Garhill cup

The last road race round of the Mayo league took place in Ballinrobe hosted by Western Lakes cc.

Over 40 riders signed up for the mass start event.

The prestigious Garhill cup was up for grabs for the winner. Past winners included Junior World champion Mark Scanlon, Irish champions Morgan Fox and David O Loughlin and Giro stages winner Sam Bennett amongst other top riders.

The course was 4 laps of the old Ras Connachta course taking in the Neale Crossroads, Ballymartin and back into Ballinrobe where riders had to negotiate two tight left hand corners.

After only 6k of racing 4 riders broke free, Charles Prendergast Castlebar CC,Sean O Malley Western Lakes, Richard Meaney Westport Covey wheelers and Francis O Horo Ballina CC,  the latter falling back to the bunch a few Km later.

The 3 leaders held a gap of around 1minute on the bunch  for the entire 54k event.

Up front the leaders had a tough battle with attack after attack with Caharles Prenderagst and Sean O Malley looking to get away solo, the continuous sprint efforts eventually tired out Sean O Malley and he had to let the other two go leaving Meaney and Prendergast to fight out the sprint for the win. The in form Prendergast won with a few bike lengths to spare. With O Malley holding on for 3rd.

James Mc Greevy Westport Covey Wheelers and Kieran Gallagher Castlebar CC got away from the bunch in the closing stages to get 4th and 5th respectively and Janis Blivous Western Lakes CC has got his bunch sprinting technique down to a fine art with another bunch gallop win.

Keith Mulroy Westport covey wheelers finished safely in the front of the bunch and more importantly in the points to secure the Mayo League overall title for 2018 at only under 16.