Since our last update from the track, the prizes and medals have been pouring in. Uisneach, Naoise and Fionn Sheridan, Seán and Conor Murnane, alongside Andrew Ryan, David Swift, Daniel McElroy, Dick O'Brien and Eddie Lynch have all been spotted on the boards. Find out how they fared below!
Going back to mid-July, at the Dublin Track Cycling International 2015 we had two of youngest and brightest competing in two of the most exciting and aggressive races of the weekend. There was no let-up in the action in the Junior women and men's Scratch races, with Naoise Sheridan and Conor Murnane on the attack from the gun in each of their respective races.
Not only did they put on an entertaining display for the spectators, but their offensives paid off handsomely, each of them netting a gold medal at the finish line.
Sheridan atop the podium
Murnane takes gold
The Dublin Track Cycling International 2015, a UCI Grade 1 event, was the product of many months' hard work - most notablly from Orwell was Jen Sheridan, who along with the Track Commission, put on a fantastic two days of racing in Sundrive Velodrome! She and others did a tonne of work in the lead-up, and it was great to see club members racing and helping over the two days as well. She had this to say after the weekend:
"Mega appreciation for Colm Bradley, Daniel McElroy, Conor Murnane, Orla Hendron and Fionn Sheridan for all day Saturday, Diarmuid Collins for Saturday morning, Brian McArdle, David Swift, Naoise Sheridan and Fionn Sheridan for all day Sunday, Valdis Andersons and David Hendron for Sunday morning. Fionn did a little more commissaire duty and also did mechanic for the Dutch national team and Slovakian rider, Uisneach was flag bearer on Saturday after racing in Mondello earlier in the day, thanks to Dave Murnane for bringing him.
"It couldn't have been done without the help, so proud to say that a huge proportion of the helpers were Orwell Wheelers. If I have overlooked anyone it is because we got back so late last night and my brain function is seriously impaired at the moment!"
And indeed the club is very proud of Jen in turn!
The ever-dedicated and hard-working Jen Sheridan, seen here helping at the track at Alkmaar
We then had the National Youth Track Championships in Orangefield, with Uisneach Sheridan and Seán Murnane in action and doing the club proud. Andrew Ryan was the sole Orwell medal winner, picking up a superb silver in the U12 Scratch race! The trio featured together on a Leinster team competing in the Interprovincial Championships, and notched up an excellent 2nd in the team standings too!
And while there was one Sheridan on the tarmac, Fionn Sheridan was also trackside in his commissaire role, well done to him!
Uisneach in action, at the back in the black skinsuit with the white helmet
The Junior Track Nationals meanwhile took place across a very wet weekend in Orangefield, and a drier one in Sundrive. Unfortunately there weren't enough registered for the Junior men's events, so Conor Murnane never had a chance to shine. Naoise Sheridan made up for it, taking home a huge haul of two silvers for the 500TT and Scratch race, and two more bronzes in the Sprint and Pursuit events.
She then went on to net 4th place alongside Orla Hendron in the senior team sprint. That's a great set of results as the youngster begins to prepare for her first season as a senior, and we're looking forward to her continuing success!
Just one of Sheridan's podium appearances
In the men's team sprint, there was a 5th for Fionn Sheridan, David Swift and Daniel McElroy, with the team of Conor Murnane, Dick O'Brien and Eddie Lynch further back. Another Orwell team in the team pursuit clocked in 6th place - Fionn Sheridan, David Swift, Dick O'Brien and Conor Murnane.
Away from the championship events, in the Autumn Track League at Sundrive, David Swift is the star of the show. Rapidly rising through the ranks he leads the A group after 5 rounds from regular champion Ben Delaney of Black Rose. Employing a devastating turn of pace coming off the last bend, Swift time and again has nailed the finishing straight to claim 6 firsts so far.
In the B group, Daniel McElroy is engaged in a very close battle for a podium spot behind run away leader Eimear Moran of Sundrive. To emphasise the quality of the opposition, Moran recently won a round of the Joe Daly Cycles Women's National League - taking a solo victory in awful conditions. Good luck to Daniel so!
While in the C group, Naoise Sheridan, with a table topping 5 first places, will have eyes on 3rd or better overall – once her debs is out of the way.
Regular points contributors this season across the groups include Eddie Lynch, Fionn Sheridan, Conor Murnane, Andrew Ryan, Seán Murnane and newly promoted Uisneach Sheridan – all helping Orwell to 3rd spot in the Club League and with three more sessions it is all to play for.
Thanks to Stephen Ryan for the additional reporting on the Sundrive league!
All results are available at trackcycling.ie
