Maria Larkin (Cuttin' Crew) has won the elite women's race at the National Cyclocross Championships for the third time. Larkin claimed the victory ahead of 17-year-old junior rider Hannah McClorey (RFDA) after the teenager briefly took the lead on the penultimate lap at the McCrystal Track in Jenkinstown, Co Louth.
Stephanie Roche (Scott Bright Motor Group) put in a great ride for 3rd place, adding the national championships bronze medal today to the overall victory she recently sealed in the Cyclocross National Series.
In the Masters women's event, Grace Young (All human-VeloRevolution) was the clear winner and is Ireland's champion for 2023. She took the title by 2:50 over Heather Foley of Yeats Country CC with Helen White (Stamullen RC) taking the bronze some 3:26 down on winner Young.
It the combined senior-U23-junior race it was a day when Larkin rode as expected, though others were well below par. Aine Doherty of VC Glendale, for example, has been the woman of the season on the domestic scene. However, the 16-year-old had a disappointing performance today, though she has plenty of time in the years ahead to excel and can feel really satisfied with a brilliant first-year junior season at the cyclocross discipline.
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The defending champion, Larkin, went into an early lead and it looked like she would ride to the title at a canter. However, on the third lap Larkin suffered a problem clipping into the pedals, which saw her lead reduce over those chasing.
Indeed, for a brief period she slipped back to 3rd place as 17-year-old Hannah McClorey (RFDA) took the lead. But Larkin then showed why she had already won two national titles before today.
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She corrected her clipping-in problem, with a change of shoe, and then simply resumed her relentless pace, retaking the lead before the start of the final lap.
While McClorey remained very close behind her all the way around the last lap, once Larkin had retaken the lead she looked every bit the champion for this year. And so it came to pass; Larkin deservedly taking her third national crown, by 20 seconds from McClorey, with Roche 3rd at 1:13.
Darcey Harkness (VC Glendale), who has been busy with her medical degree course in university of late, got up for 4th place at 1:42, showing she is still in great shape despite the demands on her time away from cycling.
Michelle Geoghegan (Isorex), now aged 40 years and opting for the senior race over the Masters event today, placed 5th at 2:29 with Aoife Reilly (Dunboyne CC) 6th at 2:53 and Aine Doherty (VC Glendale) 7th at 3:19.
Caoimhe May (Orwell Wheelers) placed 8th at 3:40 with Roisin Lally (Scott Bright Motor Group) in 9th at 4:35, a disappointing result for the Irish international, and Elena Wallace (Harps CC) rounding out the top 10 on the day at 4:58.
More to come.
