Orwell delight in Batterstown

By Declan Quigley

Batterstown, Co. Meath, 11 June 2009

Last week's DMS races in the Club League provided an Orwell double and a near miss in the third race as Stephen McNally took the honours in the Scratch race and Ronnie Brannigan celebrated his return to action with a narrow win in the Semi Limit/Limit race.

McNally led in what almost amounted to an Orwell team trial in the Scratch race after a Graham Thomas attack from the line dragged clear three team mates and Usher IRC interloper Paul Dolan. The entirely unplanned move caught the other clubs on the hop but the lead group worked well to maintain their advantage through to the sprint which McNally took in trademark style ahead of Odhran Connors.

It's been a tough year for Orwell's Ronnie Brannigan who has endured all sorts of medical woes but he put those behind him with a terrific gallop for the line to take victory by the narrowest of margins in the combined Semi Limit/Limit race from club mate Ian McAvinchey.

The Semi-Limit race featured an unfortunate crash early on when league leader Aidan Yates hit the tarmac after breaking his chain while attacking. After that several groups tried to forge clear but the best effort came from Orwell's Patrick Santini who led on his own for almost a lap before being hauled back on the second trip over the Mullagh. Ciaran McKenna (Usher IRC) just edged Orwell's Eddie Lynch in the ensuing group sprint.

Results

Scratch

1. Stephen McNally (Orwell Wheelers DTC)
2. Odhran Connors (Orwell Wheelers DTC)
3. Paul Dolan (Usher Irish Road Club)
4. Graham Thomas (Orwell Wheelers DTC)
5. Myles Kirby (Orwell Wheelers DTC)
6. Fiachra O' Mhuire (Usher Irish Road Club)

Semi-Scratch

1. Ciaran McKenna (Usher Irish Road Club)
2. Eddie Lynch (Orwell Wheelers DTC)
3. Unknown
4. Brian Reynolds (Staggs Lucan CRC)
5. Philip Browne (Usher Irish Road Club)
6. Declan Quigley (Orwell Wheelers DTC)

Semi Limit – Limit

1. Ronnie Brannigan (Orwell Wheelers DTC)
2. Ian McAvinchey (Orwell Wheelers DTC)
3. Ian O'Hara (Staggs Lucan)
4. Dave Carroll (Usher Irish Road Club)
6. Romano Morelli (Orwell Wheelers DTC)
6. Ian O'Keefe (Orwell Wheelers DTC)
6. Daragh Zaidan Staggs Lucan CRC)

Next Round: Handicap, Brittas June 18th.