Stamullen's annual weekend of cycling once again proved a happy hunting ground for Orwell riders, with the unstoppable Eric Downey finally earning his upgrade to A1.
With no Orwell riders in the prizes on Friday night, it fell to perennial placer Eric Downey to get the weekend started late, with a strong ride in the handicapped Pat and Monie Nolan Memorial on Saturday.
With the A1s and A2s starting together, Downey got in the break of note that powered past the larger bunches to link up with the A3/A4 leaders. There he found A3 Brian McArdle, and both Orwellians rode aggressively around the finishing laps.
They were rewarded at the finish line, where Downey took 7th overall, and McArdle crossed the line in 10th place, scooping the first unplaced A3 prize.
Darragh Long was marking moves in the bunch on behalf of NRPT, but accelerated at the close to win the bunch sprint, and take 2nd unplaced Junior. UCD's Sean McKenna also came in with a bunch to take the first unplaced A2 prize.
Though Downey's placing was relatively minor, it brought enough points for him to finally make the great leap forward to the A1 ranks. Orwell can now boast three A1s including Downey: Dan Whiting, currently building toward the Rás, and Brian Ahern, who has eased off training in the wake of an injury received while partaking in recreational sports.
Downey on the attack on Saturday (photo courtesy of Paul A)
The Stamullen GP races took place on Sunday, with each lap featuring a climb of the dreaded Snowton into a strong headwind. While the A3 race was won from a break, Ciara Kinch held on in the bunch to take the 2nd unplaced Woman prize - a great result for the vet! Darragh Long repeated the previous day's result, once again nabbing 2nd unplaced Junior.
The A2s brought home a veritable haul of prizes, with a batch of them coming in together to take the 12th through 9th unplaced A2 spots. In 12th was Downey, who had signed on as an A2, unaware of his overnight promotion. The organisers let him keep his prize. 11th was Tom Blennerhassett, riding strongly for a man who wasn't sure if he was still A2 material. Aidan Collins took 10th, showing last weekend wasn't just a flash in the pan. Pat O'Brien was in 9th, his first prize of the year, though O'Brien is concentrating on enjoying his season more than results.
Diarmuid Collins came in solo to take the 7th unplaced A2 prize, putting to bed any fears that a recent injury might have damaged his form. The first Orwell home was Odhran Connors, taking 3rd unplaced A2, a fitting result for a powerful ride. Following on from last weekend's result in the Ben McKenna, Connors must feel assured of his Rás spot next month.
Thanks must be paid to Stamullen for a great weekend, featuring unlimited tea and sandwiches, and the inimitable presence of the legendary Gaybo Howard. Roll on next year! In the meantime we're greatly looking forward to seeing what damage Downey will do as an A1!
Pat & Monie Nolan Memorial
1 Chris Reilly (Bohermeen CC)
2 Craig Sweetman (Stamullen M Donnelly RC)
3 Barry Meade (Planet-Tri)
4 Paidi O’Brien (Planet-Tri)
5 Simon Ryan (Visit Nenagh)
6 Patrick Clarke Castlebar CC)
7 Eric Downey (DTC Orwell Wheelers)
8 Matthew Heaney (Clann Eireann)
9 Danny Bruton (Standard Life NRPT)
Unplaced A2s
1 Sean McKenna (UCD)
2 Sean Rigley, (SDCC)
3 Murt Rice (U/A)
Unplaced A3s
1 Brian McArdle (DTC Orwell Wheelers)
2 Alan Brosnan (Dublin Whlrs)
3 Ciaran Farrell (Dublin Whlrs)
Unplaced A4s
1 Michael Maher (Adamstown CC)
2 Gareth Dargle (Stamullen M Donnelly)
3 Joseph Breheny (UCD)
Unplaced Juniors
1 Dylan 0'Brien (Kanturk CC)
2 Darragh Long (Standard Life NRPT)
3 David McCarthy (Standard Life NRPT)
Stamullen GP (A1/2)
1 Paudi O’Brien, Planet-Tri
2 Richard Hooten, Visit Nenagh
3 Greg Swinand, Usher IRC
4 Damien Shaw, Aqua Blue
5 Paddy Clarke, Clastlebar CC
6 Con Collis, UCD
7 Mark Dowling, Polygon SweetNice
8 Stephen O’Sullivan, DID
9 Thomas Martin, Eurobaby CC
10 Aaron O’Donoghue, South Dublin CC
11 Colin Robinson, Stamullen M Donnelly RC
12 Chris Reilly, Bohermeen CC
Unplaced A2s
1 Barry Meade, Planet-Tri)
2 Ciaran O’Conluain, UCD
3 Odhran Connors (DTC Orwell Wheelers)
4 Geoff Sheehan, South Dublin CC
5 Martin Gill, Wexford Wheelers CC
6 Stuart Cox, Blackrose CC
7 Diarmuid Collins (DTC Orwell Wheelers)
8 David Watson, North Down CC
9 Patrick O’Brien (DTC Orwell Wheelers)
10 Aidan Collins (DTC Orwell Wheelers)
11 Tom BlennerHassett (DTC Orwell Wheelers)
12 Eric Downey (DTC Orwell Wheelers)
A3 Race
1 Danny Bruton (Standard Life NRPT)
2 Dylan O’Brien (O’Leary Stone)
3 Niall Somers (South Dublin CC)
4 Ciaran Campbell (Drogheda Wheelers CC)
5 John Dorris (Epic MTB)
6 Jude Sands (Newry Whlrs)
7 Matthew Heaney (Clann Eireann CC)
8 James Flynn (Stamullen M Donnelly RC)
9 Nick Cosgrave (U/A)
10 Fergus Whelan (Adamstown CC)
11 Thomas McCabe (Cuchulainn CC)
12 David McCarthy (Standard Life NRPT)
Unplaced Juniors
1 Aidan Wall (Navan Road Club)
2 Darragh Long (Standard Life NRPT)
Unplaced Women
1 Siobhan McNamara (DID Dunboyne)
2 Ciara Kinch (DTC Orwell Wheelers)
A4 Race
1 Joseph Breheny (UCD)
2 Dermot Keelan (Cuchulainn CC)
3 Richard Murphy (Cuchulainn CC)
4 Alan Andrews (Well Oiled Wheelers CC)
5 Martin O’Connor (SERC)
6 Martin Higgins (Stamullen MD RC)
