Race Report



The 2009 Ras Dhun na nGall cycle race is confirmed to take to the roads around Killybegs over the June bank holiday weekend this year.

Keeping to the same race structure as the past two years the race on Friday 29th May with a short 34 mile stage. Saturday morning kicks of with the short and fast time trail follows by a 54 mile afternoon stage.
The final stage, at lunchtime on Sunday, is by far the most difficult as the riders race through Ardara, Glenties, Clooney and Ardara again before tackling the famous Glengesh Pass and on through Meenaneary and Carrick to finish in Killybegs. Glengesh is known throughout Irish cycling circles as being one of the most difficult climbs in the country, spectator- friendly but much less so for the cyclists themselves at the end of three hard days of racing. While the overall winner will take the plaudits on Sunday evening in Killybegs, all the riders will be content in the knowledge that they will have just completed one of the hardest stages in Irish cycling. The racing will be hard and fast for the entire weekend, and while some traffic delays may take place in the south west of the county over the weekend, the public has always been hugely supportive of the race, and the riders appreciate the courtesy and appreciation shown to them by all along the route.

Some comments from competitors and spectators of the 2008 event

The roads were really safe with excellent marshaling and I had absolutely no hairy moments with traffic, what a luxury. The countryside, for the few hurried, sweat filled glimpses I had of it, was absolutely incredibly beautiful and we were so blessed with the great weather.
It finished on Sunday, which meant no bank holiday traffic coming home either. It's left me wanting more, and I would really love to do this race again, but to be stronger next time - next year! And I hope more of you will do it too! All in all a great weekends racing. And we even got a tan!

At this point I'd like to say that this was one of the best organised races I've ever done, and although it has a reputation of being really hard, the fact that the stages are kept very short makes it really manageable.
We girls had a good handicap, our own lead car and motorbike marshal, and the prizes were generous. The organiser, John Curran has said that he would love to see more women in the race, and he will give us a good handicap again next time. Results of stages were out quickly and the hotel which was race HQ did great food.
I was thinking, well this hill(Glengesh) isn't soo bad when I turned a corner - and the tarmac rose like a wall in front of me, rising around a couple of horrific hairpins.
I could see Fiona was bent double over the front wheel to keep traction as she went around the bend. Oh Sh*t, I thought, I am actually going to have to get off and walk, in front of all these people..

Glorious sunshine, spectacular scenery and a warm Donegal welcome made this weekend's Rás Dhun nGall, promoted by the Four Masters, an event to remember. With almost 135 riders registering on Friday night the organisers had their hands full. John Curran, Liam Tinney and Seamus Connolly along with their extensive team of helpers had thought of everything even down to the fact that the harbour wall at the finish line was heated!

