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2009 Cycling Ireland Track Commission Selection Event

Results from Saturdays Track Omnium event in Dublin to select U14/16 Youth and Junior/U23 development teams to compete in selected outdoor track meets in the UK. The aim of this venture is to expose young track talent to the next level of competition. There will be a selection event later in the year for a female track development team to travel to a UK meet in August.

In the Under 14 category Banbridge rider Mark Downey finished second in the Sprint and Scratch events and 3rd in the Time Trial to end up second overall.

Results Under 14.

1 Craig Arrigan

2 Mark Downey

3 Darragh Long

In the Under 16s Jack Wilson took a clean sweep of all three events to secure his place on the squad.

Under 16.

1 Jack Wilson

2 Ross Grogan

3 Enda Ryan

The above riders will copmete in the Mainday Youth Omnium in Cardiff at the end of the month.

In the combined Junior and Under 23 events Jonny Cole was best of the Northern contingent, winning the 25 lap scratch race and finishing second in the Kilometre to finish second overall. Jonny Beers was second in the Sprint, but fastest Junior, closely followed by David Neill and, along with Aaron Baines all qualified for the Edinburgh Grand Prix event next month.

Combined Junior and Under 23

1 Ivan Casey (U23)

2 Jonny Cole (Jun)

3 Jonny Beers (Jun)

4 David Neill (Jun)

5 Michael Mulcachy (U23)

6 Aaron Baines (Jun)

The above will compete in the Edinburgh GP on 13 & 14 June.

2009 Training Gets Underway

30 April 2009

Track activities will resume at Orangefield this Sunday afternoon 3 May (weather permitting) with a re-introduction to the track following the winter lay-off.

The session will get underway at 1pm, and all Youth, Junior and Under 23 Male riders should especially take note, as this will be an opportunity for some track time ahead of next Saturday (9th) where selection events will be held at the Sun Drive Track in Dublin for the upcoming British Track meetings. Cycling Ireland will be sending various age groups and disciplines to 4 selected British Tracks throughout the Summer, with riders selected on next Saturdays timed sessions in Dublin.

Contacts for this Sunday are-

Brian 07718 894 570

Anthony 07843 561 084

Orangefield Womens Track Day.

15 March 2009

The Ulster Track Commission along with the Ladies Association organised a well supported women-only track familiarisation day at Orangefield on Sunday.

Girls from as far away as Derry and Portrush made the trip to Belfast for what for many was their first sight of a banked Cycling Track.

Most were daunted by the thought of riding on 40 degree banking, however after circulating for a few gentle laps most were overcoming their initial fears, however only a few were brave enough to have a try out on a track bike on their first visit, once they realised there was no brakes and no freewheel!

Coach Brian Cardy had organised some exercises including general track etiquette, riding in a group, flying 200 metre time trials and standing start practice.

Experienced track riders Rachel Mitchell and Ciara Mulholland were on hand to demonstrate some of the finer points of track riding including Madison hand-slings.

Anthony Mitchell acted as `pied piper` leading the group around the track to help their confidence in riding at the top of the banking and also general close proximity cycling.

The enthusiasm and interest shown by the girls was commendable, and hopefully future training sessions will be organised throughout the year.

It is the Track Commissions intention to run accreditation sessions in May in advance of the Track League getting underway in June.

Velodrome Training

Last weekend 27-8 Feb 2009 saw a squad of 9 Youth and Junior athletes head to the Manchester Velodrome for a weekend's track training. Despite the long journey down from Stranraer, all riders were fired up at the prospect of sharing track time with the British Cycling Olympic Development Squad.

Thanks to links made by the Track Commission, it had been arranged for our best two `sprint` athletes, David Neill (Team Madigan) and Jonny Beers (East Antrim) to train along with Multi World Masters champion Geoff Cooke, who had his British ODP squad gathered for the weekend.

This was a tremendous boost for these two lads who show great promise in Sprint discipline events, and despite being apprehensive, the two riders performed exceptionally well in this company, with Cooke well impressed with their efforts and attitude.

Some of the drills included 500 metre Time Trials, Flying 200 Metres, Standing Start 100 metres as well as lengthy spells behind Cooke`s 125cc motorcycle.

The most daunting test was when each rider was taken individually for a three lap `spin` behind the bike, with the speed gradually built up to a maximum in excess of 60kph. Despite it being their first experience of this type of session, both Ulster lads performed at least as well as the more experienced English and Scottish riders in the squad, and in the timed exercises were regularly posting top three results.

Prior to each days activities, Cooke led a 20 minute stretching session which included all Ulster athletes, before breaking in to two groups for the remainder of the day, when Brian Cardy and Anthony Mitchell looked after the 7 remaining Ulster riders.

Our time on track was put to good use, with various timed sessions as well as `track craft` lessons led by Manchester resident Louise Satherly, a native of Derry and an experienced Track Sprinter who came down for the weekend to train with our riders. Jonny Cole and Rachel Withers also posted times for the 3k and 2k individual pursuit respectively, as both have an eye on National selection for these events later in the season.

In all, it was one of the best workshop weekends Ulster has attended in recent years, thanks in no small way to British Cycling and Geoff Cooke being extremely accommodating in terms of track time and inclusion.

The invitation has been left open for further similar joint training sessions, and with both our riders and coaches coming away having learned a great deal, it is an experience that can hopefully be repeated. AM.

29 June 2008

International Track Meeting

Eamonn Ceannt Park, Sundrive Road, Dublin

Saturday 12th July

Featuring Elite, Ladies and Tandem against Cross-Channel opposition. Ideal warm up event for the Nationals later in the month and some International opposition for anyone considering entering the European Masters in Manchester in August. We would like to encourage some of the many ladies who are now accredited to participate. It is also an opportunity to see our finely tuned Paralympic riders in action before the head to Bejiing.

