Colm Bracken is one of the best known and respected riders in the Irish peloton. The 49-old was the winner of the A3 race in the Frank O'Rourke Memorial at the weekend, some 18 months after a heart attack and just eight weeks after having a heart procedure in hospital (Photo: Sean Rowe)
By Brian Canty
Just 18 months after a sudden cardiac arrest and eight weeks after a procedure in the Mater Hospital, 49-year old Colm Bracken was back to winning ways at the weekend.
Incredibly, the Murphy Surveyors Kilcullen rider beat a man two years older than him in the gallop to the line that decided Sunday’s Frank O’Rourke Memorial A3 race in Co Wexford.
“In some ways my heart could be better than it ever was,” laughed Bracken.
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“The doctor was able to test it before (the procedure) under a general anaesthetic and find a few things he could work on.”
Bracken had an ablation done in early March, which involves a “bad nerve ending” on the heart being burnt off using an electrode.
It’s a non-invasive job and the evergreen fastman was out riding a day after.
Eventual winner Bracken, far left, in the winning escape in Co Wexford on Sunday (Photo: Sean Rowe)
“I’ve been racing since I had it done, I even raced before it," he said of the procedure, which he appears to have very much taken in his stride.
He had the first of two ablations last year and says he has been enjoying the back again for many months with no difficulties.
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“I went in on the Thursday, came out the Friday, did a spin on the Saturday and did the Newbridge GP on the Sunday," he said of his most recent procedure.
“I had a horrible chest infection after that which needed two doses of antibiotics and in between I did two stages of the Gorey and I was suffering.
"So I’m not in form yet. But I’m good to go now on the racing.”
On Sunday he was in a strong field of around 80 riders and on the third of five laps he felt strong enough to go on the attack.
A former yellow jersey in the FBD Rás, Bracken has come through cardiac problems to get back racing, and winning (Photo: Sean Rowe)
“On the third lap I went on the hardest part of the circuit when there were three guys ahead. I rode across and the four of us were away. I knew that was it.
“We knuckled down, a good bunch of us; I was the least fit and they kept urging me to ride harder but I couldn’t.
“Coming up to the finish we stayed together, we agreed we wouldn’t mess about until a kilometre to go.
“In the last few hundred metres the Lucan guy (Rob Farrell) attacked but it was too early.
“That was one down and then the Trim guy (John Lee) went after him and I said ‘that’s great’.
“Then all I had to watch was the Wexford's Paul Bolger. I just managed to take him but he is 51 years old so we’ve a century between us!”
“I feel lucky,” said Bracken, “and I guess the message is, ‘if you feel anything, get an ECG done.
“I didn’t realise what was wrong and I never thought it would result in a sudden cardiac arrest. I thought it was only indigestion.”
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