race42

Irish Veteran Cyclists Association race results for season 2001

Sunday 23rd September Sonny Cullen Memorial CP, Batterstown

The Sonny Cullen Trophy

Many thanks to all the sponsors of todays race, Obelisk C.C. Jimmy Lally, City Cycles and others.
I'm not sure of all the names at the moment.

Result:

1. Terry Cromer
2. Martin Burke
3. Tom Richardson
4. Susan O'Mara
5. Pat Halligan
6. Brian Monaghan
Primes:
P. O'Sullivan and T. Richardson

The finish: Terry Cromer sprints for
the line closely followed by Martin Burke with the bunch coming behind.

Terry holds off the challenge from
behind to win the Sonny Cullen Trophy.

The league over and we have come to the last race of the season in memory of a man, Sonny Cullen, whose cycling feats are legendary and whose name is always spoken with great reverence by those who knew and raced against him. The race was run as a seven group CP which means that everybody needs to ride through to catch the groups ahead and stay ahead of the chasers.
There was a prime on lap1 which was contested by group 1. One rider went from the corner (and that's a long way out). The lads gambled that he would fade...he didn't! I started with Group 4 and was fine until about 10 yards from the top of the last drag at the back of the course. (A few pounds lighter for next year needed I think).
After a few miles the 'yellows' came up to me and they were motoring. I hung on there for half a lap at the back (where a few others were 'minding' themselves). Martin Burke, among others seemed to be working very hard. We parted company on the main road and my next aim was to get over the drags before the next group caught me. Little did I know that this group had met a herd of cows!!!
After negotiating the cows they the came up to me shortly before Scratch caught them. The impetus seemed to go out of the chase slightly when these groups merged, and I was to hang on for a while. I knew that the 'yellows' were motoring and these lads had their work cut out for them if they were to see them before the finish.
Meanwhile the 3 groups ahead had come together on the second lap and things were hotting up. This extended group was caught coming into Batterstown for the second time. Martin Burke was at the head of the bunch and driving hard.On the last lap the riders didnt meet any cows but they did come across what they had left behind.
Dermot O' Gorman (Lucan) nearly ended his last race literally in a 'heap' when he took a major rear wheel slide powering his 53x12 on a downhill section thanks to a present left by the cows. On the run in there were a few attacks by Marty, as there were too many good sprinters in the bunch incl Susan O'Meara (Extran), Tom Richarson (Dublin Wheelers), & Brian Monaghan (Newry). Coming up the straight Marty had couple of lengths but was tiring. He just held on for second as he was passed by Terry Cromer yards from the line with Tom Richarson third. Susan O'Meara placed 4th with Pat Halligan 5th , & Brian Monaghan 6th. The bunch were about 30 sec clear of a chasing trio of Seamus Kennedy, Anto McMahon and Tosh Lavery. Next year ye will have to get someone else to do the reports as I don't intend getting so aquainted with all the groups in the race.

Hugh Byrne.

Arthur Ebbs and Fran Moran coming in just behind the front group.

Below:
Henry Whelan presents some of todays winners with their prizes and getting his own prize from Donal O'Connell.

Result: 1. Terry Cromer 2. Martin Burke 3. Tom Richardson 4. Susan O'Mara 5. Pat Halligan 6. Brian Monaghan Primes: P. O'Sullivan and T. Richardson	The finish: Terry Cromer sprints for the line closely followed by Martin Burke with the bunch coming behind.	Terry holds off the challenge from behind to win the Sonny Cullen Trophy.
The league over and we have come to the last race of the season in memory of a man, Sonny Cullen, whose cycling feats are legendary and whose name is always spoken with great reverence by those who knew and raced against him. The race was run as a seven group CP which means that everybody needs to ride through to catch the groups ahead and stay ahead of the chasers. There was a prime on lap1 which was contested by group 1. One rider went from the corner (and that's a long way out). The lads gambled that he would fade...he didn't! I started with Group 4 and was fine until about 10 yards from the top of the last drag at the back of the course. (A few pounds lighter for next year needed I think). After a few miles the 'yellows' came up to me and they were motoring. I hung on there for half a lap at the back (where a few others were 'minding' themselves). Martin Burke, among others seemed to be working very hard. We parted company on the main road and my next aim was to get over the drags before the next group caught me. Little did I know that this group had met a herd of cows!!! After negotiating the cows they the came up to me shortly before Scratch caught them. The impetus seemed to go out of the chase slightly when these groups merged, and I was to hang on for a while. I knew that the 'yellows' were motoring and these lads had their work cut out for them if they were to see them before the finish. Meanwhile the 3 groups ahead had come together on the second lap and things were hotting up. This extended group was caught coming into Batterstown for the second time. Martin Burke was at the head of the bunch and driving hard.On the last lap the riders didnt meet any cows but they did come across what they had left behind. Dermot O' Gorman (Lucan) nearly ended his last race literally in a 'heap' when he took a major rear wheel slide powering his 53x12 on a downhill section thanks to a present left by the cows. On the run in there were a few attacks by Marty, as there were too many good sprinters in the bunch incl Susan O'Meara (Extran), Tom Richarson (Dublin Wheelers), & Brian Monaghan (Newry). Coming up the straight Marty had couple of lengths but was tiring. He just held on for second as he was passed by Terry Cromer yards from the line with Tom Richarson third. Susan O'Meara placed 4th with Pat Halligan 5th , & Brian Monaghan 6th. The bunch were about 30 sec clear of a chasing trio of Seamus Kennedy, Anto McMahon and Tosh Lavery. Next year ye will have to get someone else to do the reports as I don't intend getting so aquainted with all the groups in the race. *Hugh Byrne.*		Arthur Ebbs and Fran Moran coming in just behind the front group. Below: Henry Whelan presents some of todays winners with their prizes and getting his own prize from Donal O'Connell.