Although there are no races for youth, we would like to see them come along and learn from watching the experts.

Event timetable

11.00am – 11.45am - Sign on

11.45am – 12.25pm - Open track

12.30pm – Racing Starts

Event 1 : Tandem – Flying lap

Event 2 : Elite – 10 lap scratch

Event 3 : Women's – 10 lap scratch

Event 4 : Tandem – qualifying for sprint (flying 200m)

Event 5 : Elite - 1km dash

Event 6 : Women's sprint (heats will be drawn randomly)

Event 7: Tandem – sprint final & semi final

Event 8: Elite – Sprint (heats will be drawn randomly)

Event 9: Women's – sprint final & semi final

Event 10: Tandem - 2km dash

Event 11: Elite – Sprint final and semi finals

Event 12: Women's – 12 lap points (points every 3 laps – 5 3 2 1pts)

Event 13 Tandem - 12 lap points (points every 3 laps – 5 3 2 1 pts)

Event 14: Elite – 12 lap (win & out laps – 6 9 12)

Event 15: Women's 1km dash

Event 16; Tandem – 3km pursuit

Event 17: Women's 6km scratch

Event 18: Elite wheel 10km scratch

This International meet will be run by the Track Commission of Ireland in conjunction with Cycling Ireland. This programme is subject to change and will be run on as an omnium. (Events 17 & 18 will not be part of the omnium.)

All Sprints are the best of one heat.

Entry Fee €10

For info contact Will Byrne, Tel: 086 8047839, E-mail: will@kingscroft.ie.

Pre Entry not required but we would appreciate an e-mail indicating your intention to participate to help us with our planning

Tuesday 10 June 2008.

With track markings newly painted courtesy of Belfast City Council, some top times were recorded during a training evening on Tue 10 June.

Phoenix man John Neill, already holder of the unofficial 1 lap standing start record, bettered his figures to edge closer to breaking the 30 second marker for the 396m killer lap.

Other riders recorded personal best times for the distance on what was a cool sunny evening. The evening was marred slightly by an accident in the Team Pursuit event which saw Marty Henderson taken to hospital with a broken collar bone.

All those present, and the Ulster Track Commission, wish Marty a speedy recovery.

396 metre standing start lap TT 10 June 2008

John Neill

Sen

Phoenix cc

31.14 new unofficial lap record

Jack Wilson

U16 East Antrim

33.18 personal best

David Neill

U16

Madigan

32.17 personal best

Jonny Beers

Jun

East Antrim

33.59 personal best

Jonny Cole

Jun

Madigan

34.96 personal best

Anthony Mitchell

Vet

North Down

35.07

Paul Swenarton

Vet

North Down

35.12

Geoff Swann

Vet

Madigan

35.50 personal best

Richard Alexander Jun

Madigan

35.67

Marty Henderson Sen

Phoenix

36.15

Simon Stockton

Sen

Madigan

36.32 personal best

Rachel Mitchell

U16

North Down

36.84 personal best

Stephen Moffat

Phoenix

37.02 1st ride

John Runciman

Banbridge

37.45 1st ride

Laura Casey

U14

Clann Eireann 37.70 personal best

Martin Hagan

Madigan

38.21 1st ride

Ciara Mulholland U14

Clann Eireann 38.72 personal best

Stuart Ballintine U14

XMTBCC

39.37 1st ride

Ryan Orr

U14

Old Bleach CC 41.04 1st ride

Kyle Mc Erlane

U14

XMTBCC

41.04 1st ride

David Runciman U14

Banbridge

41.32

Chris Oakley

U14

XMTBCC

41.54

Claire Oakley U14

XMTBCC

42.72

Declan Mulholland U14

Clann Eireann 43.72 1st ride

Aimee Ogilby

U12

XMTBCC

47.31 personal best

Emma Gordon U10 Ballymena RC 53.18 personal best

Training times 2008

Flying 200m tt

John Neill 13.10 8 June

David Neill (U16) 13.89 3 June

Rob Watterson13.92 3 June

Jonny Beers (j)14.10 8 June

Jack Wilson (U16) 14.14 8 June

Paul Swenarton (V) 14.17 8 June

Mickey Murray 14.20 3 June

Jonny Cole (J) 14.26 3 June

Aaron Baines (U16)14.59 3 June

Brian Nugent 14.72 3 June

Keith Krymble 14.89 3 June

Simon Stockton 14.93 3 & 8 June

Richard Alexander (J) 14.96 3 June

Andrew Bradley 14.96 3 June

Anthony Mitchell (V) 15.39 3 June

Joe Henry 15.45 8 June

Anthony Clearn 15.68 3 June

Eddie Beard 15.82 3 June

Rachel Mitchell (U16) 15.95 3 June

Ciara Mulholland (U12) 16.37 8 June

Claire Oakley (U14) 16.91 3 June (gears)

Laura Casey (U14) 17.28 8 June

Mark Downey (U12) 17.62 3 June

Chris Oakley (U14) 17.62 3 June

Declan Mulholland (U12)18.81 8 June

Aimee Ogilby (U12) 21.58 3 June (gears)

Emma Gordon (U12) 24.09 8 June

250m Standing Start TT

John Neill 20.82 8 June

David Neill 21.67 8 June

Jack Wilson 22.02 8 June

Jonny Beers 22.28 8 June

Jonny Cole23.40 8 June

Simon Stockton 23.53 8 June

Joe Henry 23.58 8 June

Ciara Mulholland 24.26 8 June

Paul Swenarton 24.50 8 June

Rachel Mitchell24.51 8 June

Laura Casey 25.42 8 June