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Mick Beggan Memorial

Bohermeen, March 7, 2004

Fine double for Bracken

By Shane Stokes, irishcycling.com

Commenting on his win in last week's Cycleways Cup in Navan, Sean Bracken put some of his good form down to a new training regime. 'This winter I trained in a smaller group, often going out with my brother Colm and just two or three others. I think that worked out well for me as there was nowhere to hide - I got a better workout and seem to be in better shape'.

One week on, it seems that the changed training structure also was just the ticket for Colm Bracken. Yesterday he outsprinted two other riders to take the Batterstown GP, and, just over 24 hours later, he was on top once more. This time his margin of victory was such that he had enough time in hand to really savour his win, crossing the line with two arms aloft and shouting victoriously.

Second place went to Conor Murphy (Crannog Ireland), who was perhaps the most aggressive of the day's race but, crucially, had no answer to Bracken when he made his final move. Usher IRC riders Mick Mulcahy and Dave Peelo were next home, with Simon Kelly (Galway Bay CC) and Andrew McQuaid (Emerald CC) completing the top six.

The race took place over six circuits of the regular, primarily-flat ten mile course. By the end of lap one a small group comprising Bracken, Mulcahy, team-mates Dave Peelo and Paul Healion, plus Andrew McQuaid (Emerald CC) and Brian Lennon (St. Tiernan's) had detached themselves from the rest of the field and were holding a ten second gap.

Several other riders were able to bridge across to this move shortly afterwards, swelling the number up front to sixteen. The reinforcements were Murphy, Simon Kelly (Galway Bay CC), Craig Sweetman (Stamullen M. Donnelly), Aidan Crowley and Phil Finegan (Cycleways Lee Strand), Paul Mulligan (Crannog Ireland), Shane Baker (Usher IRC), Paul Bloomer (Harps), Fintan McCormack (Newbridge CC) and Brian Ahern (Naas).

While the gap back to the rest of the field remained below thirty seconds for several laps, those behind were not able to overcome this deficit and going into the last ten miles, had clearly given up the chase. That ensured the placings would go to those in the long-term break, leaving the final order all that was to be decided.

Murphy had seemed the most likely to triumph, his constant attacking showing that he was on a good day, but he was closely marked by the others and found it difficult to get clear. He finally slipped away with Bracken but then was found wanting when his rival applied the pressure; daylight opened between the two and by the line the gap was two crucial seconds. As for Mulcahy, he had clipped away from the chasers and finished one second further back, with his team-mate Peelo, Kelly and McQuaid completing the top six. Sweetman proved quickest of the rest of the break to take seventh, being followed home by Mulligan, Crowley and Healion.

Although the size of the field in the 'A' race seemed smaller than might be expected, many of the other categories had an impressive turnout. Ravens CRC rider Kieran Keane was best of a large Senior 2 field, soloing in alone ahead of the chasing duo of Dermot Healy (Les Jeunes) and Stamullen M. Donnelly's Tom Hughes. Thomas Duggan (Bray Wheelers), Paul McMahon (Crannog Ireland) and Dan Nulty (Stamullen M. Donnelly) completed the top six.

Karen Bothwell (Orwell - Dundrum Shopping Centre) finished first of the women in the combined senior 3/women race, also landing a fine double à la Bracken after her win in Batterstown yesterday. CC Luton rider Julie O'Hagan took second, with Roisin Kennedy (Usher IRC) and Deborah Gordon (unattached) third and fourth.

Promising young rider Mark Nestor was best of the juniors, the Shannonside competitor outsprinting Maurice O'Brien (Kanturk Credit Union) and Ollie McQuaid (Emerald), with Ciarán Cassidy (Usher IRC), Sean Rock (McNally Swords) and Ciarán Kelly (Usher IRC) next across the line. McQuaid, Ronnie Brannigan and Eddie Lynch (both Orwell-Dundrum Shopping Centre) took the three vets prizes.

McNally Swords rider Adrian Pretorsus won the senior 3 race, besting John Lynch (Bray Wheelers), Jonathan Ryan (Stamullen M. Donnelly), Stephen Byrne (Navan Avonmore), Darren McMahon (Cycleways Lee Strand) and Byrne's team-mate Eoin Whelan in the 3 lap, 30 mile contest.

Results, 60 miles

1 Colm Bracken (unattached)                     2.19.32
2 C. Murphy (Crannog Ireland)                      0.02
3 M. Mulcahy (Usher IRC)                           0.03
4 D. Peelo (Usher IRC)                             0.05
5 S. Kelly (Galway Bay CC)                         0.14
6 A. McQuaid (Emerald CC)                          0.16
7 C. Sweetman (Stamullen M. Donnelly)              0.21
8 P. Mulligan (Crannog Ireland)
9 A. Crowley (Cycleways Lee Strand)
10 P. Healion (Usher IRC) 
 
Senior 2
 
1 Kieran Keane (Ravens CRC)
2 D. Healy (Les Jeunes)
3 T. Hughes (Stamullen M. Donnelly)
4 T. Duggan (Bray)
5 P. McMahon (Crannog Ireland)
6 D. Nulty (Stamullen M. Donnelly)
7 S. Farrell (Hillcrest Hire)
8 A. Lane (Orwell Dundrum SC)
9 M. Cassidy (Cycleways Lee Strand)
10 N. Moloney (Ravens CRC)
 
Women
 
1 Karen Bothwell (Orwell-Dundrum SC)
2 J. O'Hagan (CC Luton)
3 R. Kennedy (Usher IRC)
4 D. Gordon (unattached)
 
Senior 3
 
1 Adrian Pretorsus (McNally Swords)
2 J. Lynch (Bray Wheelers)
3 J. Ryan (Stamullen M. Donnelly)
4 S. Byrne (Navan Avonmore)
5 D. Mc Mahon (Cycleways Lee Strand)
6 E. Whelan (Navan Avonmore)
7 P. McCarthy (Bray Wheelers)
8 B. Caffrey (Stamullen M. Donnelly)
9 D. Farrell (Hillcrest Hire)
10 G. Cromwell (Stamullen M. Donnelly)
 
Juniors/veterans
 
1 Mark Nestor (Shannonside)
2 M. O'Brien (Kanturk CC)
3 O. McQuaid (Emerald CC)
4 C. Cassidy (Usher IRC)
5 S. Rock (McNally Swords)
6 C. Kelly (Usher IRC)
7 S. McKenna (Stamullen M. Donnelly)
8 R. Brannigan (Orwell Dundrum SC)
9 M. Thompson (Murphy and Gunn)
10 E. Lynch (Orwell Dundrum SC)
 
Veterans prize
 
1 McQuaid
2 Brannigan
3 Lynch

Local results 2004

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