Patrick Goszczgk takes victory from Inspiration CC team mate Conn McDunphy in the U16 event at the Slaney CC youth races near Enniscorthy, Co Wexford (Photo: Liam Ruth)
Slaney CC have had another great turn out for their youth races, with Patrick Goszczgk (Inspiration), Emily Birchall (U/att) and Eoin Birchall (U/att) taking victory in the U16, U14 and U12 races in Enniscorthy yesterday, Saturday.
The races, run in the Davidstown area of Enniscorthy, was blessed with the sunny weather the south east lays claim to and the tar was literally melting on the roads by the time the U16 event got underway.
The group stayed together until midway through the fourth lap when Conn McDunphy and Patrick Goszczgk - both of the Inspiration club in Dunboyne, Co Meath – together with Fionn Jordan (Slaney CC) got a small gap on the tail wind assisted main road section.
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Holding the gap at between five and 15 seconds, the trio all rode strongly and stayed ahead of the chasing bunch for half a lap.
At the bell for the fifth lap the Inspiration duo had pushed ahead of Jordan, who slipped back into the bunch.
Working well together against an organised chase back in the main group, as they crossed the finish line they had a 25 second lead with Goszczgk taking victory from team mate Dunphy. Ryan Byrne (Wexford Wheelers) took the group sprint for third.
In the U14 event, Emily Birchall (U/att) continued her great season with another victory.
She showed her strength by attacking on the climb to the finish line at the end of the first lap, with only Liam Curley from SERC able to stay with her.
The duo was still together at the end of the second lap when disaster struck for young Curley who punctured close to the finish. He was sportingly given a quick wheel change by his breakaway companion’s father Paul Birchall and was soon on his way again.
Despite chasing hard he was unable to reel in the lone leader who time trailed her way to take the victory.
One of the very best young prospects in the country right now, Emily is off to the European Youth Olympics in Utrecht on Tuesday with the rest of the Irish youth team.
The U12 race yesterday was a close fought affair with plenty of activity on the 8km lap. However, the race stayed together until the final sprint for home where Eoin Birchall (U/att) proved strongest, beating the Bray Wheelers duo of Will and Archie Ryan into 2nd and 3rd spots.
Sat July 6th: Slaney CC Youth Races
Davidstown, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford
Under 16
1st Patrick Goszczgk Inspiration
2nd Conn McDunphy Inspiration
3rd Ryan Byrne Wexford Wheelers
4th Seamus Sinnott Wexford Wheelers
5th Aaron Kearney Iverk Carrick Wheelers
6th Kyle Crotty Iverk Carrick Wheelers
Unplaced U15 Adam Thatcher Slaney CC
Under 14
1st Emily Birchall U/att
2nd Liam Curley (U13) SERC
3rd Jack Caldwell Navan RC
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4th Thomas Dwyer Deenside CC
5th David Nolan SERC
6th Cian Keogh SERC
Under 12
1st Eoin Birchall (U11) U/att
2nd Will Ryan Bray Wheelers
3rd Archie Ryan Bray Wheelers
4th Laura Birchall U/att
5th Luke Ryan OCC
6th Marc Thatcher Slaney CC
(Many thanks to Liam Ruth for the photos, results and information. Liam has asked us to send on his and the club's thanks to all of the drivers, marshals, medics, commissaires, hall crew and riders for making the events possible.)
Emily Birchall from Fermoy, Co Cork, rode to another win in the U14 race yesterday (Photo: Liam Ruth)
Not to be outdone by big sister, Eoin Birchall takes the sprint in the U12 race from Bray Wheelers' Will & Archie Ryan (Photo: Liam Ruth)
