One Day Training Camp – Mullingar 10th March 2012
This will be a fully coached camp catering for all levels of female cyclists, from beginners to experienced competitors. The attendees will be split into suitable groups based on ability, and the training spins will vary in distance and focus. This camp will act as an excellent introduction to cycling for newer members to the sport. It was a great opportunity for the competitive riders to come together for a weekend last year so we hope to see you again this year.

Beginner Leagues 2012 (handicapped starting times)
These races are open to female riders of all fitness and ability levels including beginners, youths and juniors. With expert advice on hand, the Leagues are aimed at those interested in getting into racing for the first time and will be great for improving fitness, cornering, bunch skills and the all important tea and chat afterward.

Orwell ladies Crit League 2012 (Sandyford industrial estate-Dublin)
10, 17 & 24 April & 1, 8, 15 May 2012

Wicklow Ladies League (Ashford – Wicklow)
22nd May, 29th May, 5th June and 12th June

Swords Ladies League
7th + 21st Aug

Weekend Training Camp – Wicklow 18th & 19th August 2012
This will be coached training camp and should provide good cycling skills for riders with their personal goals. The timing of this camp is also perfect for those in preparation for Rás na mBan.

National League 2012
The National league has been running successfully for years and the numbers have grown significantly. These races are women’s only league to encourage women to compete in road racing and can provide great close racing and will have prizes including the coveted title of National League Champion 2012.
Sandra Fitzgerald the 2011 champion is now a pilot on the squad for the Paracycling Team announced for LA Track World Championships.

11th March Waller Cup Bohermeen
22nd April Combes Conor Memorial
13th May Dunsany CP Navan CP
27th May 2012 Emyvale GP
21st July 10 mile TT Sorrento CC
29th July Brendan Campbell Memorial Drogheda Wheelers

Classic League 2012
The Classic league is run in conjunction with the A3 races for the more experienced women.

15th April Stamullen GP
29th April Noel/Kieran Hammond
10th June Meath GP (Sean Nolan) Navan Cycling Club
11th -12th Aug Ballinrobe 2 day

National Championship events
23rd June – National Women’s Road Race championships, Clonmel CC
21st June – National TT Championships Women, Clonmel CC
2nd September – Senior Track Championships

Stage Races
30th June & 1st July Mullingar 2 day
This women’s only two day stage race is a fantastic opportunity for women who haven’t experienced the excitement and perhaps the nerves of watching your progress in the GC (General Classification) at the end of each stage.

9th – 13th September Ras na mBan (Sneem)
Rás na mBan is Ireland’s premier women’s international stage race. It takes place on the extraordinarily beautiful and challenging roads of County Kerry in Ireland. Entrants include local club and national level women riders from Ireland competing with riders from the rest of Europe and beyond.

For updates and further information please see womenscycling.ie

The future is very bright indeed for Women’s Cycling. Avon Ri in Blessington Co Wicklow was the venue for the launch of the Girls 2020 Talent Team. 20 Bright and Talented girls attended the inaugural camp for Cycling Irelands female talent team.

Spearheaded by Development Coach Orla Hendron the day began with a skills and ride preparation session. Rosin Kennedy demonstrated to an attentive bunch what exactly they should be wearing on a cold winter’s day and what food and essentials they should bring with them. Kate Rudd then went through a bike check, demonstrating how important it is to check your equipment before you head out. Nicola Oldham and Ger Ivory followed up with a warm up and skills session to make sure everyone was well warmed up and prepared for the open roads.

The girls were split into two age groups with the 12/13 year old being coached by Ger Ivory and Kate Rudd and supported by Alan Neenan. The more senior 14- 16 year olds were looked after by Roisin Kennedy and Orla Hendron and supported by Paddy Doran. Both groups had really good sessions going through some drills such as cornering and pacing. All the Coaches were very impressed with the standard of skill and fitness of both groups and very excited about the future of this bunch of girls.

