Convoy Village was host to one of the most successful days of cycling this county has seen this year with everyone of all ages and abilities catered for. Todays cycling tour and races where part of the Zach O Donnell fun day held to raise money for the Crumlin hospital in Dublin.
The event kicked of at 11.30am with a 15 mile and a 30 mile Leisure tour leaving from the GAA ground in Convoy. Following the race course the cyclists travelled to Stranolar and then on to Killygordan where they turned left and climbed up through Calhame in Convoy before the welcomed descent back into Convoy Village. Most of the competitors completed this course twice to complete the 30 mile course.
The main cycling event of the day was the Zach O Donnell Trophy race which started at 1.30 and was a total distance of 45 miles. The handicapped race was split into four groups with group 1 getting a four minute lead over group two, group two getting a four minute lead over group three and a further 2 minute handicap back to the scratch group. With approximately 20 riders in the scratch group they where determined to real in the 60 riders in front of them on the road, and within the first 8 miles they had already pulled a full 60 seconds out of group three.
It was not until lap two that all the groups came together into one big race, before Four Masters riders Marcel Dill, Pauric Mc Clafferty and Kevin Mc Devitt made a break on the Calhame climb outside Killygordan. Mc Devitt was un-able to match the strength of his club mates and soon fell back to the chasing peleton. On the final run through Convoy village to start the final lap the two Four Masters riders had a 45 second gap over the chasing peleton. This gap was further extended and by Stranolar the gap was stretched to 2.45 min. It was after this point that Mickey Russell of Four Masters and Cathal Wilson on North Pole tried in vain to jump across to the two leaders and where soon reeled back in. Marcell Dill was the overall winner followed closely by Pauric Mc Clafferty. It was not until that last two miles from the finish that Four Masters rider Donal Clancy made his break and just stayed away by a few seconds to take 3rd placed in the place.
Full results and category winners to follow.
As the main race was taking place there was also a kids race going on in Convoy with all the kids having a great ride.
The Four Masters Cycling Club would like to thank everyone involved in organising this event. Especially Kenny and Paula O Donnell and Gavin Harris. Big thank you must go to all the Marshalls, The Gardai, Watson Hire and The Dealer and Town.ie
Full results and pictures will be posted soon.