Tim O'Regan (All human-VeloRevolution) and Judith Russell (Phoenix CC) won the main events in Co Louth today at the McCrystal track but Sean Sharkey, in whose honour the racing was held, was the star of the show.
Sean, who had a range of disabilities, very sadly died just over a year ago. His parents, Fiona and Peter, and young sister Aoibhínn are very well known in cycling circles. Peter has raced for Stamullen RC for years and Aoibhínn has also been bit by the racing bug.
Sean was a well known figure traveling to the races with his family and his very sad passing, aged just 16 years, was really felt in cycling circles. Today the Sean Sharkey Memorial races were held in Co Louth. The Sharkey's many friends in cycling came along for the day to stand with the family in support and to remember Sean and celebrate his life.
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Peter was riding the men's 'B Race' and his celebration coming across the line, as captured in the photo above by Caroline Kerley, captured the spirit of the occasion. Not to be outdone by her dad, Aoibhínn pinned her numbers on for the U16 race and made the podium; taking 3rd place behind Aine Doherty (VC Glendale) and Greta Lawless (Team Worc).
The racing was held as a fundraiser for the Maria Goretti Foundation; respite centre in Co Louth for boys and girls with special needs and where young Sean spent a lot of his time.
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In the men’s A Race today O’Regan took victory after seven laps of racing from Graham Boyd (McConvey Cycles) and Tadhg Killeen (Orwell Wheelers). O’Regan got the best start of the fancied riders, just getting ahead of Killeen on the opening lap and slowly building his lead on the others on each of the following laps.
In the end
he took the victory, after 50 minutes of racing, by 46 seconds from Boyd and
Killeen, both of whom finished on the same time in what was a hard-fought
battle for 2nd and 3rd places.
In the women’s race, Irish Masters champion Russell recovered from a slow start in the five-lap event to run out a clear winner in the end.
The Phoenix CC rider lost ground to a number of her rivals on the opening lap but reversed those losses and pulled clear on the second lap. She then added to her lead as the laps ticked down. As was the case in the men’s race, as the lone leader pulled clear a very tight battle for the final two steps on the podium was beginning to unfold behind her.
Stephanie Roche (Scott Quanta Racing) and Eve McCrystal (Bellurgan Wheelers) traded position a few times during the race under Roche put in a big effort on the final lap to catch and beat McCrystal to 2nd place.
