Rás na nÓg
All at Western Lakes CC wishes Scott Towey who is riding Rás na nÓg this weekend the best of luck.
Scott Towey
Since 2007 it has become one of the premier youth racing events on the calendar. Hosted by Drogheda Wheelers and under the stewardship of the hard working Gerard Campbell it is a very well run and safe event. It’s also Scott’s home away from home with him born in Drogheda, so three stages over two days at Bellewstown Race Course is a marginal gain for the nerves before the flag drops. Its Scott’s first year U14 but a few very well structured training weekends with the Connacht Youths Academy with our own Padraig Marrey & John O'Halloran as coaches which has been spearheaded by Noel Mulroy of Westport Covey will have all riders well ready for the two day event. The event attracts Irelands elite youth cyclists of the day but it is not all about the podium, it encourages young cyclists to race to the best of their ability. Positioning, bike handling, gear selection, when, where & how to attack & when to sit in are as much important as your name on a top 10 results sheet when you take the chequered flag. Even more so the youths that just haven’t made that level they know they are only a few bike lengths of the guys that are there so it’s all to play for them at the next race.
The Kilmovee youth is steadily learning his trade and has proven there is nothing to be afraid of and as the year rolls on we will have squads at open youth races. Hard races “up the front” OR “out the back” is all about life experiences, it’s about doing your best even if you end up in a race within a race with the pelothon vanishing up the road and any chance of you name on a results sheet gone. It’s about picking yourself up after a spill and going again, it’s about making friends, it’s about seeing how much you have grown stronger & smarter race after race, it’s about learning from those who have gone before you, it’s about respect, for your team mates, for other competitors, for your Club, earning the respect of organisers that keep the sport we all love alive... by simply having a pop off the front. It’s about having fun.