And there you have it, our cyclocross season came to a close yesterday with The Sean Sharkey Memorial. It was a great day remembering Sean with friends and family. Our cycling community really came together and we had a joyful day with the odd tear.
We had a busy week preparing for the race after the national championships 2 weeks beforehand. I left a lot of things the way they were after the last race of the nationals.
All proceeds for the race will go to the Maria Goretti Foundation aswell as the Gofundme page that is linked to the race. The gofundme page will close at midnight tonight. All race costs were waved from everyone associated with the race. We had support from many many people. Adam McGreevy from @studio55 started the ball rolling by getting the poster out there and then we had buckets of prizes for the raffle. It was a busy week with everyone looking forward to the race. The raffle is done and dusted and all winners are posted on @bellurganwheelers Facebook feed. Thank you to all the businesses for supporting the event.
VeloRevolution, The Bike Station, Foxes Jewellers, Quay Cycles, Wogan Interiors, Park Plaza West Minister Bridge, The one and only Damian Faulkner and Mahers Chemist.
Onto the race. The Results are here.
Dany Blondel and the Belgian project entertained us all day and brought the racers to the start line and podiums. Thanks Dany.
First, we had some keen under 6’s lined up. The course doesn’t lend itself to balance bikes so there were a few tired parents after.
More serious U’8s took the line next not needing their parents at all. It was 1,2,3 for Square Wheels in the girls with Rionach Campbell winning from Eabha Connolly in 2nd and Ciara McCool in 3rd. It was a tight race for 1st and 2nd in the boys and it was only decided in the final meters. Jaxon Jennings was first to cross the line and was pushed all the way by Conor McGahon. In 3rd was Xavier McGuinness.
We had 2 girls in the U10 and it was the fast-pedaling Aoife Campbell winning from Amelia Finnegan in 2nd. Jack McGahon did what he’s been doing all season and was first to cross the line followed by Logan McAreevy in 2nd and Leo Gallagher in 3rd.
The under 12’s were next and the girls had their usual dual with the podium changing every week. But it was Ava Baker that stormed around winning from Sky Spence in 2nd and Eire McCrystal in 3rd. Eunan Campbell was fastest in the boys with Rory McCool not too far behind in 2nd and James Mullen taking a great 3rd.
Our last race of the day was a combined U14,16 and adults. Some U14’s and 16s joined the adults race with the other categories running separately. We had some fun in this one sending off some VIPs first and sending off National Male Elite Champion Dean Harvey last. Gerry Heverin took off like Wout Van Aert and held the lead for a brief period. (very brief!) The usual battles in all categories were still as fierce as ever and it didn’t take Dean Harvey long to get to the front of the race. There was no questioning the win with Conor Murphy 2nd and Tadgh Killeen 3rd.
The Women’s race had Aine Doherty and Elana Wallace fight it out and it was a close race with Aine prevailing. Aine is racing in the World Championships next weekend and we would like to wish her all the best. Elana finished in 2nd with Stephanie Roche 3rd.
In the U14’s girls, the ever-consistent Emer Heverin was 1st with Maeve McCool 2nd and Poppy Hamilton 3rd. Eoin Davis and Daithi Killeen were rubber to rubber for most of the race but it was Eoin winning the sprint from Daithi. Darragh Murphy rounded off the podium in 3rd.
Aliyah Rafferty was fastest in the U16 girls with the new national champion storming around the track with very impressive lap times. Rhiannon Dolan was 2nd and the biggest podium cheer of the day was for Aiobheann Sharkey in 3rd. Oliver Hylen O’Shaughnessy was the fastest in the boys with Toby Sweetman 2nd and Daniel Lord in 3rd.
Thank you once again to everyone that supported the track this year. It was fast-paced all year with a lot of races to negotiate. Lots of help was needed and it was certainly given. We are forever grateful.
Over and out,
Bryan McCrystal.