Dave Walsh's Race Reports

Christy MacManus Memorial Race, Roundwood, Co. Wicklow
22nd March 2003, S2/S3/V/J/L race

Looked out the window early on Saturday... it looked cold and foggy. That was on the northside of Dublin. It had cleared, and the day was warming the time I was in the car, fighting my way south through the sleepy traffic. I felt lousy. Whatever kind of weird low-level virus was on the go, I'd had a dose of it during the week, and kept feeling like I hadn't slept enough.

Can you get credited 'minus' penalty points on your driving licence for driving slowly? Half of Wicklow was at it on Saturday morning, cruising at 40mph on the whole 100 metres of the M11, and a reckless 30mph on the Roundwood road. At about 1030, I rolled into Roundwood's GAA car park. Ran in, signed on, changed, dashed down the road for a quick warm-up. It was sunny, a little colder than down at sea level, but *dry*.

There was a good-sized field present, 87 blokes and one lady (Louise Moriarty!). The vets, Cs, juniors and ladies were given a two-minute head start. They must have been past Annamoe before we got going. The S2 bunch stormed down the hill, across the well-placed gravel-trap, and towards Ashford, before turning off towards Rathdrum.

Now, instead of riding hard to bring back the group ahead, attacks started going off. I found myself jumping across to one, but getting a stitch, because I wasn't warmed up enough. Ended up in a group of four, including Dave Lane (UCD) and Kieran Keane (Ravens). Got brought back, recovered, and was well placed on the 60km/h descent into Rathdrum, where Kieran punctured, right on the bridge. Rolled onto the climb, knocked the chain on the small ring, down a few sprockets on the back.

Was at the beginning of the *really* steep bit before I realised that I was still on the big ring, turning a 53x21. Not clever. Onto the 39, and accelerated up the climb, comfortably enough, was even back on the big ring before getting into the corner.

Still, while I was going ok on the hills, I felt like I was running at 75%, still feeling lousy. Riders were firing themselves up the road all the way to Laragh, some reappearing, and some getting away.

Most of the bunch seemed gripped by apathy. It was way to easy to get to the front. Around through Laragh, up the hill Annamoe, and there was still no sign of the lead group. The speed went up as we hit the back roads, and Ciaran Farrell (Ravens), four or five others and myself were doing a lot of riding, trying to get people fired up. I made a few attempts to escape, but kept getting reeled in.

Down into Rathdrum again, and as we hurtled downhill, I could a group on the climb at the other side of the valley. We have 'em!

At the top of the hill, wheels were let go, and I found myself chasing hard out the corner, trying to get up Aidan Hammond, who was on the back of a group of five or six, a few lengths ahead. Got up to them, knackered. The group ahead kept appearing and disappearing... again, there was only a few of us on the front, and every time we tried to ride through, gaps would appear.

Finally, about halfway back to Laragh, everyone found their legs and started chasing. Except me, I was out of steam by now. A large group came back to us by Laragh, and another just after Annamoe. They must have been *really* cruising to let us catch them.

I rolled across the finish line nowhere, shoulders slumped, and went off to warm down. There had still been 10 or so riders ahead... Sean Bracken 1st, John Herity 2nd (Stagg Cycles) and Terry Ferris (Dublin Wheelers).

So, the wily Sean Bracken (Usher) took home the trophy for the third year in a row. As he said at the prize giving, 'It's my favourite race'.

It's one of mine too - lots of hills, great scenery, fierce racing. And when I started back racing two years ago, it was the first race that I finished in the bunch See old report here Maybe next year...

RESULTS
1. Sean Bracken (Usher IRC) 1:54:50 2. Scott MacDonald (Orwell) 3. Terry Ferris (Dublin Wheelers) 4. Paul McMahon (Bray Wheelers) 5. Tom Duggan (Bray Wheelers) 6. John Herity (Stagg Cycles Lucan)

1st. Lady: Louise Moriarty 1st Veteran: Sean Bracken 1st Senior 3: Noel McGlynn (Ravens CRT) 1st Junior: Paul McMahon (Bray Wheelers)

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