Damien Shaw of Aquablue was a clear winner of the Mullingar GP yesterday, getting clear in a quality escape group before powering on alone to take a solo win.
By Brian Canty
Damien Shaw scorched to yet another win yesterday Sunday, when he won the Mullingar GP in his home town in Co Westmeath.
The Aquablue rider came in on his own after attacking his breakaway companions on the third and final lap – with Javan Nulty (DID Dunboyne) taking the sprint for second ahead of Sean Lacey (Aquablue). The day’s final breakaway member, Neil Delahaye (DID Dunboyne) was 10 seconds back in fourth place.
Gary Jeffers led in the bunch for fifth place, the East Tyrone CC man edging out Mark Dowling of Polygon Sweet Nice.
The 108-kilometre race was an active affair from the drop of the flag with Nulty particularly aggressive and eager to show he’s worthy of a slot on the Irish U23 squad for their upcoming European programme.
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He jumped away with Sean Lacey inside the opening kilometres and though that move was pulled back by a quality field that included the likes of Aaron Buggle (Rapha Condor JLT) and Ryan Sherlock (Polygon Sweet Nice), Nulty wasn’t dissuaded and tried again and again until the elastic eventually snapped, with Lacey the man to go away with him.
Those two worked very well and were given a real boost when one each of their teammates joined from behind; Shaw – clearly in good form following his third place at the Nationals last weekend - and Neil Delahaye, back following an operation to correct a troublesome shoulder injury.
And that quartet hammered it for the opening lap and pulled out a gap of over two minutes by the 30-kilometre mark.
That hard work almost came to nought though because they took a wrong turn on a tailwind section of road and though they realised their mistake after less than a kilometre, the block headwind they had to ride into to take the correct turnoff almost saw their advantage whittled away.
When they took the turn off they saw the bunch behind but got to work straight away and pulled out the gap again.
With such a strongman’s break it was always going to be difficult to have them reeled in but that didn’t stop Sherlock and his Polygon Sweet Nice teammate Dowling doing their best, with Buggle and Jeffers also pulling strongly at the front.
With 15 kilometres to go Shaw made his bid for glory on the final lap approaching a roundabout. He took it expertly despite the slippery conditions and after Nulty almost crashed the gap was established and was never closed again.
Delahaye pulled on the front to try and bring Shaw back, to no avail, while Lacey had an armchair ride to the finish. But credit to Nulty who took him in the sprint.
In the A3 race, there was a huge turnout of 80 riders with many short-lived breaks being a feature of the 72 kilometre race. But in the
end, the strong winds and showers ensured that most of the field was still in contention by the finish.
With a rising road for the last kilometre, Paul Coffey of Blanch Wheelies proved strongest from Niall Doggett (Navan RC) and Keith O'Connell (Covey Wheelers) taking third.
In the A4 event, also a 72-kilometre event, the promoting club Lakeside was well represented with several lining out in the70-rider field.
Most of the bunch was still in contention in the last 1km and it was newcomer Brendan Kiernan from Lakeside Wheelers who took the honours with two seconds to spare over team mate Richie Lenehan who just got the better of Adamstown CC rider James Dignam.
In the women's event, 30 riders went to the start line and it didn't take long for Tullamore rider Francine Meehan (Aquablue) to make her intentions known. As she powered ahead the only one able to follow was Anne Dalton of DID Electrical Racing Team.
The pressure in the bunch in pursuit of those up front split the field and in the last 10km Dalton had no answer when Meehan struck out for home. The Aquablue rider had 30 seconds to spare as she punched the air for a great win.
A1/A2 Race - 108km
1. Damien Shaw Aqua Blue
2. Javan Nulty DID Dunboyne
3. Sean Lacey Aqua Blue
4. Neil Delahaye DID Dunboyne
5. Gary Jeffers East Tyrone CC
6. Mark Dowling Polygon Sweet Nice
A3 Race - 108km
1. Paul Coffey Blanch Wheelies
2. Niall Doggett Navan RC
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3. Keith O'Connell Covey Wheelers
4. Darragh McCarther Omagh
5. Mark Reilly Lucan CC
6. Philippe Bourdariaj Orwell Wheelers
A4 Race - 72km
1. Brendan Kiernan Lakeside Wheelers Mullingar
2. Richie Lenehan Lakeside Wheelers Mullingar
3. James Dignam Adamstown CC
4. Oisin Boland Orwell
5. Stephen Corroon Lakeside Wheelers Mullingar
6. Dan O'Brien Killarney CC
Women's Race
1. Francine Meehan Aqua Blue
2. Anne Dalton DID Dunboyne
3. Roisin Kennedy Adamstown CC
4. Emily Birchall Neenan Talent Team
5. Ciara Doogan Neenan Talent Team
6. Julie White North Tipp Wheelers
The rain was nice and warm in Mullingar, it is summer after all...
Eventual third placed finisher Sean Lacey leads Aquablue team mate and eventual winner Damien Shaw
Brendan Kiernan of promoting club Lakeside Wheelers Mullingar takes the A4 race ahead of team mate Richie Lenehan.
Ryan Sherlock of Polygon Sweet Nice leads a chase group after the breakaway in the main event
The conditions were slippy in the tightly-packed bunch