After Lunch Head of Development and mentor to the Women Paddy Doran gave a very informative talk on training for the Youth riders, going through a lot of the information that is covered in his book on Youth Cycling. The booklet was distributed to all the riders along with a nutrition book. Both of these books will provide a very useful tool for both riders and parents in their future development.
Orla Hendron then went through more of the detail of the rest of the programme.

The day was concluded with a very inspirational talk /work shop by former World Class Rower and HP rider Heather Boyle. Heather gave an insight into the life, dreams and goals of a young aspiring World Class rower, by engaging the girls in a bit of a workshop and getting them to come up with some very interesting answers to questions she put to them.

We would like to thank all the Coaches who gave of their time to make the day such a success and looking forward to the next camp in February.

An opportunity for women cyclists to meet and cycle in “women only groups” in a relaxed environment to enhance their cycling skills, under the guidance of Gillian McDarby, ex international and a current Irish Cycling Development coach.

Booking Form HERE

Topics covered will include:

Bike skills
Bike maintenance
Event preparation
Nutrition

Check out details for the Women’s Week on the SportActive website.
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Please forward this info to women cyclists that you think might be interested. Male cyclists are still very welcome in that week …. but in a different group ….
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We look forward to meeting you in Mallorca, March 10-17, 2012.
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Best greetings,
from your SportActive Team
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SportActive, 1st Floor, 2 Dacre Terrace, L/Derry, BT48 6JU, N Ireland
Office: 0044/ (0)28 7136 5997
Mob Martin 0044/ (0)75 997 191 79
Land line Flora :0033/ (0)478 59 18 90
Mobile Flora : 0033/ (0)699 79 12 54

www.sportactive.net

The journey to the European and World Championships begins next Saturday for Development Squads.
There is a fitness training session for development squad riders next Saturday and Sunday. Squad riders will take part in a General fitness test and Circuit training.

The sessions will be held at Winning Solutions Cycling Centre in Dublin. Saturday is for endurance riders and Sunday is for Sprint type athletes like track sprinters and Downhill MTB.

We are working towards getting some of these riders through to elite teams for the European and World championships and improving general fitness over the winter months is a very import part of their preparation. This camp will give them the tools to improve their fitness over the winter months.

The session is by invitation to Squad members and is full. However riders who may not be currently on these squads, who show promise and get results during the season, can still be included on Irish teams and may be upgraded to the development Squads at a later date.
Paddy Doran
Head Development Coach
Cycling Ireland

So please can you place a comment after this post if you intend racing it. Navan always put on a great race for the women, and if there is a separate race it is an ideal time to try out road racing with a group of women in an untimidating environment.

1st place, Mary Crosbie

11 ladies signed on for a 20k, 2 laps of the Ring Commons circuit.  For many riders, this was their first race, so there were a few nerves on the start line.  The first group were Mary Crosbie, Lisa Boardman, Siobhan Moore, Suzanne Barron and Louise Morgan, all from Fingal Triathlon club. These ladies had a 2.5 minute lead on the second group, which consisted of Aoife Sheridan (Orwell), Naoise Sheridan (Orwell), Caoimhe Ivory (Bray), Pam Coleman, Caroline Martinez (Orwell) and Sinead McBreen (Orwell).

Lisa and Mary broke away from the first group early in the race and worked hard together to maintain their lead. Going into the second lap, the second group of ladies, Naoise, Caoimhe, Caroline and Sinead were working hard to close to gap, but Lisa and Mary were still 90 seconds clear of the next riders, Louise, Siobhan and Suzanne. Caoimhe put in a huge effort on the second lap in order to try and bridge the gap, which was narrowed to 60 seconds on the finish line.

Mary and Lisa managed to stay away with Mary crossing the finish line about 30 seconds ahead of Lisa. Caroline was just ahead of Caoimhe, Naoise and Sinead in the sprint for 3^rd place.

