Tralee Manor West GP

The Tralee Manor West GP was held today in ideal racing conditions. This years race was selected as part of the prestigious 2015 National Series with just under 200 riders signing on. The Tralee Manor West GP is just in its 3rd year but is becoming an extremely popular race on the Cycling Ireland calendar.

Mark Dowling and Daire Feely pushing out their lead

Mark Dowling and Daire Feely pushing out their lead

The underage racing was as ferocious as always, and in particular the under 12's, which saw Patrick Galvin from Killarney CC rip the competition apart with a huge solo win. Definitely one to watch for the future.

The under 14's was won by the young Castlegregory cycling legend Tom Moriarty riding for O'Leary Stone/ Kanturk team.

In the under 16's race Robbie Walsh of Cork County took first place. Cian Smailes of the host club, Tralee Manor West BC took 4th place.

The A4 race which had four laps of the testing circuit was won by Freddie Stevens of Orwell Wheelers in a very strong performance.

The A3 race was won by Darragh McCarthy of St. Finbarr's club in Cork City.

The main race of the day for the Michael De Staic Memorial Cup was a gripping affair, with plenty of attacks and counter attacks as the riders completed the 8 laps which took in Bullock Hill, a gruelling 9 times. Mark Dowling won this years race in very impressive form. This is Mark's second time winning the event. With one lap to go it looked like it was going to come down to a two man sprint between Mark Dowling and fellow breakaway companion Daire Feely of iTap but Mark attacked strongly to stay clear in an impressive solo victory. Daire finished second and Tralee man Sean Lacey of Aquablue held on for third place.

Tralee Manor West BC would like to thank all our club members who were involved in the race today as stewards, sign-on, lead cars, etc. It is with thanks to you that the race was run safely & smoothly, superb job lads ! Thanks to our sponsors, Manor West Hotel for their support and hospitability and to Brian de Staic Jewellery in Dingle. Thanks of course to the Gardaí and the Red Cross for the tremendous help & support as always. Finally a huge thanks to all the residents on the race route for your great co-operation and patience once again.

2015 Tralee Manor West GP Results:

A1/A2 

Mark Dowling DID Electrical Dunboyne

Daire Feely iTap

Sean Lacey Aquablue

Dermot Radford Tipperary Wheelers

Michael Fitzgerald Strata Velo Revolution

Paidi O’Brien Osbourne Meats/McCarthy Cycles

A3 

Darragh McCarthy St FInbarrs

Jaime Busher Orwell Wheelers

Paul Kennedy Newcastle West CC

Clinton O’Mahony West Cork CC

Robert Forrest Blarney CC

Michael Healy iBike

A4 

Freddie Stevens Orwell Wheelers

Diarmuid Kerrish Unattached

Keith Colville Clonmel CC

Pierce Boland Unattached

Eoin Woods North Tipp Wheelers

Hugh McSweeney Currow CC

U16s 

Robbie Walsh Cork County

Jack McAuliffe O’Leary Stone Kanturk

Evan O’Donnell Limerick

Cian Smailes Tralee Manor West BC

Jack McCarthy O’Leary Stone Kanturk

U14s 

Tom Moriarty O’Leary Stone Kanturk

Tom O’Connor O’Leary Stone Kanturk

Denis Murphy O’Leary Stone Kanturk

Kieran Coggins Kingdom CC

Donny McDonald Burren CC

U12 

Patrick Galvin Killarney CC

Paul Shine O’Leary Stone Kanturk

Rory Gallagher Castlebar CC

Lucy O’Donnell Limerick CC

Tomas Gould O’Leary Stone Kanturk

Mark Dowling being presented with the Michael de Staic Memorial cup by Michael's daughter Orla

Mark Dowling being presented with the Michael de Staic Memorial cup by Michael's daughter Orla