One hundred and forty members participated
/ marshalled in a closely contested midweek league with Eddie Dunne
coming out on top and Victor Hynes runner up. I never thought I’d
see Eddie Dunne riding a full season’s TT’s , It’s
not long ago he would not consider riding even one! While steadily
improving his TT times throughout the season and picking up three
handicap wins plus two 2nds and a 3rd on the way he has not lost
his legendary sprint and won two of the four DMS races also. He
was even seen towards the front of the bunch before the finale on
a couple of occasions!
Victor made great strides in the TT’s with his new aero bike,
picking up two handicap wins and two 2nds in the TT’s and
also a DMS win. With just six points separating them they were 17
points clear of the next man, Colm Conway in 3rd place.
Paul Dolan deserves a special mention in 4th place. It’s not
usual to see scratch men placing so high in a handicap league.
No races were lost to bad weather thankfully but we were not blessed
with any magic float evenings for super fast TT’s. That said
there were around forty PB’s set during the season.
The four re-introduced DMS races on the new Batterstown / Green
Sheds circuit were well attended and run safely ( some riders do
still need to remember we ride on the left in Ireland ) with an
average of about forty riders. The new finish area on the bypass
is good and safe and provided some great finishes. The time trials
attracted an average of about 30 riders which is encouraging. The
two circuit TT’s on the Mullagh course were a good challenge
and will, I think, remain a feature of the league.
I’ve included the top ten in each ability group on the overall
league table in the latest version posted on the web.
There will inevitably be a few minor tweakes to the points as members
get the chance to check the league table. Please contact me with
any queries no later than the end of August.
Many thanks to all those on the race committee, and those who marshalled,
kept times and places, operated photo finishes, took photo’s,
drove ambulances and lead cars / motor bikes and anyone I’ve
overlooked for contributing time and money, ( there you go, I nearly
forgot our sponsors ! ).
In short all the many people without whom we would have no races
to ride.
Thanks again.
Phil Ormrod.
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