Sun, solos and cakes at Corkagh Park

July 15, 2014 – Two top-class riders soloed to victory at a sun-drenched Corkagh Park on Tuesday evening as St. Tiernan’s hosted its first ladies race.

A handicap in the B race saw five riders, many of them newcomers, off first with six chasers unable to catch them before the hill prime on lap three. Leading mountain bike rider Sylvia Gallagher, riding for BeSpoke Cycles, bridged across at the middle of the race, and stayed away to take solo victory, chased by the Naas CC duo of Lyndsey O’Neill and Agnieszka Kurzydlo.

In the A race, the bunch of 17 stayed together for most of the race, but Aideen Keenan (Orwell Wheelers) and Ann Dalton (DID Ladies Racing Team) were on the front towards the latter stages.

After some mid-race drama from the tifosi, Keenan also took a solo victory on the night. The sprint for second was taken by Martina Cronin (Carrick Wheelers), with Sandra Fitzgerald (Garda CC) in third. 

Bananas, clementines and cupcakes were laid out as recovery fuel under the marquee and attracted an unexpected crowd of St. Tiernan’s men; no surprises as to which box these ‘athletes’ aimed for first. 

Our own two riders, me, and Isobel McCarthy, raced in the B contest. It was McCarthy’s first race for some time, but she drove the third group down the road to finish second in her bunch. Meanwhile, I was second in the second bunch. Like the men, our lead racer Helen Kerrane, just ate cupcakes.

Racing at Corkagh Park for ladies runs every Tuesday night throughout the summer, with a different club hosting each week. Sign on opens at 6.30 and the first race is off at 7pm. Give it a go.

Results: 
Race A – (17 ladies signed on, 25mins plus 3 laps)
1st – Aideen Keenan (Orwell DTC)
2nd – Martina Cronin (Carrick Wheelers)
3rd – Sandra Fitzgerald (Garda CC)
Prime – Anne Dalton (DID Ladies Racing Team)

Race B – (11 ladies signed on, 25mins plus 3 laps)
1st – Sylvia Gallagher (BeSpoke Cycles)
2nd – Lyndsey O’Neill (Naas CC)
3rd – Agnieszka Kurzydlo (Naas CC)
Prime – Sarai Flynn (Waterford)