Mulholland Sprints to Victory at Seskinore

Ciara Mulholland continued to show great form by sprinting to victory in the third round of the Sportactive UWA Road Race league hosted by Omagh Wheelers at Seskinore. Twenty women took to the start line, with a limit group of 6 riders getting a three minute lead on the scratch group. The race was held over three tough lumpy laps of a 10 mile loop, and the pace was high from the outset.

There was plenty of attacking from the start, with Ciara Mulholland (Clann Eireann), Therese Smyth (Phoenix) and Roisin Kennedy (LCRC) all having a go on the first lap. Unlike the previous round of the league where scratch didn't work well together, things were different here as after crossing the line at the end of lap one scratch were within 10-15 seconds of catching the limit group.

Once the catch was made, some of the limit group riders showed great form by jumping into the scratch group and lasting the distance. The high pace continued throughout lap 2 resulting in a few riders being shed on the hills.

Going into the final lap, the pace in the main bunch slowed slightly, which allowed Maeve Savage (Ballymena RC), Hannah Francis (Bikeworks) and Rachel Mitchell (Eurocycles), who had missed the split on the second lap, to get back on after some very hard riding.

The steady pace continued until Valerie O'Neill (Phoenix CC) attacked along the back section of the course. Turning into the last corner of the circuit, with everyone going all out, there was no let up until the finish line. Anne McFarland (ETCC) showed she was on form by putting in a gutsy early charge for the line from far out. However, McFarland couldn't sustain it to the line and she was eventually overtaken by the Queen of the sprint Ciara Mulholland (Clann Eirrean) who took the win. Roisin Kennedy (LCRC) netted second making her long trip worthwhile. Amy Brice (Phoenix) showed her hard work is paying of as she took 3rd, home rider Julie Mulligan (Omagh
Wheelers) took 4th and Rachael Withers (St. Raphael Road&Track Team) in 5th. Sinead Rivers (Roe Valley) put in an excellent ride in her first event finishing well with the main group, and Laura Maxwell (Roe Valley) also showed great determination completing the event.

After the race Anne McFarland (ETCC) who has raced regularly in the men's races commented on how much she enjoyed the race, but most of all how she was impressed at the level at which the women's racing was now at.

Thanks to the motorbike outriders for keeping everyone in order and for showing that safety was at the forefront by doing a superb job in warning both riders and the oncoming traffic. Thanks also to the Comms and Omagh Wheelers for hosting a safe enjoyable event on a superb course.

FOR SOME MORE PICS OF THE EVENT CLICK ON THE GALLERY LINK BELOW.

VIEW GALLERY OF THE ROUND 3 OF THE UWA LEAGUE AT THE McCANN CUP 2011 BY MARIAN LAMB

Report Warren Francis
Pics Marian Lamb and Jerome Rafferty

Results McCann Cup 2011
1 Ciara Mulholland (Clann Eirrean)
2 Roisin Kennedy (LCRC)
3 Amy Brice (Phoenix)
4 Julie Mulligan (Omagh)
5 Rachael Withers (St. Raphael Road&Track Team)
6 Anne McFarland (ETCC)
7 Valerie O'Neill (Phoenix CC)
8 Therese Smyth (Phoenix)
9 Hannah Francis (Bikeworks)
10 Sinead Rivers (Roe Valley)
11 Maeve Savage (Ballymena)
12 Rachael Mitchell (Eurocycles)
13 Mary Boyd (Roe Valley)
14 Gillian Orr (Ards CC)
15 Heather Gould (Ards CC)
16 Laura Maxwell (Roe Valley)
DNF Tonya Moran (Phoenix)
DNF Kerry Boyd (Roe Valley)
DNF Antje Otto (Phoenix)
DNF Kelly Donnelly (Spires CC)