Kerry Group Ras Mumhan, Killorglin, Co. Kerry, April 10th-13th
Gorey 3-Day, Gorey, Co. Wexford, April 11th-13th
Orwell Wheelers was well represented last weekend during the annual Easter stage races based in Killorglin and Gorey.
Stephen Surdival produced a fine seventh place finish on the hilly stage two of the Ras Mumhan where Odhran Connors was best of the six Orwells on the final GC sheet.
In the Gorey Three Day, Mark Dunne and Stephen McNally's fine time trialling ability helped them to 13th and 14th overall as Michelle Geoghegan mopped up the leading woman prize.
Surdival and Connors were accompanied by Dave McLoughlin, the Hurley brothers Graham and Shane, Mathieu Fragniere and guest rider Cian Crowley on the two Orwell teams entered.
Fragniere, Graham Hurley and Dave McLoughlin were forced to drop out of an event that featured a number of foreign teams. Surdival provided the highlight of the weekend when he got into the winning move in extremely testing terrain for a fine seventh place on the day.
Meanwhile Connors' plans for a debut appearance in the FBD Ras are still well on target after he produced a series of consistent rides over the four days to eventually finish 55th out of 102 finishers. 133 riders started the event which was won by Brian Keneally.
Further north in Leinster, 10 Orwell riders took to the start of the Gorey Three Day which began on Easter Saturday in Brittas, Co Dublin.
Dunne and McNally were joined by John Dillon, Eddie Lynch, Graham Thomas, Michelle Geoghegan, Declan Quigley, Declan Byrne, Orla Hendron, and Eamonn Finn for the 43rd running of the popular four stage event.
Dunne, in sixth and McNally, seventh impressed in the stage two four mile time trial on Sunday morning rising to 12th and 13th overall.
They each slipped a place on Monday's final stage run in damp conditions but were comfortably in the 20 overall prize list.
Michelle Geoghegan finished comfortably in the bunch each day to secure the top women's prize and 74th overall out of the 180 starters.
Results
Kerry Group Ras Mumhan
Final General Classification
1. Brian Keneally (Engraveit.ie/Cyclways/BDBC-A). 10.35'49"
2. Paul Griffin (Team Earl of Desmond). 2"
3. Dion Beukeboom (Midi Centre Ruiter Wielerteam). 57"
4. Geert-Jan Jonkman (West Fresia). 1'47"
5. Rory Wyley (Killorglin Credit Union CC). 1'47"
6. Ciaran Cassidy (Irish Espoir Development). 2'16"
55. Odhran Connors (Orwell Wheelers Dundrum Town Centre) 17'59"
62. Stephen Surdival (Orwell Wheelers Dundrum Town Centre) 24'14"
86. Shane Hurley (Orwell Wheelers Dundrum Town Centre) 52'42"
Stage 2
2. Stephen Surdival (Orwell Wheelers Dundrum Town Centre)
Gorey 3-Day April 11th-13th 2009-04-15
Final General Classification
1. Tim Kennaugh (Isle Of Man). 7h27'50"
2. Tom Black (Isle Of Man). @01'00"
3. Martin Mizgayski (Wexford Wheelers). @02'08"
4. Don Feighery (Comeragh CC). @02'11"
5. Padraig Marrey (Western Lakes) @02'162"
6. Gareth Enright (Leinster) @02'18"
13. Mark Dunne (Orwell Wheelers Dundrum Town Centre) @02'42"
14. Stephen McNally (Orwell Wheelers Dundrum Town Centre) @02'44"
33. John Dillon (Orwell Wheelers Dundrum Town Centre) @03'02"
38. Eddie Lynch (Orwell Wheelers Dundrum Town Centre) @03'10"
46. Graham Thomas (Orwell Wheelers Dundrum Town Centre) @03'16"
74. Michelle Geoghegan (Orwell Wheelers Dundrum Town Centre) @4'00"
86. Declan Quigley (Orwell Wheelers Dundrum Town Centre) @06'56"
110.Declan Byrne (Orwell Wheelers Dundrum Town Centre) 21'49"
112. Orla Hendron (Orwell Wheelers Dundrum Town Centre) 24'58"
