Race Report for Connacht Cycling Spring MTB League RD5 @ Moore Hall Wood, Carnacon.
The last round of the Connacht Cycling Spring MTB League was held at Moore Hall Wood, Carnacon, Co. Mayo last Sunday, April 6th on a beautiful sunny day. The course conditions were tough and sticky due to heavy rain the night before till 8am and the trail drying out during the event.
The U-12’s had 3 laps of the 1km loop, with U-10’s having 2 laps of the same loop. The U-12 boys winner, Dylan Waters (U/A) along with the U-12’s girls winner, Ava Lane (U/A) and U-10’s boys winner, Neachtan Walsh (U/A) achieved a Grand Slam of 5 wins in the 5 rounds.
There were 10 riders in the U10’s and U-12 categories. U-14’s had 2 laps of the 4.5km trail, with Ryan Connolly (U/A) the winner on the day. Joesph Clancy ( Connemara MTB ) rode a fast and steady race to win the U-16’s race.
In Juniors, Dara O’Connor ( Cunga ) raced with the Elite and Experts as he was the only Junior racing. Surprise of the day was in the Novice Mens event when Jake Mooney ( Eire Óg ) missed the start of his race by nearly 3 minutes, but won 50 seconds over 2 laps. A promotion to Sports for the next league awaits!
Betty Walsh ( U/A) had a lonely race in Novice Women, but won her class in the league. Michael Hopkins ( Ballina CC) won Sports with David Hickey (U/A) 2nd and Fran Kearns ( Connemara MTB ) finishing 3rd to win the league. Liz Hastings from Connemara MTB won the race and league from Marie Boyle ( West Coast Wheelers ) in the tough conditions in the Expert Women race.
In the Expert race, Reg Cowie from Covey Westport lead from start to the finish with Peter Gillespie ( Ballina CC) 1m 30s behind. Padraic Marrey ( Western Lakes ) rode a fast consistent race to win the Elite class, with Gary Collins ( Cunga ) and Garry Davoren ( Connemara MTB ) racing hard for 2nd place. Garry Davoren took the 2nd place on last 1km to win by 10 seconds on his Fatbike.
Oisin Mooney who was unable to race that day, won the league overall.
Darren McGann
Full results:
ELITE: 5 Laps
1st: Padraic Marrey – Western Lakes – 83m 50s
2nd: Garry Davoren – Connemara MTB – 88m 47s
3rd: Gary Collins – Cunga – 88m 57s
EXPERT: 4 Laps
1st: Reg Cowie – Covey Westport – 80m 45s
2nd: Peter Gillespie – Ballina CC – 82m 15s
3rd: David Walsh – Ballina CC – 92m 33s
4th: Brendan O’Hanlon – Connemara MTB – 65m 41s ( 3 Laps DNF)
SPORTS: 3 Laps
1st: Michael Hopkins – Ballina CC – 54m 58s
2nd: Dave Hickey – U/A – 60m 45s
3rd: Fran Kearns – Connemara MTB – 60m 52s
4th: Padraic Furlong – Covey Wheelers – 64m 10s
5th: Ross Oogan – Eire Óg – 67m 12s
6th: Simon Walsh – Connemara MTB - 27m 12s
EXPERT WOMEN: 3 Laps
1st: Liz Hastings - Connemara MTB – 64m 28s
2nd: Maire Boyle – West Coast Wheelers – 69m 20s
NOVICE MEN: 2 Laps
1st: Jake Mooney – Eire Óg – 41m 29s
2nd: Tommy Lane – 7 Springs – 42m 19s
3rd: Noel Kelly – Covey Westport – 45m 44s
4th: Darragh Delaney – Annagh Wheelers – 46m 03s
5th: Brendan Devaney – Ballina CC – 46m 42s
6th: Kevin Brady – Connemara MTB – 48m 24s
7th: Fiachra Mooney – Eire Óg – 51m 38s
NOVICE WOMEN: 2 Laps
Betty Walsh – U/A – DNF
JUNIOR : 4 Laps
1st: Dara O’Connor – Cunga – 74m 59s
U-16: 3 Laps
1st: Joesph Clancy - Connemara MTB – 56m 56s
2nd: Matthew Waters – U/A – 61m 38s
3rd: Danny Bichard – Connemara MTB – 79m 47s
U-14: 2 Laps
1st: Ryan Connolly – U/A – 45m 57s
2nd: Dara Devaney – Ballina CC – 67m 46s
U-12 Boys: 3 Short Laps
1st: Dylan Waters – U/A – 13m 04s
2nd: Rowan Lane – U/A – 14m 10s
3rd: Oscar Cowie – U/A – 15m 15s
U-12 Girls : 3 Short Laps
1st: Ava Lane – U/A – 15m 16s
U-10 Boys: 2 Short Laps
1st: Neachtan Walsh – U/A – 9m 53s
2nd: Eoin Collins – Cunga - 10m 16s
3rd: Charlie Kelly – Covey Westport – 10m 48s
U-10 Girls: 2 Short Laps
1st: Aoife Dirrane – U/A – 10m 05s
2nd: Emily Kelly – Covey Westport – 10m 39s
3rd: Heather Connolly – U/A 11m 33s
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