Meaney takes Covey League R2 Race Group

Covey League Round 2 – Group 1 Race Report
A fine attacking performance rewarded Richard Meaney and company of the racers group on round 2 of the 2014 Westport Covey Wheelers Club League last Wednesday 09th April 2014. This is his report:
 

A nice bright Wednesday evening greeted us for the first road race of the club league, but the stiff headwind on the way out to Louisburgh and the group of 10 strong riders was always going to make the racing tough and interesting.
So it proved as Keith attacked from the drop of the flag with form man Ger (after his recent great win in the Tour of Connacht) pinging off to join him. I decided to get into the spirit of things and go after them, I thought the three of us had a decent gap at the top of the very first drag but the rest of the fresh bunch were back on us in no time. James and Keith had another good go before Gannon’s garage and immediately pulled out a big advantage, it was obvious the racing was on big-time! I tried again to get across and was joined before long by Ger and Ollie, after a hard chase we briefly had a group of five out-front but again it was all back together shortly afterwards. A slight stall followed coming into Murrisk as everyone caught breath but as we approached the hill up to Campbell’s, Ger had another dig off the front. As the group reeled him in I was right on the back of the line and got a nice slingshot effect to go around everyone and up the hill on my own… Five kilometers of torture followed as I was out in the wind alone hoping someone would come across to me, rather than getting caught by the full bunch and then possibly dropped in the inevitable counter attacks.
 
Behind Mike, James and Keith had got away and as they eventually joined me gave great encouragement to work with them as we had a decent gap. We pushed on into the wind and around the loop to Louisburgh without catching sight of the chasing bunch and were given a 30second time gap by Noel at the Old Head cross on the way back. The determination in our break grew and with big efforts from James especially on the front we pushed hard for home. After Murrisk we were down to three as Mike was hampered by an issue with his saddle but our pace stayed strong. Coming to the last kilometre when we knew the work was done to stay away James put in a good dig up the penultimate drag and Keith left us to contest the last 500metres. I pulled alongside James, we said our good lucks and sprinted it out to the line with me just getting it by maybe a wheel. Keith took third just behind and Mike still had plenty to spare for fourth with Patjoe leading in the main group for fifth.
 
I was delighted to have got a good hard race and my very first win and now looking forward to a seriously competitive league over the summer months, with even more strong riders like Dave Walshe, Micheal, perhaps Con and Aichlinn to come back into the mix and Aaron set to join us after an impressive solo win from group 2.
 
A big thanks to all marshals and organisers, and here’s to a very successful Covey league.

 
(Report by Richard Meaney)
Video from within the race will be available soon: