These training sessions will continue right up to Ras Na Mban.
�
While we have selected these riders there are other squad riders who have worked very hard and also made progress and we look forward to these riders making further progress in the future. Fiona Guihen the Navan CC junior who was showing excellent improvements was unfortunate to sustain an injury in the last few weeks and unfortunately can not race Ras Na Mban this year, we wish fiona a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing her making further progress in the future.
�
We would like to say a big thank you to all squad riders who have very worked hard during the process and to Leinster Cycling commission for their support.
�
Coleen Gillian Paddy Valerie

Well done to Slaneys Adam Thatcher who sprinted to a well deserved victory at the Leinster underage championships in Kilmessen today. SERC’s Reece Young took silver in the event while Fionn Jordan finished in the bunch. Next weekend the underage  riders head to Northern Ireland for the All Ireland Championships.

Mike McLean at the Falling Leaves Classic today 

Tonto Brady took his best position in an open race today with a great 8th position in the A4 race. Tonto was away in the final select group on the day which came to the line sprinting for second place about 10seconds behind the lone winner John McCormack (Unattached). The winner attacked the last time up the long climb and had to time to stop at the top of the climb to pick up his only water bottle (which he’d dropped on the previous lap) before powering on to victory! WW’s Dave Allen took 4th in the sprint. Alan Galavan and Frank O’Leary were both in attacking form in the A2/3 race but were never able to leave the main bunch and  catch the evenutal winner who broke away early. Murt Doyle, Caimin Ruth(punctured) and Mike McLean were also racing today. Anthony Doyle took 5th.   Some Race Pictures below

A2/3 Race

A4 Race

Anthony Doyle took a fine sprint victory in tonights penultimate round of The Bike Shop league from Barrow Wheelers Hugh Byrne. Third place was very close (and unfortunately my image is out of focus) but I think Mick Byrne is marginally ahead of team mate Frank O’Leary. Tonights sprint was all across the road and some riders are out of frame but I made it  5th for Paul Flynn, 6th for Dave Allen, 7th for Stephen Furlong and 8th Simon Lambert.  Click more for pictures