Womens Cycling for 2012 & Gary's 1st CX Win

Last week the ladies within Dundalk's Cuchulainn Cycling Club held a meeting to discuss their plans for the 2012 season. In a few short years the number of within within the club has grown substantially and there was members present from underage right through the ranks. The number of women within Irish cycling has also grown considerably over the last decade. Ireland now hosts a series of womens only competitive cycling leagues and also Europe's biggest amateur female stage race The An Post Rás na mBan. This 5 day race is held in September each year in Kerry and is the highlight of the Irish calendar. The club's women have ambitious plans to enter a Dundalk team in this event in 2012. A number of the club's riders had their first taste of competitive racing this year and were able to mix it with the countries top racers. In addition to competitive cycling the club's new womens reps Michelle Dolan and Kathleen Bryne are looking to make sure that all aspects of women's cycling are covered from underage cycling through to touring and completing such arduous events as the Wicklow 200km event.
 
Meanwhile in the Cyclocross race held in Swords on Saturday last Gary Shiels and Seamus McEvoy made it a club first and second in the support race. Gary was first man home with 45seconds to spare over Seamus. Karl Dolan also placed in the top 10, with Aarann McCann further down the field. In the A race Johnny McCabe again had a top showing in the super vets category.