FOUR MASTERS A TEAM
1	Martin Mc Devitt		V
2	Adrian Mc Dermott		2
3	Danny Logue		V
4	Jason Mc Hugh		3
5	Eddie Sweeney		3
FOUR MASTERS B TEAM
6	Sean Mc Bride		3
7	Dinny Doherty		3
8	Pat Dunnion		3
132	Sinead Jennings		W
BRAY WHEELERS
9	Darren O Toole		2
10	Tighernach Murphy		2
11	Ronan Kearney		2
CLANN EIREANN
12	John Heverin		2
13	Martin Mc Conville		3
14	Conor Grimes		3
15	Micheal Murray		2
16	John McAuley		3
CURRAN RACING
17	Ray Brownfield		2
18	Lewis Ferguson		2
19	Alan Graham		2
20	Kieran Mc Kenna		2
DAVIN MCCALL ULSTER WOMENS
21	Orlagh Watters		W
22	Kay Hack		W
23	Heather Wilson		W
24	Cathy Thompson		W
25	Tonya Moran		W
26	Hannah Francis		W
DONEGAL HARVEST / NPCC
27	Rory Devlin		2
28	Jim Doyle		V
29	Kieran Ecceles		3
135	Martin O'Loughlin		V
JUICED ORCHARD
31	Shaun Gray		V
32	Adam Rayner		J
33	Allister Fiddes		3
LAKELAND CC
34	Dane Dunlop		2
35	Raymond Dunlop		2
36	John Mc Manus		2
37	Kenny Boylan		V
38	Robbie Bryson		V
LAKESIDE WHEELERS A TEAM
39	Steven Franzoni		2
40	Craig Sterrett		2
41	Peter Rimmer		2
42	Mairtin Savage		3
43	Stuart Cox		2
LAKESIDE WHEELERS B TEAM
44	Sarah Piner		W
45	Paul Crowley		3
46	Dave Fagan		3
47	Wendy Bates		W
48	Robbie Kenny		2
LIMERICK CC A TEAM
49	Tom Shanahan		V
50	Brian Quinn		V
51	Aidan Gallery		2
52	Alan Loftus		3
53	Bob Murray		2
LIMERICK CC B TEAM
54	Owen Ryan		3
55	Peter Bane		3
56	Stephen T Lynch		3
57	Adrienne Mc Carthy		W
NEWRY WHEELERS
58	Peter McConville		V
59	Mark Campbell		3
60	Nathan Morgan		3
61	Conor Quinn		3
62	Desi Foley		2
NORTH DOWN CC
63	Duane Mc Creadie		3
64	Matty Blayney		3
65	Noel Boyce		V
66	Philip Marshall		2
67	Richard Mc Cullough		3
OMAGH WHEELERS
68	Mark Sweeney		2
69	John Paul Connolly		3
70	Eugene Power		3
144	Richard Lyons
ORWELL WHEELERS A TEAM
72	John Dillion		V
73	Eddie Lynch		V
74	Myles Kirby		2
75	Michelle Geoghan		W
76	Orla Hendron		W
ORWELL WHEELERS B TEAM
71	Martin Cadow		2
77	Lloyd Berry		V
78	Graham Thomas		2
141	Declan Quigley		V
PHOENIX CC A TEAM
79	Cathal Smyth		2
80	Fergus Rooney		3
81	Marty Henderson		3
82	Mert Thompson		2
83	Nick McGrath		3
PHOENIX CC B TEAM
84	Joe Henry		3
85	Paul Harbinson		3
86	David Tweed		3
110	Niall Shannon		2
ROE VALLEY CC
87	Peter Cromie		2
88	Kyle Cromie		3
89	Declan Mc Cartney		3
STAMULLEN RC
90	Alan Clogher		2
91	David Molloy		2
92	Mark Kiernan		V
SWORDS CC
93	Andrew Meehan		3
94	Sean Tierney		V
95	Mick Mc Carthy		3
96	Jason O'Callaghan		2
97	Philip Sugden		V
WEST COAST WHEELERS
98	Brian O'Donnell		2
99	Pat O'Donnell		3
100	James O'Donnell		2
WESTERN LAKES CC
139	Joe Marrey	Western Lakes CC	3
104	John J Flaherty		2
105	Mark Quigley		2
143	Mark Dowling		2
INDVIDUAL
101	Donal Kelly	Un-attached
102	Brendan Twomey	Castlebar CC	3
103	Ciaran Clarke	Castlebar CC	3
30	Marcus Christie	Usher IRC	J
106	Tony Boyle	Castlereagh CC	V
107	Martin Graham	Island Wheelers	3
108	Mark Gill	Murphy & Gunn	3
109	Peter Mullholland	Foyle CC	3
111	John Mc Garrity	Harps CC	3
113	Karl Donnelly	Murphy & Gunn	3
114	Noel Wilson	East Tyrone	3
115	Richard Watters	Harps CC	2
116	Martin Birney	SportActive CC	V
117	Paul Mulligan	Un-attached	V
118	Thomas O'Flaherty	Earl of Desmond	2
119	Thomas Lavery	Comeragh CC	2
120	Finbar Power	Comeragh CC	3
121	John Gargan	Kilcullen CC	3
122	Alan Burke	Kilcullen CC	2
123	Warren Francis	Ards CC	3
124	Stephen Farr	Team Madigan CC	2
125	Laurent Dumoulin	Kanturk	V
126	Brian Canty	Kanturk	3
127	Domhnaill O'Sullivan	South East Road C	3
128	Ger Madden	Team Sports Med	V
129	John Oram	Usher IRC	V
130	Gary Kendall	Bann Wheelers	V
131	Alastair Bratten	Bann Wheelers	V
134	Simon Gill	Foyle CC	3
136	Micheal Devlin	Eire Og	2
138	Sean Halpin	Swords CC	3
140	Basil Freeman	Eire Og	V
142	Ted Mc Caffrey	Ulster U/A	3