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MICHAEL MOORE Micheal was involved in an unfortunate accident just before the Gerry Brannigan Memorial Randonee. He came off his bike and damaged his shoulder. All at St. Tiernan's wish you a speedy recovery Michael. Get well soon. AGM Thank you to all who attended our AGM. It was a very productive and positive evening. Great to see so many there. ANDRE ENGEMANN FINISHES SEASON 2nd OVERALL IN VETERAN RANKINGS Andre Engemann was rewarded for a highly successful season with 2nd overall in the Veteran Rankings. It's a highly competitive category as each year sees more and more former A riders making the switch. Congratulations Andre, from all St. Tiernan's CC! 1. Martin O'Loughlin Dan Morrissey Carrick Wheelers 138 2. Andre Engemann St Tiernan's Cycling Club 95 3. Tom Shanahan Limerick Cycling Club 86 4. Laurent Dumoulin Kanturk Credit Union CC 58 5. Colm Bracken Murphy Surveys Kilcullen CC 45 CLUB SPIN 11th OCTOBER We were lucky again on Saturday as we set off from Park vale. Eamon Peregrine, using his uncanny knack for finding new roads, picked a route out past Rathcoole which we were happy to try. Seven of us chatted as we set off at a brisk pace. We had a nice warm up with the only real climb of the day on Mount Venus Road, before descending towards Tallaght and Rathcoole. After a brief foray onto the N7 Naas Road, we turned off for Athgoe. We were treated to very quiet, sheltered roads for the next couple of hours before emerging near Clane and pulling in for a brief shop stop. Enthusiasm for the Winter Months was high, as we basked in unexpected sunshine. Some very good ideas for Autumn/Winter training were proposed. We can further discuss them at the upcoming AGM (date to be announced). We returned home on sheltered roads with only the occasional motorized vehicle for company, before crossing the Naas Road once more, and in through Citywest. It was a very enjoyable spin which took about three hours and everyone seemed to enjoy it. Eamon took the honours at the Copa sprint in Tallaght after Andy Lakes tried to slither off the front for a cheeky victory. Brian Kilbride galloped very strongly but sadly was going for the wrong line! It looked very impressive all the same…… CLUB SPIN 4th OCTOBER Alan Killian kindly sent in this report along with some action shots.... 
The lads stayed on quiet roads. The first Saturday of October this year saw six riders leaving Parkvale headed for the rolling country of north west Dublin and Kildare, on a route suggested by Eamon. The weather had become milder than in recent days and we hoped that the forecast rain would hold off until the spin was complete. We were joined by a new member, John, who who seemed comfortable with the pace throughout the day. We firstly headed for the Park and then on towards Potterstown. For some of us who have been racing, it was nice to rejoin the relatively comfortable pace of the Saturday club spins and the chatting and banter that goes with it. 
Routemaster extraordinaire, Eamon Peregrine, leads the way.... We then moved on to Maynooth for a quick shop stop by the town's castle. Stef pointed out that his carbon seat post was cracked and moving about. He said it would be 'grand' till he got home!! From there it was onto Celbridge and towards home. Back at Rathfarnham, we bumped into Brian Kilbride who joined us for the rest of the spin. Just then Stef's seat post broke!! All in all it was an enjoyable spin and it looks like the start of having good sized groups for the winter ahead. Alan. REGIONAL AND NATIONAL AGM DETAILS CYCLING LEINSTER AGM - Oct 8th,8pm at West County Hotel CYCLING IRELAND AGM, Sat Nov 22nd in Sneem Hotel, Sneem, Co Kerry. Full details will be posted out to clubs shortly. Expected format: (TBC) Fri Evening - Table Quiz 9-11 Sat Morning - Bike Spin 8.30-11 Sat Midday - AGM 12-5pm Sat Evening - Champions Dinner following by evening entertainment. CLUB SPIN 13th SEPTEMBER With the racing season coming to a close and many of the club heading away on post season holidays, attention turned towards the Touring side of things on Saturday (13th). In lovely bright sunshine, we headed into Wicklow. Brian Kilbride had mentioned that he had two routes in mind. He had a spin with hard, mystery hills or a flat, easy route. After seeing the energy and enthusiasm of the group, he decided on the hilly route. We rather foolishly agreed and set off into the wilderness with him. After warming up along the Enniskerry/Powerscourt route we nipped off the main road and made our way towards the coast road. It was a grand day and we were all in good form. It was also interesting because we weren’t quite sure where Brian was bringing us. It wasn’t long before his first surprise climb was reached. Just after passing through Kilcoole, we took a right turn onto what looked like a driveway. The Tour of Flanders organisers would be proud to use this amazing little lane. To say it was unpaved would be slightly inaccurate. There was no surface at all. Holes, gravel, muck and pools were all over the uphill section. The descent was mercifully short and we regrouped again. Trying to get my bearings, I saw a road sign. It was in Irish and some enterprising passerby had rearranged the lettering so we now appeared to be on the fabulously named ‘Teabag Lane’. We set off up the climb and emerged at Newtownmountkennedy. From Newtownmountkennedy we headed south again and then a narrow right hand turn led us onto the main climb of the day. It was a savage climb with grass all the way up the centre. What had appeared to be a reasonable gradient quickly changed to an unreasonable gradient and I think we all struggled by the time we trundled up to the top. The other lads