Western Lakes Club League 2017
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...
Western Lakes Cycling Club News 24-07-2017
Lesiure and MTB Report
Hi cycling folk, it has been a busy few week on the bikes, the club spins are going well on Tuesdays and Thursdays and longer spins on Sundays, Martin Joyce is back out and about and going well.
The WLCC Ladies Sportif was a great success and well run by the Sportif Director Ken McCarty. Thanks to all who took part and helped out on the day. Full reports and pictures can be seen on Facebook pages including the WLCC Facebook page and the Ladies Sportif Facebook page.
Just a reminder if anyone wants to stay in clifden the night after the Twelve Bens sportive could you book it today as they can't hold the rooms any longer
As ye all know Twelve Bens Cycling Club have their sportive on sept 9th and the committee have decided to make it our end of year spin and make a night of it after by staying in Cliften after the event
MTB spin are taken place each week and keep an eye on the Facebook page for details and route etc.
Racing Report
It have been a busy few week in racing front, congrats to Sean O Malley who won the Mayo league recently, great stuff Seanie. Western Lakes cam 3rd in the league overall, well done to any who took part in theses racers throughout the summer.
The next round of the WLCC league will take place in Tullycross, it will be a new race venue and be great to attend this race by club members, remember 10 points are issued for attendance and make make the difference at the end of the league.
Congrats to Scoot Towey on great result in Connacht Championships this weekend
This years Mayo Club Cycling Championships are on August 2nd hosted by Western Lakes CC in Hollymount
This years winner will also recieve the Sean Stagg Shield
Race Details as follows:
• Sign on: Hollymount Hall 5:45-6:45
• Sing on Fee: €15
• Race Start: Mass Start at 7pm sharp outside the Hall
• Course: 6 x 10km laps through Hollymount
• Eligible Categories: Club, Junior, Ladies, M40, M50, A4, A3, A2, A1, Team (best 3 across the line)
• Prizes: Top 3 overall and top 3 in each category
• Presentation & Refreshments in Hollymount Hall straight after, Also presentation for Mayo League....
Cliften Kings take the Crowns in Hollymount
The second round of the WLCC club league was held in Hollymount on Friday night last, the local riders did not know what to expect when a van load of 12 Bens riders showed up, led by A1 racer JJ Flaherty, one suspects they did a lot of spinning over the winter. Never the less the assembled riders were split in to groups with John King the eldest of the out of townees in the first group with an 8 minute advantage. There was a fierce stiff breeze blowing but the roads were dry. John King took off like a cut cat and had dropped his companions by the end of Roundfort, if he kept that pace up he would be hard caught. Scoop who has retired from racing to work at lead car driving and commentary could hardly keep up.
The rest of the groups set off in to the side head wind, at such a pace that a few were dropped at the top of the village. The next group set away and local favorite Noel Jennings in this group with a eye on the top prize.
The scratch group and John Gill was under pressure the win his local race, another favorite John O Holleran retired after a few KM with the red engine light badly flashing.
After the first lap John King had a commanding lead followed by Anne Flynn (Stagg), Dave Connolly another local favorite pulled out due to engine management system failure.
The scratch group caught the next group after the first lap in the village of Hollymount and this group held together for most of the next lap. Anthony O Toole, Tomas Hughes and Noel Jennings doing well to stick the pace.
The marshals waited in holly and were doing a great job and expected a bunch sprint at the finish, when the lone figure of John King rounded the corner in Hollymount to secure the top spot on the podium and full points, the next group around the corner was made up of Hollymount and Cliften lads and the two Cliften lads showed a clean set of cleats to the local lads and filled the remaining places on the podium. It looks like the handicapper was well and truly hood- winked. The Cliften lads spoiled the local party but this is bike racing.
There was tea and food in the village hall afterwards and prize giving. Special thanks to Anne Flynn who made the Chocolate Biscuit cake, it was worth all the cycling torture for this cake.
Once again thanks to all the locals who worked at sigh on, road marshals and drivers, without these hard workers the events can't take place.
After the points are added up for the two rounds it looks like Hollymount man Ollie Kelly is leading the league with Anthony O Toole, Conor Gill, Sarah Canny and Aiden Flynn filling out the Top 5 placings.
The next round of the WLCC league will take place in Tullycross on July the 26TH, keep an eye on FB for details, hopefully the South Mayo lads can return the favor to the Galway lads.
Western Lakes Cycling Club Report 23-06-2017
Lesiure and MTB Reports
Hi Folks, we are slap bang in the middle of Sportif season and there are a great number of events around the area and in the west. A good few members took part in the Explore Mayo and Cornamona 50 mile cycles in recent weeks.
The Great Lakes Sportif take place this Sunday the 25th of June, starting in the cycle center at 09.00. Its €20 to enter and proceeds will go to the Order of Malta who provide great cover for all our events and races in the west. If all members could attend it would make it a good day out, we will keep the group together for the first half of the event if traffic permits.
The Ladies Sportif will take place in the coming weeks so like and share the poster on Facebook to all local clubs. https://www.facebook.com/WLCC-Ladies-Sportive-797159530403528/
Racing Report
Well its back to the local scene for Sean o Malley after his heroics in the RAS in recent weeks, Sean even managed the break in the final stage in to Skerries and his name was heard over Radio Tour, Chapeau to SOM in his great efforts.
The Galway Bay Criturium took place over the last weekend and WLCC had a few podiums and a great 2nd place for Gerry Towey son Scott Towey in the under U12 race, a budding racer in the making like his dad eh, who himself came 5th in the A4 category.
The Mayo league is coming to the last few races and round 7 took place in Ballyhaunis on Wednesday night. Seanie O Malley is leading the proceedings and will look for a few club members for help him in maintaining his lead in the league.
As it happened WLCC had two members on the podium, with Tom Hughes and Anthony O Toole taking 2nd and 3rd place. Tom a budding club racer form the fields of Hollymount, a part of the Hollymount Wheelers group, young Tom’s racing career is finally taking off. Sprint King Anthony O Toole is also a A4 in the making.
The Hollymount round of the WLCC club takes place on Friday the 30TH of June, this will be two 19km laps of the local area, a great turnout is expected. Keep an eye on FACEBOOK for details of the race.
http://www.strava.com/routes/9263178
#Fullgas
Western Lakes Club League R1 “Robeen”
Marrey makes it two in a row in Robeen
Robeen was the location of the first round of the WLCC club league in which 30 riders togged out. The handicapping was carried out by P.Marrey and the bunch was broke up into five separate groups. The first group consisted of 7 riders with a few new racers in the group Eimear Flannery, Martin McDonald, Sarah Canny and Karen Regan. This group was given 9 minute on G2 and and 12 Mins on G3 14 Mins on G4 and 16 mins on the scratch group. The racing was fast and the first group was down to 4 riders by the end of the first lap. The second and 3rd group joined forces to make a big bunch. By the last few Km’s it looked like the first group would stay away but as they approached Robeen crossroads the big bunch came over the hill. In the last KM Sarah Canny pushed on and Ann Flynn and Dave Connolly tried to fill the podium but in the final 100 meters the bunch caught and passed the group, Padraic Marrey took the sprint to take another victory in the Robeen race, he sure like this circuit,
Special thanks to John Conroy who put on a great race and to all the road marshals and thanks to all the Conroy family who put on a great feed after the race in Fr Paddy House. It sets a hard precedent for the next race directors.
Please see league table and pics in Facebook and on the website
WLCC Summer League 2016 R1 25-05-2017
Western Lakes Summer League 2017
The WLCC Club League consists of 5 races and these are all well handicapped so everyone has a chance to win or finish in the points. Everyone that takes part get 10 points for attendance and this helps to ensure everyone has points on the board. Points will be issued to the first 10 across the line. This league will carter for everyone in the club from beginners to seasoned pros. All safety precautions will be put in place to ensure everyone will be safe. All participants must hold a LC Limited Completion Cycling Ireland license or greater. If you only have only a Lesiure license and wish to take part you can upgrade on the cycling Ireland website. All participants shall have a race number and wear safety helmets.
The Western Lakes Club leagues begins next Wednesday the 24th of May, with the first race in Robeen, the Race Director is John Conroy, this will be a two lap race starting in Robeen. It is a nice course and suitable for all abilities. All participants should wear Club or Group cycling gear, this is a good way to show the club on the road. There will be sign on in Robeen from 6.30 pm and the race starts at 7.30 pm Sharp. There is a 5 euro entry fee and refreshments will be available afterwards.
Check Facebook for updates.
Western Lakes Club League 2017
The WLCC Club League consists of 5 races and these are all well handicapped so everyone has a chance to win or finish in the points. Everyone that takes part get 10 points for attendance and this helps to ensure everyone has points on the board. Points will be issued to the first 10 across the line. This league will carter for everyone in the club from beginners to seasoned pros. All safety precautions will be put in place to ensure everyone will be safe. All participants must hold a LC Limited Completion Cycling Ireland license or greater. If you only have only a Leisure license and wish to take part you can upgrade on the cycling Ireland website. All participants shall have a race number and wear safety helmets.
The Western Lakes Club leagues begins next Wednesday with the first race in Hollymount, this will be a two lap race starting in Hollymount, up through Roundfort, over to Annfield cross, down to Scardawne and back to Hollymount, this is a 38km course.
It is a nice course and suitable for all abilities. All participants should wear Club or Group cycling gear, this is a good way to show the club on the road. There will be sign on in the Hollymount Dressing rooms from 6.30 pm and the race starts at 7.30 pm Sharp. There is a 5 euro entry fee and showers and refreshments will be available afterwards. Check Facebook for updates.
| Date | Race | Race Director |
| 17 May 2017 | Hollymount | Noel Stagg/Dave Connolly |
| 24 May 2017 | Robeen | John Conroy |
| 26 July 2017 | Tullycross | JJ Flatharty |
| 16 August 2017 | Kilmaine | Gerry Sheridan |
| 23 August 2017 | Partry | Noel Gibbons/Philip Staunton |
