Ferrybank Motors Wendy O'Rourke wishes "good luck" to Gorey 3 Day Team

The Wexford Wheelers Gorey 3 Day team today  met with Club Sponsor Wendy O’Rourke of Ferrybank Motors to receive good luck wishes as they compete in the 44th Gorey 3 day race which has a full entry of 198 riders. The team comprises of David Walsh, Luke Maguire, John Gordon, Martin Gill,Kevin Shelley,Conor Crowley and Albert Walsh. Best of luck boys!

Team Car is getting well used. Today nine Wexford Wheelers travelled to Newbridge,great results for both Simon who came 4th and Albert 5th in A4 race.Luke and Johny finished in the group in A3 race .Conor and Martin had a great ride in the combined A1/2 .     

The annual festive hamper race took place on Sunday last in pleasant winter sunshine, using the facilities of  Mick Wallace’s Ferrycarrig Park and attracted a large turnout of  75 riders, 55 senior and 20 underage.  And what the senior riders were competing for were five very fine hampers sponsored by Celtic Link Ferries who are celebrating the addition of  the “Norman Voyager” to their Ireland-France route.

The race took place over five laps of the circuit around Ferrycarrig Park and spectators were treated to a very fast closely fought contest that in the end went to twice Milk Ras winner, Philip Cassidy, Dunboyne CC, followed closely by David Walsh, Wexford Wheelers in second place and Robin Kelly of Comeragh  CC in third. Fourth was Wexford Wheelers Club Person of the Year Conchubair O Crualaoich.  The aforementioned were all part of a breakaway group from the main field which was led in by racing legend Sean Kelly.

Senior Race

Under 16

Under 14

Under 12

Sean Kelly, much to the delight of the parents, even if their offspring in the tiny tots race were unaware of the great man’s stature, oversaw the start of this fun event which saw some of the contestants compete on their tricycles!

Before presenting the prizes, Club Chairman, David Maguire, thanked the sponsors, Celtic Link Ferries,  Mick Wallace and his team for the use of Ferrycarrig Park, the eight motorbike riders who escorted the riders safely around the circuit and the club members who marshaled traffic at junctions.

Paddy Kinsella presented the Liam Bennett Memorial Trophy to Denis Mc Carthy of Slipstream CC and John Gordon presented the Bike Shop League prizes :1^st overall  went to Martin Mizgajski, Wexford Wheelers ,  2^nd David Walsh, Wexford Wheelers; Wexford Wheelers man Patsy McCaffery claimed a prize in the C category and Stephen Kelly of Slaney CC  was first veteran.

The final league table for the Liam Bennett TT Memorial League sponsored by Paddy Kinsella and Killeens Service Station is now posted on the appropriate page and see below.

Congratulations to the winners. Needless to say there’ll be some serious cutting of handicaps for the Bike Shop Summer League which will be rescheduled this week!

Our French friend, Aureilen Lemasson has raced his last race with the club in last nights TT. Unfortunately his time to go home has come. As we wish him a fond farewell we would like to get together in Gaynors of Wigram (Hill Street) around 8pm on Wednesday 2nd to wish him well. All are welcome to join him in his last night in Wexford. Slan, Aurelien.

Chairman Pat Geoghegan presenting Aurelien with a Wheelers jersey. Aurelien has said he’ll be back…we look forward to it!

CLOSING DATE – 19/05/07

Below is a photo from the start of the Gorey 3-day taken by our reporter on the ground (he’s closer to the ground than most ). We can’t come up with a title for it so…why don’t you. If you think you have the ideal caption send it on to us at wexfordwheelers@eircom.net or on the link above. The photo is copied to the I See… page and any suggestions (with your name!) will be posted. No anonymous entries will be posted. It goes without saying that any deemed offensive captions will not be posted. The prize? Well, you get bragging rights to having the gift of the gab and get to lead the tour (members only) and you get to choose the next photo to be entered as the competition photo and decide the winning caption. The photo doesn’t have to be yours but would preferrably be club/cycling orientated. The closing date is to be decided and the competition is open to both members, non members and the mentally instable (no, not the same thing as members!!). The winner will be decided by Alan Donoghue as he submitted this photo.

ENTRIES SO FAR: 6

Thanks Alan R but administrator is a very big word for a midget. How about helper or mini me? As everybody will agree you have done a fantastic job with the site. You have set the bar extremely high so hopefully I won’t fail too miserably! I can bring some good tips to the underachievers, like how to bluff your way into an under 12 race, how to self administer CPR after chasing Martin and how to finish a race in the dark with your dignity in tact.

So if you have any news, gossip, tips or just looking for love please drop us a mail. We may not be able to promise you Swedish twins but we can spread a good rumour.

Winner of the Wheelers Hamper Race, Ciaran Power is frying bigger fish. Ciaran came in 4th at a prestigious event, the Rund Um Koln where 2nd & 3rd were a certain Pettacchi & Brown, arguably two of the worlds best sprinters and a race containing 8 Pro Tour teams. Ciaran took the 4 place (first in the bunch sprint) behind these two and winner JJ Haedo from CSC.

You can view a more detailed story below:

http://www.irishcycling.com/publish/news/art_2277.shtml

The appearance fees next Christmas could be steep…!

Wexford Wheelers will be represented this year in the Tour of Flanders, or “Ronde van Vlaanderen” for those of us in the know. The Tour of Flanders takes place on the 8th of April (Gorey 3-day weekend). Yes, the club knows no boundaries in it’s quest for competition. OK, so it’s not the professional race but it is on the same route. Dr. David Curtis will be taking place in what’s called a randonee, or organised tour. This takes place on thr 7th April and David hopes to complete the full circuit (several shorter options are available including a mountain bike route). He will be accompanied by his brothers in law who have completed this circuit in 12 hours.

They won’t be alone – last year some 15,000 competitors took part! Now there’s a sign on I want to see! In an interview during the week Dr. Davd informed me that this was very, very reasonably priced with flights, car, accommodation, etc costing less than a good weekend in Ireland.

This may be one for other members to take advantage of in the future so we’ll wait Davids feedback. We wish him the best of luck…and David, bring us back a stick of rock, eh!

Details are very limited for this event but you may find some information through Google or the following link:

http://www.sport.be/cycling/rondevanvlaanderen/2007/eng/