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
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