didn’t seem to be in as much agony as I was at the top. After some more twists and turns, we emerged near the top of the Devil’s Glen and split the group. Brian and Eoin were full of energy and headed off for more miles while the rest of us decided a 50 mile spin was enough on such a glorious day. It was a very well planned spin and always had the option of shorter (and longer) routes home. Thanks to Brian for coming up with the route. I believe that Brian and Kevin found the first of today's Flanderslike climbs earlier in the year while out training. Let’s hope they can find some more gems over the next few months. Andy ST. TIERNAN'S CC WIN TEAM PRIZE IN ADARE PLUS ANDRE FINISHES 6TH IN VET NATIONALS In what was a very successful weekend for our club riders, Eamon Peregrine and Alan Killian were joined in a combined team by Orwell's Stephen Surdival and Odhran Connors in the Charleville Park Hotel Two-Day. Despite attacking up the road only to be sent the wrong way, Eamon kept his concentration and along with the strong Alan Killian, worked well with Stephen and Odhran to triumph in the team classification. A fine result in a very competitive race. It shows the high level of fitness and skill of the lads who have been competing all year with very little support and usually in terrible weather conditions. A brilliant result! As if that wasn't enough, Andre Engemann finished in 6th in the Vets National Road Race Championships. The event was won by Martin O'Loughlin. MARK DUNNE TAKES LEINSTER GOLD MEDAL!!!!!!! In atrocious weather conditions, Mark Dunne battled against strong opposition to win the Leinster 25 mile Time Trial Championships on Saturday (6th Sep). Circumstances during the week interrupted Mark's usual preparation and he had to make do with very little time to get ready for the race. In an unfortunate coincidence, two of mark's favourite events clashed on the calendar. The Charleville Park Hotel Two-Day (formerly the Adare 2-Day) was down for the same weekend as the Leinsters. He decided to stay in Leinster and was rewarded with a great victory. Well deserved for a rider who has trained hard all winter and has had a very busy racing season since moving up to B category. Congratulations Mark! SEAN KELLY TOUR OF WATERFORDBrian Kilbride sent in this report. 
Brian talks to the local press while small boy with amazing grey beard walks past.....
Report on the Sean Kelly Tour of Waterford. Five riders made a worthwhile visit to Waterford for the second running of what is perhaps the now the premier cyclosportive in Ireland. The event is run on scenic roads through the Comeragh mountains and up four memorable climbs over 160km . 
Garreth O'Callaghan joined up with the lads for a triumphant return. The event is now the largest in Ireland. 2,024 riders did the event and it was strongly backed by Waterford County Council and had Beijing style numbers of workers manning the registration, water stops and food stops . On the morning registration was done in 5 minutes. A mass start of about 1,500 riders insured that you always had a wheel to follow for most of the ride. Food at the feed stops was accessible and surprisingly palatable. Fresh sandwiches and plates of pasta along with bananas and the coup de grace, cola bottles.  Seamus battles against fatigue as Kevin tells him his life story. Again and again and again................. At the finish there was again food for everyone with tea, sausages, sandwiches and pasta and brack in the sports hall and there seemed to be 3000-4000 people hanging around and generally savouring the event. To my mind it was the best organised event I have attended here or abroad and if I had to choose one event in Ireland to do next year it would be top of my list. A welcome return for our prodigal son Gar who was in sparkling form. It seems he has been spending plenty of time in the saddle of late and his cycling wasn't too shabby either. Kevin, myself, Eoin, Dave and a sometime fellow traveller from Limerick CC, Seamus (who has spent many an hour sheltering behind Tiernan's riders) made up the rest of the party and we all did the full trip. A nice flat first 40Km followed by the brute of a trip up Seskin Hill, 2 Km on slopes of 10-20 percent. We were happy that it came early in the day otherwise more would have been walking up - no Tiernan's men can I clarify. Then along rolling roads above the Suir on the way to the first feed stop in Clonmel. A few of us needed the service vehicles for tubes and running repairs and then we were off again for the Nire Valley again on beautiful quiet roads to the Nire Valley and then up a lovely 5 percent steady climb for 8 km to Powers the Pot where we were rewarded with a view over Waterford and Cork. A nice descent to the feed station at Rathgormack where, fortunately, the only shower of the day passed over while we were refuelling. On then along the base of the mountains knowing that the ascent to Mahon Falls was awaiting us . Roughly 6 Km at 5-10 percent and then the final gruesome kick in the teeth over the last 300m which had the overexuberant cramping up. There was a general regrouping and after 10 minutes we were finally able to speak to each other again. A tricky descent with certain riders recreating the antics of that South African chap coming off the Restefond this summer with their aggressive attacking into gravel strewn corners. Thankfully nothing other than pride was dented. The final climb of the day came with 135kms in our legs and a nice 5 % drag up 5 Km of the Maum before a nice reward of a fast descent into Dungarvan. The last 15 km were done in 18 minutes and were a real buzz . The trip down along the harbour through the town and around the coast gave us a chance to savour the day.
