Irish National Championships - CN

Dundrod, Ireland, June 25-26, 2005

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Day 1 - June 25: Elite Women/Veterans' Road Races, 52 miles/84 km

Dervan, Bryson take national titles

By Shane Stokes in Dundrod

As was anticipated beforehand, today's Irish women's road racing championship went to one of the foreign based riders who returned for the race. Siobhan Dervan, who has been riding strongly in Belgium this year with the Lotto Ladies team, made her move on the fourth of six laps in the 52 mile race, quickly opening up a lead of over one minute. Fellow pre-race favourites Louise Moriarty (Ren TC Groenewoud) and Colette Swift (Chambery Cyclisme Comp.) tried to organise a chase but there was no catching the storming Corkwoman, who eventually crossed the line a minute and two seconds clear. Northern Dave Kane rider Trudy Brown jumped clear in the closing stages to take an excellent second place, while Moriarty led home the remainder of the field for third.

Meanwhile, former international fell runner Robbie Bryson stunned the field when his return to competitive cycling brought victory in the veteran's race. Bryson raced for a few years in the early nineties but then returned to running; a leg injury plus the fact that this year's championship was to be held on a local course led to his participation in the race.

He, Shaun Gray (Orchard Wheelers) and Bo Graham (Planet X) went clear as part of an eight man breakaway early on in the 52 mile event, these three riders then pressing on ahead on the fourth of six laps. Bryson picked his moment perfectly to jump clear on the final lap, leaving Gray and Graham to fight it out for silver and bronze.

Results

Women

1 Siobhan Dervan (Lotto Ladies)                       2.36.15
2 Trudy Brown (Northern Dave Kane)                       1.02
3 Louise Moriarty (Ren TC Groenewoud)                    1.08
4 Heather Wilson (Maryland Wheelers) 
5 Anna Frankland (Orwell-Dundrum SC) both same time
6 Colette Swift (Chambery Cyclisme Comp.)                1.09
7 Claire Moore (Manx Viking Wheelers)                    1.20
8 Aisling Daly (Orwell-Dundrum SC) 
9 Ann McFarland (Omagh Wheelers)
10 Jenny Fay (Orwell-Dundrum SC)

Veterans

1 Robbie Bryson (unattached)                          2.15.52
2 Shaun Gray (Orchard Wheelers)                          0.10
3 Brendan Graham (Planet X)                              0.24
4 Lenny Kirk (Slane Cycles CC)                           0.58
5 Gordon Scott (Kings Moss CC)                           1.12
6 Leslie O’Donnell (Dan Morrissey Carrick Wheelers)      1.13
7 Terry Ferris (Murphy and Gunn)                         1.15
8 Mick Nulty (Stamullen M. Donnelly)                     1.20
9 Alastair Steele (unattached)                           2.09
10 Sean Bracken (Usher IRC)                              2.13


Club: Dan Morrissey-Carrick Wheelers (O’Donnell, Sean McIlroy, Maurice Hartory)