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Stephen Roche GP

Meadowmount, June 23, 2004

Bracken best in Stephen Roche GP

By Shane Stokes

DHL Walls Cycles rider Colm Bracken won the Stephen Roche Grand Prix in Meadowmount, Dundrum tonight, taking victory by a matter of centimetres over Usher IRC rider Stephen Enright.

The two were part of an eleven man breakaway group which went clear in the second half of the race, opening up a decisive gap over the rest of the field. With five laps to go Bracken forged ahead and, aided by the blocking of his team-mate Simon Whelan, was able to open up a good lead. Enright bridged across and the two leaders pulled steadily away from the chasers, ensuring a two up gallop to the line.

Bracken was on paper the fastest of the two but Enright went close to taking a surprise win, losing out by a couple of centimetres. Derek Cunningham (Bray Wheelers) jumped away from the chasers to take third, while Whelan, Fergal Kelly (Bray Wheelers) and Aidan Crowley (Cycleways Lee Strand) completed the top six.

How it unfolded

Affected, no doubt, by the poor weather earlier today and the soaking many riders received yesterday evening, the turnout at today's race was below that of other years. However strong sponsorship by the Dundrum Shopping Centre ensured a full prizelist, with a long list of primes and prizes up for grabs.

The field was divided into three groups under the usual handicap system. The senior 3, junior and veteran bunch headed off first and were followed one minute later by the senior 2 riders. The senior 1 bunch were a further thirty seconds back, but managed to close up to the next group after just six out of the 28 laps had elapsed.

The first two of the eleven primes took place on the second lap, with Ciarán Cassidy (Usher IRC) taking that on offer for the first group. Stephen Enright (Usher IRC) jumped out of the senior 2 bunch to take their prime. Cassidy repeated the feat on lap four and then went clear with St. Tiernan's rider Eamon Peregrin and Emerald veteran Oliver McQuaid, also taking the prime on lap six.

Behind, the senior 1 riders were closing up rapidly on the group ahead, from which Enright, Ger Miley (Bray Wheelers) and Kenny Conlon (Newbridge CC) had raced clear. These three were soon reeled in as were the rest of the junior/veteran/senior 3 riders, making it one big chase group trying to get back on terms with the leaders.

The front three shared out the primes, with Peregrin taking the money on lap eight, Cassidy following suit on lap ten and McQuaid doing likewise on lap twelve, shortly before he slipped back into the field. Despite his loss Cassidy and Peregrin continued to ride strongly and stay clear, so the organisers switched back to the bunch for the next sprint with Derek Cunningham (Bray Wheelers) best in that.

Under the pressure of the chase a group of nine riders went clear of the rest of the field and started making real inroads into the lead of Cassidy and Peregrin. At the end of lap sixteen Cassidy pressed on ahead of Peregrin, taking the prime and making a brave bid for glory. However by the end of lap 18 the chasers had reeled him in, making it eleven up front and enabling Bracken to take the next prime. The final bonus sprint went to Fergal Kelly (Bray Wheelers) on lap twenty.

Bracken's odds were boosted significantly by the presence of his DHL Wall Cycles Eurotreck team-mate Simon Whelan in the break. With five laps to go he exploited this numerical advantage when he forged clear, and despite the efforts of Aidan Crowley (Cycleways Lee Strand), he opened up a good gap. Enright tore across to Bracken soon afterwards, and with Whelan playing a great team role behind, the two riders knuckled down to extending their lead.

With three laps to go the duo were seventeen seconds ahead of the nine chasers, with the rest of the field over twenty seconds further back. These gaps stayed constant until the finish, where Bracken and Enright fought it out all the way to the line. Bracken got the verdict, but the sprint was tighter than many expected due to a strong, stubborn gallop by Enright. Cunningham clipped away from the chasing group on the final lap to net third, while Whelan out-sped Kelly and Crowley to make it two places in the top four for the DHL Wall Cycles Eurotrek team.

In finishing second, Enright was the best Senior 2 rider while Cassidy was best of the junior riders. A tiring Peregrin hung on to place eleventh and take the first senior 3 award, McQuaid was best of the veterans and Alan Lane was the first rider home from the promoting Orwell team.

Results, 28 laps

1 Colm Bracken (DHL Wall Cycles Eurotrek)         54.25
2 S. Enright (Usher IRC)
3 D. Cunningham (Bray Wheelers)                    0.16
4 S. Whelan (DHL Wall Cycles Eurotrek)             0.18
5 F. Kelly (Bray Wheelers)
6 A. Crowley (Cycleways Lee Strand)
 
Senior 2: Enright
Senior 3: Eamon Peregrin (St. Tiernan's CC)
Veteran: Oliver McQuaid (Emerald)
Junior: Ciaran Cassidy (Usher IRC)
First Orwell rider: Alan Lane
 
Primes: Cassidy (5), Enright, Peregrin, McQuaid, Cunningham, Bracken, Kelly

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