Storan claims Clare Championship

MIKE Storan (Planet Tri) scored a big win in the Clare cycling championships after an exciting night of attacking racing on the 60km Barefield-Maghera circuit.

The race attracted over 40 riders who were set off in three groups, the handicapper giving the A4s a 90 second interval over the A3s and a further 60 seconds to the scratch group.

Despite the best efforts of Dolmen’s evergreen John Colleran to keep the A4s away, the groups merged after 25k with the first attack coming from European Duathlon medallist, Paddy Quinn.

Storan and the Burren’s Mark Shannon bridged over to Quinn and this trio got 25 seconds over the summit at Maghera.

Gary McDonald, Visit Nenagh/DMG was next to try his luck and after he was reined in, Storan and Shannon got away again with Dolmen’s Cathal Russell doing the lion’s share of bringing them back.

Limerick Cycling Club’s Aidan Gallery then went on one of his many attacks before McDonald and Stephen Teeling-Lynch, Club Rothaíochta na Sionainna/Go Tri, got a few seconds, only to be caught on the flyover north of Barefield, 700m from the finish.

West Clare’s Vinnie Gleeson, then made what looked like a winning move but his gap was quickly bridged by Storan who attacked again to take the victory by three seconds on the line.

Gleeson took the silver, followed by Eoin O’Donoghue of Limerick CC. John Colleran was rewarded for his sterling work driving the A4 train, making it into fourth place. West Clare’s Jack O’Shea and Dolmen’s Aidan Considine took fifth and sixth respectively.

Fergal Cahill of Cahill Taxation Services, complimented the riders on a great night’s racing as well as the dozens of marshals who lined the route to ensure safe passage for the riders and motorists in the area.

Results
1. Mike Storan, Planet Tri; 2. Vinnie Gleeson, West Clare Cycling Club;
3. Eoin O’Donoghue, Limerick Cycling Club; 4. John Colleran, Dolmen Cycling Club; 5. Jack O’Shea, West Clare Cycling Club; 6. Aidan Considine, Dolmen Cycling Club; 7. Stephen Teeling-Lynch, Club Rothaíochta na Sionainna/Go Tri; 8. Jurgen Simpson, Limerick Cycling Club; 9. Daithi Queally, West Clare Cycling Club;
10. Gary McDonald, Visit Nenagh Cycling Club.