The Orwell crew at the Coombes Connor Memorial Races. L to R: Sean O'Kane, Harry Rochford, Stephen O'Shea, Barry Fennell

Pinergy-Orwell Wheelers' Sean O'Kane continued his blistering start to his debut racing season, netting an impressive third place in the A4 race at the Coombes Connor Memorial races in Drogheda this weekend. Attacking on every lap, O'Kane eventually got free on the final lap on the run to the finish with the chasing bunch hot on his heels. Two from the sprinting bunch passed him before the lane, but he managed to hold on for third.

A young man in a hurry, O'Kane was eighth in his first outing in the Newbridge Grand Prix, was in the mix for the win at the Des Hanlon Memorial in Carlow before a late crash spoiled his race, before picking up third place in only his third outing at windswept Coombes Connor.

Sean O'Kane, picking up his prize money at the Coombes Connor Memorial

Meanwhile, Killian O'Brien travelled to Italy for his first outing with his new team Veleka at the GP Marcello Falcone. He immediately demonstrated his abilities to a new Italian audience, attacking at the foot of the highest climb of the day before surging clear of his two breakaway companions to crest the summit alone. Although he was caught in the closing kilometres of the race following a concerted chase by rival teams, O'Brien's efforts won him the King of the Mountains jersey and one of the biggest trophies we've ever seen.

Killian O'Brien on the podium at the GP Marcello Falcone

On Saturday, Cahir O'Higgins travelled to Derry to compete in the Carn Classic. Having raced the Gorey 3-Day at Easter, O'Higgins appears to be coming into a nice vein of form, grabbing fifth place in a competitive A2 race.

On Sunday, at the second round of the IVCA League, held at Brittas Bay, Paul O'Brien was fifth in the White (third category race) while Terry Ferris and Barry Redmond were fourth and fifth respectively in the Green (fourth category) race.