Gavin Dodd made sure he won’t have to request the return of his Gorey 3-Day entry fee as he ensured his upgrade to A3 with fourth place at Ras Naomh Finian in Clonard on Saturday (10th March).
Having begun the season just one point shy of his graduation from A4, Dodd won his ticket to the next level as he sprinted in close to the head of a blanket bunch finish after 70km of racing on the old N6 Galway Road in Meath.
Dodd’s confidence in entering the Irish Road Club Easter stage race was clearly not misplaced and the promising neophyte can now focus on his preparation for his early main goal.
The 110-rider entry in A4 featured strong Orwell representation with several riders making the their open race debuts including Ken McCullagh and others such as Brian McArdle returning to race action after many months inactivity. Both featured prominently and were unfazed by the sprightly pace.
Meanwhile, Eddie Lynch showed the value of his strong winter training programme as he secured the first veteran award in the A3 bunch charge to the line. Lynch’s first prize of the season comes as a great relief after a difficult 2011 season.
Also in the prizes was Craig Arrigan who took the first junior award in the A3 race against strong opposition.
Ras Naomh Finian
Clonard, County Meath, 10th March
A3 Race 70km
1, Ian Richardson (UCD);
2, Liam Blanchfield (Bray);
3, Mark Nugent (Waterford);
4, John Priest (Stagg Lucan);
5, Basil Freeman (Eire Og);
6, Shane O’Donoghue (Waterford).
1st Junior: Craig Arrigan (Dundrum Town Centre Orwell Wheelers).
1st Vet: Eddie Lynch (Dundrum Town Centre Orwell Wheelers).
1st Lady: Melanie Späth (Cycleways).
A4 Race 70km
1, Emmett Ronan (Barrow Wheelers);
2, Hugh Davis (Usher IRC);
3, Aidan McNamara (Tullamore);
4, Gavin Dodd (Dundrum Town Centre Orwell Wheelers);
5, David Dargle (Stamullen);
6, Colm McGaivey (Epic).
