Husband and Wife Share Glory at Lakeland GP

It was Ryan Sherlock of SportActive and his wife Melanie Spath of Cycleways who proved to be a winning duo when they both romped to victory in the main events at the Lakeland GP today. Sherlock who lifted a silver medal in the National Hill Climb Championships last night was competing in the 74 mile A race promoted by Lakeland CC as part of the weekend festival of cycling. The handicapped A race saw a three minute advantage given to A3’s over A2 and a similar gap back to A1’s.

This handicap proved to be well timed as the tough course allowed A3’s to stay away from A2’s for more than half of the event while the remaining eight riders in the scratch bunch only caught them with three miles to go to the finish. Sherlock then jumped and no-one had the legs to go with him. He soloed home a clear winner. The peloton broke with a group of eight riders chasing Sherlock.

It was this group that contested the spring for the remaining positions. Colm Quinn of Cuchullainn who was second in last night’s criterium in Enniskillen, proved to be the rider with the extra kick in the legs and he took second from Conor McAllister of Slane Cycles. Chris McCann of East Tyrone has shown steady progress through the year and this was proven when he took fourth ahead of Damian McDonald of Team Vision Racing and Gary Jeffers of East Tyrone.

There was an excellent field of women for the Women’s event which was also the final round of the National Women’s League and counter in the Ulster Women’s League. The women covered a distance of 41 miles taking in the tough climb which saw the group break.

It was Melanie Spath of Cycleways who took the chance and rode away from the main bunch to take a clear victory. Sandra FItzgerald of Lucan Staggs also saw her chance and broke away to take a solo second while Amy Brice jumped from the peloton in the closing stages to lift a well deserved third.

The remaining places came down to a bunch sprint and it was Mandy Collie (Team Basso Today’s Cyclist) who outsprinted Sinéad Rivers (Roe Valley CC)and Claire Dillon (Orwell Wheelers) to take fourth.

Results

Lakeland GP ‘A’ Race
1. Ryan Sherlock (SportActive)
2. Colm Quinn (Cuchulainn CC)
3. Conor McAllister (Slane Cycles)
4. Chris McCann (East Tyrone CC)
5. Damian McDonald (Team Vision Racing)
6. Gary Jeffers (East Tyrone CC)
7. Mark McKinley (SportActive)
8. Conor Hanna (Bikeworks)

Lakeland GP Women’s Race (Ulster and National Leagues
1. Melanie Spath (Cycleways) @ 1.50.58
2. Sandra Fitzgerald (Lucan Staggs)
3. Amy Brice (Phoenix CC)
4. Mandy Collie (Team Basso Today’s Cyclist)
5. Sinéad Rivers (Roe Valley CC)
6. Claire Dillon (Orwell Wheelers)
7. Fiona Cooke (Marble City)
8. Niamh Stephens (UCD)
9. Ciara Kinch (Orwell Wheelers)
10. Roisin Kennedy (Lucan Staggs)