Results and Reports for August 25-26, 2001

Ireland

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Irish National Under 23, Junior & Veterans Championships

Batterstown, Co. Meath, August 26, 2001

By Tommy Campbell, Irish Independent/Evening Herald/Sunday Independent

The new under 23 Irish Champion is Thomas Hogan from Dungarvan, Co. Waterford.

In true grit style he delivered the goods yesterday, August 26, on a testing 110 kilometres of racing in Batterstown, Co. Meath. Held on a circuit, which the competitors had 11 passages to compete, Thomas was always at the head of the race covering all eventualities. There were a number of attempts to build on leads established by a number of groups but invariably because of the hot weather conditions they ended in failure, mainly because the bunch were not in a conciliatory mood.

As each lap progressed, the numbers in the peloton started to diminish again because of the conditions, which ultimately played a major part in the destination of the awards on the day.

In the end it came down of 15 who were in contention as they came on to the finishing straight.

In the last metres, Hogan, who is now based in France with CC Plantcote since the end of his university term at the end of May, unleashed a sprint which took his challengers by surprise. Not that they could have counteracted his winning move, which was on the cards as the race progressed.

Thomas has been active in the sport since his under 11 days and yesterday was a culmination of effort and dedication, which saw him win one of his first national titles.

A friend of his who remembered cycling with him as an underage competitor back with the Cappoquin Pork and Bacon cycling team, Ken Moore, said "I was always convinced that Thomas had the qualities to make a good bike rider. Yes, it has taken a number of years, but success does not come overnight. Now he'll have to build on today's platform and the fact that he is France must have been the distinguishing plus for him today."

In the junior section, former Fair City (a popular soap) actor Niall O'Shea who played Darren Doyle, spoiled the party for a Munster double by beating Cian Power into first place with Paudi O'Brien from Kanturk in third place. Cian happens to be the son of Bobby Power who is a former cyclist and won many a title for the Carrick Cidona Club in the 80's and 90's.

Three competitors who recently moved into the veteran category had the championship to themselves. Calm Bracken was first home ahead of Norman Campbell, with Brendan Graham getting the bronze medal.

It was also pleasant to see that Hugh Davies, a great track and road cyclist of the 60's, getting 4th spot ahead of Terry Ferris, who does so much in the area of development, and the evergreen Sean Lally, who has been involved with the sport for many years and frequently getting amongst the prizes.

Again well done to all concerned and to the promoters, Motorway Garda CC who served up a great day of cycling in Co. Meath.

Results

Mens under 23
 
1 Thomas Hogan (Dungarvan)
2 Conor Murphy (McKennna F/Place)
3 John Dempsey (Clonmel CC)
4 Danial Lynch (Kanturk Credit Union)
5 Shane Prendegast (Cahills Naas)
6 Gary Cory (Newry Haledane)
 
Junior
 
1 Niall O'Shea (Cycleways)
2 Cian Power (Carrick Cidona)
3 Paudi O'Brien (Kanturk Credit Union)
4 Barry Meade (Kanturk Credit Union)
5 Nicolas Roche (Cote D'azur)
6 Tim Cassidy (Usher IRC)
 
Veterans
 
1 Sean Bracken (Usher IRC)
2 Norman Campbell (Unatt)
3 Brendan Graham (Provision)
 
1st Team: Usher IRC (Bracken, D Woods, M Usher)

Previous results from Ireland