Club league report after Rd 1 in Kilmaine
A gigantic crowd turned up for round one of the Western Lakes CC club league in Kilmaine. Gerry and Veronica Sheridan hosted the event and have set the bar high for all remaining rounds. In total 37 people turned up to either race or marshal.
The league is aimed at getting club members out to ride or race in a group of similar abilities. Round 1 is always tricky to get the H/cap right as we don't know the form of everyone and how they will handle a group situation at speed so bear with us on getting you into the right group. Either way its a massive opportunity to meet up and have a bit of banter plus you get to know the other members. The fact you learn tactics, bike skills and group riding are all only bonuses
Niche training groups from villages around Ballinrobe all descended upon the village of Kilmaine even the Clifden and Renvyle gang made the long journey. There was an aire of tension as rivals talked gingerly... All mad to find out what the other did over the winter, lads talked about not getting out and having nothing done (Ya right) as the weather was so bad. The Knight riders from the Continuity ...had to be favorites the miles them guys put in since last October must be savage... The Hollies have been put through a regimental turbo & Zwift session plan with one member supposedly putting out the same kind of wattage as Mark Cavendish in a sprint .... I Think he is watching too much GCN...Reality boys stay with Reality...New bikes and wheels were flashed all boding to their commitment... but as we all know its not really about the bike its about how we look....
It had to be one of the worst evenings ever for a race with freezing cold hail and sleet falling only over the village of Kilmaine (Not sure why mother nature only picked Kilmaine) with everyone huddled in the hall hoping and praying the event would be canceled not knowing that there was only a slim and no chance of that ever happening ... Crys from Inch to have only one lap went on deaf ears Dave Mac and softy Gibbons hitted for the turf and bolted home... the Holllies all of a sudden were Marshaling did ya ever see the like...
JJ and the Clifden gang were loving it ... this weather was like a soft day in Summer to them boys...saying all that seeing them all inside in JJ's van warming up on spinning bikes was a sight to be hold. ..
4 group were seeded with a Handicap of 9 minutes from front to back set-out for the 2 lap course totaling 34.9k. The racing for most was probably a new experience.. trying to stay in a group watching for the wheel in front of you.. figuring out what the best gear to be in were only a few of the technically issues...more importantly was figuring out how long you could sustain this effort and pace while hyper ventilating at the same time your legs filled with concrete was highest on most their agendas... Pulling out on the first passage through the village seemed a like good idea for a few... The scratch (Back group) Caught group 3 with 9k to go they had a mix of group 2 with them them, out front John Hughes, Earnan Naughton and Sinead Watters held on for dear life... till Foggy Sheridans X roads when the juncture was made by the back groups ... With 4k to go it was always going to be a scratch rider that took the laurels ... Janis and John O Halloran the only A3 riders in the group looked to be favorites ... John was playing the I am the coach trick while keeping a gamy eye on presiding ... Ainars and Jerry ploughed hard on the front with the odd trick from Shane the sheep Gilligan and Colin bullet Loughney throwing in... JJ used up his bullets earlier on but was still lurking... Jennings and Feeney were been chute I say toooo chute as they kept their powder dry and never got to spark at all... Marrey was just hanging in the pocket waiting for it all to kick off ... once the sprint started by Colin Loughney with 600m to go... it kind of through the cat amongst the pigeons.. who was going to chase.. he who chased ruined their own chances .. a few skirmishes and the gap was closing but the finish line was closing too... Ainars decided twas time to launch.. O Halloran and JJ set up behind Marrey knowing he was the wheel to be on.. Marrey launched his effort at the 200m mark ... Loughney glanced and was sure the win was his.. with a mere 20m to go..Marrey past Colin and breasted the line first with a deflated Loughney 2nd and the ever improving Ainars 3rd with Coach O Halloran 4th....
Next round will be hosted by Robeen on Thursday April 26th.. lets get as many out as possible...
