The penultimate leg of the Carlow Time Trial League took place last Tuesday evening on the Killleshin Hill course. Over 20 competitors took to the line for the race with Mick Mulcahy looking to tie up the overall honours in the league. There was also great competition in the veteran section with Will McDonald holding a slender lead over Mick McGrath and Tom Lucas not far back in third place. As the competitors lined up on the starting line, it was obvious that a great night of racing lay ahead with some of the best climbers around signed on for the event.
The finest display of cycling on the night came from Keith Heary who blew the field away with a show of strength over the 4km climb. Keith’s time of 12.38 was one of only 2 sub 13 minute climbs, but more importantly with Mick Mulcahy only managing 4th place, the league table had now been turned on its head with Keith reducing the 25 point gap on Mulcahy down to 10 points. The surprise of the night came from Sean Duggan who has recently taken up competitive cycling and clocked 12.54 to finish in second place, with specialist climber Brendan O’Reilly from Kilkenny finishing 3rd in 13.05 with Mick Mulcahy 4th in 13.06 and Phil Hennessey 5th in 13.47.
The veteran’s league saw Tom Lucas finishing 6th on the night and closing the gap to the top of the vets’ league with some powerful cycling from the 50-year-old. Tom clocked 14.13 on the night with Pascal Tomlinson finishing second vet in 15.40 just ahead of Mick McGrath on 15.49. What this means is that Mick McGrath has regained a 5 point lead over Will McDonald overall with Tom Lucas 15 points back.
In the women’s event, Geraldine Hendricken was back to win again ahead of Louise Nolan. Geraldine clocked 15.30 to finish 10th overall with Louise clocking 16.30 and 13th overall. In the beginners’ section there was more excitement as Alan Butler finished 8th to claim first spot in the beginners’ league ahead of long time leader Paul Redmond. Butler now holds a slender lead ahead of Redmond with one race to go. The team prize on the night went to the Carlow Road Club team of Tom Lucas and Brendan O’Reilly. The most aggressive rider award went to Keith Heary of Dan Morrisseys. On the night, the Carlow Triathlon Club also held their club hill climb championships with Keith Heary taking the gold medal ahead of Aidan Quigley and Mick McGrath in the bronze medal position.
