Black Rose Grand Prix 2011

Black Rose Grand Prix
August 14th 2011

Black Rose Racing Grand Prix was won in emphatic style by Neill Delahaye (Team Dectek) when he soloed home ahead of Derek Cunningham (Bray Wheelers) and David Brennan (Castlebar CC). The Handicapped race came together before the first climb and split into bunches over the next couple of laps.

The 80km race took in the climb 4 times and the groups were sorted by the second lap. Ok we did say it was just a little drag but I think all who raced enjoyed the tough course. The trio had almost a minute leading into the last lap and Delahaye made his move on the final ascent.. Sean Bracken (Usher IRC) and Eoin Clifford (Galway Bay) moved away from the chasing bunch and were followed by Steven Franzoni (Murphy Surveyors Kilcullen CC). After the 4 laps riders had to race the 8 km back to the finish in Menlough where they were clocked doing 70 kph with the aid of a tail wind.

After the support act as we call it in the music business it was on to the real deal and the following race was for the kids of the village as they raced the last 200 meters over the finish line. Future stars in the making. then it was over to the community centre to present the prizes and the main question about the trophy was if it was a real guitar. Yes! it is and it plays so the challenge for next year is when Neil comes back to defend his title he has to play a song! Thanks to all the support crew and people of Menlough.

Jay Daly, Melisande Michaud and Nicola Costello from Black Rose. To the local GAA for the changing rooms and showers and to Garda Mick Mc Dermot from Monivea and the rusty chain cycling club for allowing us to cycle through their area! Also a big thank you to Sean Coakley for race finish and to Oliver McKenna for everything and to my mammy for making sandwiches and rice crispy buns.

Until Next Year Aidan Reade Black Rose Racing.

1 Neil Delahaye, Dectek
2 Derek Cunningham, Bray Wheelers
3 David Brennan, Castlebar CC
4 Sean Bracken, Usher
5 Eoin Clifford, Galway Bay CC
6 Steve Franzoni, Murphy Surveys

1st A2 Eoghan Considine Black Rose
1st A3 Eoin Whelan Laois
1st A4 Anthony Murray Covey CC

1st Lady Mary Brennan Castlebar CC
1st Junior James Mahony Donamon
1st Vet Sean Bracken Usher IRC

The Black Rose Racing Team is proud to announce it has now its very first home race :
The Black Rose Grand Prix.

Black Rose Racing was set up at the end of 2009 to concentrate in racing on both road and track. In 2010 the team had many early season successes with Charles Prendergast and later in the season won connacht championship medals in time trial, hill climb and road race with Jay Daly, Charles and Aidan Reade. Aidan went on to win two All Ireland Vet medals on the track. 2011 Brought bigger and better goals. The biggest was to send a team to the Rás and Eoghan Considine and Aidan Reade were joined by Connor O Shea, Keith Fox and Colm Bracken , who was competing in a record 25th Rás. The next big goal was to run our own race....

So here we are. The East Galway based team invites any racing cyclist to come by on the 14th of August in Menlough, 30 minutes only from Galway, Tuam, Roscommon, Loughrea and just off the M4 Motorway north of Ballinasloe.

The course starts in Menlough, heads over to Abbeyknockmoy, goes over a short but tough climb to Monivea, and does that loop 4 times before coming back to the finish line in Menlough, on one of the smoothest roads in the West of Ireland (well for 100 meters anyway), for a total distance of 80km.

Sign on at 10h30am at the Menlough Community Centre, Race at 12 noon 80 km.
A1 - A2 - A3 - A4 , Vets, Ladies and Juniors welcome.

Prizes in all categories with beautiful Glass trophies for first, second and third and also for first Lady, Vet. and Junior.
A special note about the perpetual trophy. Many great cycling events have incredible trophies, whether its the trident for tirreno adriatico or the cobble for Paris Roubaix.
So we decided Rather than win a rock for a trophy win a trophy that rocks!!

For any question or inquiry, log on Black Rose Racing Facebook page or contact Aidan Reade 087 26 28 440