Women's Race Series, Corkagh Park - Tues 7th August. All welcome!!

Next Tuesday, the 7th of August, Scott Orwell Wheelers will be hosting a round of the Women's Race Series. As always this race night is open to all - from complete beginners to advanced racers. This is a great opportunity to try racing in an encouraging, safe, car free environment.

If you don't have a Limited Competition license or higher you can buy a one day license on the night for €5.

Sign on will be open from 6pm to 6.50 and racing will start at 7pm.

Our club kit supplier - VeloRevolution - are very kindly sponsoring the prizes for racing. We have gillets, jerseys, bidons, caps and musettes all up for grabs.

If you have any questions please feel free to drop an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or post below.

We are also looking for a couple of volunteers to help out on the night - ideally we would like as many Orwell women as possible to be able to race so if there are any men out there who are free on Tuesday night please let us know:)

Some info and tips on racing in Corkagh Park:

Sign-on opens at 18.00 and closes at 18:50, with racing beginning at 19:00 sharp. This gives the organisers time to figure out a handicap (which is based on numbers turning up in each group), and allows them to start racing promptly.

Be considerate of your fellow racers and the organisers, and get there on time! If you're not signed-on on time, you can't race.

Race duration will be confirmed on the night. Please listen carefully to the pre-race briefing!

Some advice on racing in Corkagh Park thanks to Brian Mc from the Scott Orwell Club League posts:
If this is your first race, try arrive early and get some warm-up laps in. Get used to the twists and curves of the course, and what line is best. When in the bunch, remember that there may be a rider on your inside or outside, or both - don't cut across their line.

If you find yourself dropped during the race and getting lapped, please move to the side and let those lapping you go by.

Please don't compromise on safety. Any dangerous riding may result in disqualification or suspension. Bear in mind that there will be plenty of beginners on the track on Tuesday night.

For the finish, safety is the priority. Don't put your head down or close your eyes in a sprint, and make sure to keep a straight line so you don't take down anyone else who might be overtaking you. Keep riding through the finish line until you are well clear of the line before stopping. If you think you placed, come back and make sure the race organiser has your name.

Parking
The car park closes at 9pm in August so we should be fine for using it next Tueaday. If you are in any doubt you're better off to park outside on the road parallel to the N7. The club is not responsible if you're locked in while you're racing. See Corkagh Park INFO for the official times.

Valuables
Please be careful with your belongings on race night. Some people leave bags at the gate during the race. It would be much safer to leave them on the inside of the course at the finish line, as that is where most people stand and can keep an eye on the bags.

Toilets
There are no toilet facilities available. You could try asking the caravan park nicely alternatively we have been able to use the toilets in the Green Isle Hotel in the past too.

See you all on Tuesday night!

18 racers signed on tonight for the Women's Summer Corkagh Park League which we were hosting. Racers were divided into 3 groups: B- which saw a lot of first time racers give it a go tonight, B+ and A.

The B- group were given about half a lap before the B+ group were set off chasing and then the same again to the A group.

A prime for each group early in the racing got things fired up nicely. The B- group showed a lot of potential and stayed clear of the chasing B+ for a good while. When they all eventually came together it was only 2 of the B- group who managed to stay with the A's to the finish - well done Ciara and Shannon.

Also well done to Carthach McCarthy and Anjali Patel from Scott Orwell who had never raced before and gave it a go tonight! You did great, definitely a future in racing for you:)

Massive thanks to Orla Hendon and Stephen O'Shea for putting on a great event and also, thanks to VeloRevolution & Joe Daly's Cycles for sponsoring the prizes tonight, we had a fantastic selection to give away.

RESULTS:
Primes:
B-: Carthach McCarthy, Scott Orwell Wheelers
B+: Marrian Holland, VCB
A: Hilary Hughes, VC Eriu
Bunch pime: Fiona Guihan, Black Rose Racing

Combativity Award: Aoibhe Power, DCC

Under 14:
1. Katie Reilly, Scott Orwell Wheelers
2. Áine Reilly, Scott Orwell Wheelers

B Race:
1. Ciara O'Neill, Castleknock CC
2. Shannon Kelly, UA
3. Marrion Holland, VCB
4. Heidi Sheehy, Wicklow Tri Club
5. Carthach McCarthy, Scott Orwell Wheelers
6. Katie Reilly, Scott Orwell Wheelers

A Race
1. Fiona Guihan, Black Rose Racing
2. Hilary Hughes, VC Eriu
3. Jennifer Bates, Team Gerard DHL
4. Arron Fox, Belpark Tri
5. Aoibhe Power, DCC
6. Emma Walsh, DCC

Photos by John Hammer from last night's racing: John Hammer's Photo Page

Also photos by Matthew Lysaght : Matthew link to photos