Ras Chonamara Report 2010

This weekend saw the 5th instalment of the Gerry Clancy Memorial Cup, with its first as a Stage Race. This began on Saturday with a charity cycle through beautiful Joyce Country, although conditions were far from perfect. Cyclists cycled a testing course rolling out from Oughterard to Leenane via Maam, on through the Inagh Valley and back to Maam Cross where they stopped for refreshments kindly sponsored by Peacocke’s hotel. The more daring then completed the second more testing loop which brought them to Cashla and over Seanaféistín of FBD Rás fame and finished back in Race HQ, Connemara Gateway Hotel and despite the cold and wet conditions, feedback from the participants was positive. All proceeds went to Galway Hospice and the Oughterard Business Association sponsored 2 bikes for a draw with proceeds also going to the Galway Hospice.
Stage 1 of the 2 Day Race saw 61 riders comprising of Juniors, A2, A3, A4’S and Vets and one lady head out from Oughterard on a windy Sunday to Leenane. The bunch stayed together until Maam Cross where much of the racing began. There was fierce activity between here and Maam with many riders trying to get away, many of the attacks coming from Castlebar C.C’s Chris Troy and the unknown threat John Rigby, one of two brothers from St. Helens CRC, Wigan, who, on hearing about the race, decided to turn their holiday in Galway into a more demanding trip. Four riders, Jarlath Hassett West Clare C.C, defending champion John Dempsey D.M. Carrick Wheelers, J. Rigby & C. Troy managed to escape from the bunch on the winding route between Maam and Leenane and quickly built up a lead of a minute. They were then joined by the 58 yr old Gerhard Hack, Western Lakes C.C who added impetus to the well functioning breakaway. Troy was unable to sustain the effort and found himself back in the main bunch before the descent into Leenane. The second of the Rigby brothers, Brian, along with West Coast Wheelers rider, Anthony Testa, made a break from the bunch and again established a well working break and worked furiously to catch the 4 out front. With great competition for the RF Transport Ltd. KOH on the ascent out of Leenane won by Dempsey, the breakaway extended their lead to 1’30” on the two riders in the middle and almost 3 minutes to the bunch. The O’ Boyle & Associates Prime at Recess was again won by the in form Dempsey, who also won the stage end from Hassett in a nail biting finish in Oughterard. Testa and B. Rigby finished 1’50” down with the main bunch, having been unable to co-ordinate a united effort, shattered in the testing conditions which saw riders crossing the line at intervals of 5 minutes and more down on the leading group.
Conditions deteriorated overnight and Monday morning revealed conditions unsuitable for anything other than a high stool or a remote control!! Gusts of wind made the 10km TT very difficult for all, including spectators (!) which was won by Vet, Chris Troy Castlebar CC in a time of 13’33”. Nearest to Troy was another Galway rider Brian O’ Donnell, West Coast Wheelers in a time of 13’54” and Castlebar CC rider, Paul Dunne in 3rd position @ 14’05,”with the top 6 riders on GC finishing within 30 seconds of each other and Dempsey managing to extend his lead on his nearest rivals.
After much discussion and feedback from the riders themselves, Stage 3 was left at its original length of 80km, and the bunch again headed out towards Maam Cross with the daunting prospect of the 2nd cat climb at Seanaféistín ahead of them. The riders had a rolling start after being neutralised through Oughterard and it is is safe to say that the neutralised flag was no sooner lowered than local rider and main race sponsor, Nigel Forde of Nigel’s Cycle Store went for broke and attacked in what can only be described as an all in move in abysmal conditions. Forde had a gap of 45s at Maam Cross, when a left turn was taken into a driving headwind so strong that vehicles in the cavalcade were rocking in the wind. Even the sheep were taking shelter from rock faces and 2 horses were spotted on the gable end of a house also taking shelter! The gap never grew more than this although Forde was joined by Sean Moylett, Donamon Dynamos CC for a period of time. Tired of the waiting game J. Rigby made a break on the turn up to Seanaféistin, closely marked by race leader, John Dempsey. Hassett, not wanting to be left out of the action, joined the 2 and they rode away from the main bunch, many of whom had little knowledge of the pain to come. The group of leaders quickly caught Forde and Moylett, who were shortly swallowed up by the following bunch. In a gusting cross wind and torrential rain, the bunch soon became decimated with little place to hide on the wide open Connemara road from Ros a Mhíl to Oughterard. Chris Troy, found himself in no mans land between the breakaway and the chasing group of 10 riders, including top 6 riders Hack, B. Rigby and Testa. Rigby took the Nuratherm KOH at Seanaféistín and the three riders had a gap of one minute on the chasing bunch of 4 coming into Oughterard. Driving rain and wind kept spectators inside but some braved the elements to cheer the riders on as they completed 3 laps of a 10km loop. J. Rigby punctured out of the break and found himself wheel-less for what must have seemed like an eternity, on a day where neutral service worked as hard as the riders themselves. The chasing group, consisting of Hack, Testa, Troy and Gavin Browne, Black Rose CC never managed to close the gap on the 2 leaders who held their nerve and worked until the end. Hassett took the stage from Dempsey who took overall honours with the chasers finishing 1’04” down and the unfortunate Rigby finishing 1’56” down. Many riders failed to finish but hats off to the 40 riders who stayed in the saddle in what was one of the more difficult days racing. Back to the Connemara Gateway Hotel who kindly provided warm showers for all who wished to avail followed by a slap up spread in Faherty’s Bar, Oughterard for the prize giving. Overall honours went to Dempsey, followed by Hassett and Hack with the team prize going to West Clare C.C. Thanks to all involved especially the local marshals and Gárdai who offered their time and assistance before they read the weather forecast!!