Ballinrobe athlete wins cycling league

Sean O Malley of Ballinrobe was the winner of the 11 round Western/ Covey cycling league, Sean who only took up cycling only 16months ago has made tremendous progress, where he started of by racing in the front group who got big handicaps on the scratch (more experienced cyclist) to eventually joining the scratch group where he scored impressively against far more experienced cyclists.

The league attracted over 100 racing cyclist from both the Western Lakes CC and Westport Covey Wheelers clubs. Marrey Bikes Ballinrobe sponsored a set of red leader jerseys with the lead changing hands no fewer than six times.

Cycling has boomed in Mayo in recent years with both clubs thriving, this been the fifth edition of the league, it acts as a catalyst to steering ordinary leisure cyclist towards racing. The handicap system suits all abilities with improvements been made by all the categories.

Western Lakes CC has nearly 130 members the biggest in Connacht and Westport Covey have 120 members which proves how successful both clubs have been in the past 5 years.

Second place in the league went to Glenhest Newport man James Mc Greevy, the Covey cyclist was in contention for the win up till the final rounds.

Ger Corcoran Westport Covey was third.

In the most improved competition, Westport’s Colin Kelly bettered his time the most in the 15k Time Trial winning that award and Pat Monaghan took a staggering 2mins and 5seconds of his Hill climb time to win the most improved hill climber.

The rider making the biggest time improvements was Colin Kelly as he was 2^nd most improved in the hill climb, making it a good season for him.

In 2012 addition of the league a team competition was added to see which club had the most amount of riders finishing in the top ten, Pressure was on each club to get as many member to turnout   and secondly be as competitive as possible so that they might score points, the Westport Covey club proved far most consistent out scoring the Ballinrobe based club to win the competition overall.

The prize giving will take place in Tommy Burke’s bar Westport on Sunday the 7^th of October for  'free' buffet style meal and finger food served at 7pm with presentation at 8pm sharp.

Full results on www.westernlakescc.com and www.westportcc.ie

Overall

1^st Sean O Malley Ballinrobe Western Lakes CC 658pts

2^nd James Mc Greevy  Newport Westport Covey 577pts

3^rd Gerard Corcoran Westport, Westport Covey 530pts

4^th Shane Gilligan Carramore Western Lakes 528pts

5^th Martin Joyce Ballinrobe Western Lakes 510pts

6^th Kevin Ryan Kilmaine Western Lakes 492pts

7^th Keith O Connell Westport, Westport Covey 487pts

8^th Colin Kelly Westport, Westport Covey 465pts

9^th Padraig Marrey Ballinrobe Western Lakes 453pts

10^th Pa Joe O Connell Westport, Westport Covey 434pts

Most Improved

Time Trial Colin Kelly Westport Covey

Hill Climb Pat Monaghan Westport Covey

Team/ Club Westport Covey Wheelers