Two of Orwell's finest have been picked to compete for Leinster in the Bedford 3 Day. Charlotte MacDonald and Rachel Kaye Mellor will race as part of a provincial six-woman team in the five stage race in May.
MacDonald and Kaye Mellor join Eve McCrystal (Garda CC), Fran Meehan (Aquablue), Roisin Kennedy (Adamstown) and Sandra Fitzgerald (Garda CC) to make up the Leinster women’s team.
Double Olympic Paralympics medallist Fran Meehan brings a wealth of experience and success to the team, while Garda duo Sandra Fitzgerald and Eve McCrystal are both in top form early this year. Fitzgerald competed at the 2012 Paralympic Games, with three events, and took the opening National Women's League race in Laois in March. She also won the European Police Races road race in France weeks later, while teaming up with McCrystal to take the team time trial.
Roisin Kennedy came second to Fitzgerald in the opening race of this year's Orwell Women's Criterium League, and took third in the first National Women's League race this year. Charlotte MacDonald took 8th spot in the Orwell time trial, her first race of the season. MacDonald has raced on Leinster teams previously, including at the 2012 Rás na mBan.
Rachel Kaye Mellor was the top junior in the time trial and is making the move up through the Junior ranks. She is the national U16 road race champion, second in criterium and bronze in the 2012 U16 TT.
The team has been put together by Mags Donnelly, Leinster women's cycling rep. "Bedford will be a real opportunity for such a strong team to be competitive. It will also give top Junior Kaye Mellor a great opportunity to compete against her peers in the UK and gain valuable experience", Mags Donnelly said. "It's also a great for all the riders to get a tough three day race so early in the year and will stand to them as the season progresses."
What used to be the Bedford 2 Day is part of the bigger Women's National Teams Series held across the UK. This year it has been extended to a three day race this year, with five stages. It starts with a 50km race on Saturday, May 4. A team time trial is followed by an 80km race on Sunday, with Monday’s races, an individual time trial, and another 80k stage, taking in the Millbrook Vehicle Testing Track where part of Top Gear is filmed.
This is the biggest women's race in the UK with top riders taking part, including the double World Champion Lucy Garner and Elinor Barker. Best of luck to the Leinster team, do us proud!
