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The overall winner of the fourth
Annual Coast to Coast race promoted by the Round
Tower
Cycling Club was the National
University graduate, Karl McCarthy (Cork),
who rode in the colours of the Irish
Road Club.
McCarthy's time for the journey from
Dublin to Galway and back was 11hrs 13mins and 46 secs beating the
existing record put up in 1951 by the English rider, Brian Robinson
by 5mins 34 secs.
The winner of the second stage from
Galway to Dublin was J.J. McCormack (Eagle) in 5hr 38min 21 secs.
A few miles from Galway a gap was opened
by W. Long (Dublin Wheelers) K. O'Rourke (Lorraine) , J. Maxwell
(Thistle R.C. Scotland) , J. Hynes (Tailteann) and T. Rooney
(Kenton). No attempt was made to catch them until Kilconnell was
reached when J.J.McCormack, K. McCarthy and J. Crilly (Round Towers)
gave chase to reduce the
3 minute lead. Hynes took the prime at Ballinasloe
after 1hr 33mins and 47secs.
WELCOME SPLASH
The extreme heat had a definite effect on the
speed of the riders and little or no effort was made by the main
group to overtake the leaders. As they passed through Athlone the
spraying of a hose on the riders was welcomed.
Between Athlone and Moate
individual efforts were made to close with the leading groups, and D.
Quinn(Dublin Wheelers), J. Elliot (Tailteann) M.J. Byrne (Lorraine0
and S. Elliott (Dublin Wheelers) drew within striking distance.
The leaders were joined by McCarthy
and McCormack a few miles from Moate, and later G. Baxter, of
Yorkshire, made contact. At this time the lead had been extended to 5 minutes.
At Mullingar J. Hynes took the
prime and the riders passed under a cascade of water which was thrown
on them from cans by many of the spectators who lined the streets.
After 100 miles McCarthy changed
bicycles and later rejoined the leaders. W. Long and T. Rooney
retired from the leading group and at Kinnegad Hynes was again the
prime winner. Beyond Kinnegad he had the misfortune to puncture and
delayed to change machines. Maxwell developed cramp in his leg and
was forced to fall back. |
S. Elliott, who with J. Lancaster
(Queensbury R.C.) had been forcing the pace, overtook Hynes in his
effort to rejoin the leaders and with him they made contact after 110 miles.
Of the original group which had broken away at the
commencement of the race the only survivors then were K. O'Rourke and
J. Hynes and these with McCarthy, McCormack, Elliott, Lancaster and
Baxter were the leaders.
A CERTAINTY
McCarthy was at this stage a certainty to be the
overall winner as with a lead of almost 10 minutes on the poole
brothers, who had been first and second in the first stage of the
race he could not be beaten by any of the riders in the leading group.
At Maynooth, Elliott developed a slow
puncture but despite this handicap he kept up with the leading group,
in which no change took place for the last 20 miles.
In the final sprint Elliott led, but
mistook the
finis line and slowed, allowing McCormack to pass him and win the
stage by half a length from k. O'rourke, with k. McCarthy in third
place in front of Elliott.
G.A. Poole, the winner of the first stage
was 16min and 36secs slower than the winner on the return journey.
Overall winner:
K. McCarthy (I.R.C.) 11h 13m 40 s.
Galway to Dublin:
J.J. McCormack 9Eagle) 5-38-21, k.
O'Rourke (Loraine)
5-38-21, K.
McCarthy (I.R.C.) 5-38-21, S. Elliott (Dublin
Wheelers) 5-38-21,
J. Hynes (Tailteann) 5-38-22, J.
Lancaster (Queensbury R.C.) 5-38-22
Primes:
Ballinasloe, Athlone, Mullingar,Kinnegad, - J. Hynes;
Kilcock - S. Elliott.
IRISH INDEPENDENT - August 1953 |
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