A 160 km spin in a little over 6 hours for an average speed of 26kmph left you tired but not destroyed and could be comfortably done without relying on too much extra training other than a few long Saturday spins in the preceding weeks to get the stamina up. The climbs while having tough sections were not long enough to have anyone in real difficulty. A big congratulations to Eoin who lost his cherry with his first imperial century. The rest of us were also pleased with the trip and hope to make it back for next year. BK SHANE BAKER WINS INTER -CLUB LEAGUE 2008 Pics and words by Alan Killian
Brian Hayden and Jimmy Stagg with League winner, Shane Baker. Mark Dunne finished 14th with Alan Killian, while Mark Hughes claimed 7th. Last night (Thursday 28th August) saw the final race of the 2008 Inter Club League take place in Batterstown. There was a large turnout and because the race consisted of just one lap of the Mullagh, the pace was high from the start. The semi-scratch worked well together and quickly caught the semi-limit and limit groups. This resulted in a bunch sprint with honours going to Brian Reynolds of Lucan for the final win. The scratch group were right behind having almost caught up. Most riders then went on to McDonalds pub in Clonee for prize giving and a few beers. The much revered Shane Baker took the league overall prize. We had three St. Tiernans riders in the top 15 - Mark Hughes took 7th place whereas and Mark Dunne and Alan Killian claimed joint 14th. It was a very well run league and on behalf of the club I would like to take the opportunity to thank Brian Hayden for his commitment to it throughout the year. Alan. INTER-CLUB LEAGUE - TEAM TIME TRIAL (20th AUGUST) This week's race was the Team Time Trial. Tiernan's main team consisted of four strong riders; Mark Hughes, Mark Dunne, Alan Killian and Eamon Peregrine. They took 4th on the night against tough opposition.
The updated league results has three of our lads in the top 20 overall. 8th Mark Hughes 15th Mark Dunne 16th Alan Killian
More details to follow..... IMPORTANT INTERCLUB LEAGUE NOTICES from the committee Race Thursday 7th August. The race on Thursday 7th August will be held at Brittas. Sign on is at 7.00pm RULES OF THE ROAD. Please remember that we are not the only road users on the circuits that we have chosen for racing. When there are other road users/pedestrians in the area we must adhere to the rules of the road and also use common sense and respect their rights. The use of bad language and showing disrespect to other road users will NOT be tolerated. This is not only for the safety of other road users but also for your safety. There should be no need for league committee members to spend part of the race evening apologising to local residents. ANDRE 5th in BELLOWSTOWN GP 1 Ryan Connor, Ballymena 2 Daniel Kirwan, Stagg Lucan CC 3 Greg Swinand, Usher IRC 4 Fiachra O'Mhuire, Usher IRC 5 Andre Engerman, St. Tiernan's 6 Craig Sweetman, Stamullen M Donnelly MARK DUNNE IS CLUB 25 MILE TT CHAMPION. Mark Dunne finished a fantastic 3rd overall in the Inter-Club 25 mile Time Trial Championships and easily claimed the title of St. Tiernan's Club 25TT Champion. Mark posted a time of 56'06" in a hotly contested race. Alan Killian and Brian Kilbride took the next two places on the podium for the St. Tiernan's CC Championships. St. Tiernan's CC Club 25TT Championships 2008 Gold - Mark Dunne Silver - Alan Killian Bronze - Brian Kilbride Overall InterClub 25TT Championships 2008 1 Colm Cassidy Usher 53.07 2 Shane Baker Usher 55.16 3 Mark Dunne Tiernan 56.06 4 Daniel Kirwan Stagg 56.53 5 Robert Lawless Orwell 57.47 6 Brendan Hessman Stagg 57.57 NEW ARRIVAL!!! Congratulations to Audrey and Mark Hughes on the arrival of their new baby boy. He arrived safely yesterday (Thursday 24th) and weighed in at 7lbs 3oz (similar to his dad's current weight). Mother and son are doing well. TUAM ROAD RACE (20th JULY) Andre Engemann claimed 6th place in the Tuam Road Race. Charles Prendergast (Mayo Wheelers) won the event which was 1 hour plus three laps of a circuit. Andre finished in 6th place to continue his incredible run of results this year. |