1. Mary Crosbie (Fingal Tri)
2. Lisa Boardman (Fingal Tri)
3. Caroline Martinez (Orwell)
4. Caoimhe Ivory (Bray)
5. Naoise Sheridan (Orwell)
6. Sinead McBreen (Orwell)
7. Louise Morgan (Fingal Tri)
8. Siobhan Moore (Fingal Tri)
9. Pam Coleman (Swords CC)
10. Suzanne Barron (Fingal Tri)

McNally Joinery Swords CC Ladies race

Tuesday August 23^rd

Sign on from 6.30pm for a 7.30pm start

There will be a coached practice spin at 6.45pm especially for those who have never raced before

This event will be a 30k handicapped race (3 laps of a 10k circuit) to give all participants a fair chance. The circuit is relatively flat with only 1 sprint hill. If anyone who has never raced before wants to give a lap a go, they are more than welcome.

Map of the Route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/80503

Refreshments afterwards at the Ring Commons Sports Centre. These races are suitable for all levels of fitness and ability.

Entry €5 and Cycling Ireland Licence €10, per race
Spot prizes sponsored by Hazel’s Health Food Store
For further information contact

Bernie McNally 087 617 2828 berniemcnally00@yahoo.com

Laura Banfield 085 736 8979 lbanfield@gmail.com

Results from the ladies race on the 9th August
1. Mary Crosbie
2. Lisa Boardman
3. Caroline Martinez
4. Caoimhe Ivory
5. Naoise Sheridan
6. Sinead McBreen
7. Louise Morgan
8. Siobhan Moore
9. Pam Coleman
10. Suzanne Barron

Sandra Fitzgerald

Ciara Mulholland

Lauren Gourley

Laura Banfield

Cait Elliot

Manager- Michelle Geoghegan

1-2 for Piner and Bates, photo courtesy Brendan Culleton

A full list of entries can be found below for the Women’s event in the Mullingar 2 Day.

We have a fantastic line-up for this weekends Ladies 2 day event in Mullingar. The team prize will be hotly contested by a very strong Orwell A team and equally strong Irish Development team with Lakeside Wheelers and Orwell B hoping they may also be in with a chance.

The peleton is divided into two groups an A (expereinced level riders) and B (newer riders) with a pink jersey awarded to the highest place finisher after race one on Saturday morning in both groups.. The B group mainly consists of newer riders and will start with a time handicap over the A group. Francine Meehan and Sandra Fitzgerald come to the race in super form and I’m sure will be keen to win the overall A, in the B’s local rider Muirna Walsh will be a favorite to be wearing pink by Sunday morning.

Any last minute entries please contact Sarah on 0870520847
Mulllingar Ladies 2 day Race event – Entries

Orwell A

1.Anne Dalton

2.Ciara Kinch

3.Sandra Telford

4.Aideen Collard

5. Catherine Devitt

Orwell B

6.Aina Krol

7.Caroline Martinez

8.Jeni O’Regan

9.Margaret Donnelly

10.Patricia Buckley

Irish Development

11.Charlotte MacDonald

12.Caroline Conway

13.Laura Banfield

14.Sandra Fitzgerald

15.Amy Brice

Lakeside Wheelers

16.Muirna Walsh

17.Paula Murray

18.Louise McCarra

19.Sarah Piner

Individual Riders

20.Francine Meehan ( Tullamore)

21. Roisin Kennedy (Lucan)

22.Orla McEvoy ( Bray)

23. Niamh Stevens (UCD)

24. Cliodhna Ruane (U/A)

25. Sinead McBreen (Orwell)

26. Aisling O’Dwyer (Orwell)

27. Fiona Cooke (Marble City Cycles)

Those in Red are in the A group

Those in Blue and in the B group

1. Caroline Conway(Usher)

2. Charlotte Mc Donald(Orwell)

3.Laura Banfield (Swords)

4.Amy Brice (Phoenix)

5.Sandra Fitzgerald (Lucan)

TEAM MANAGER

Eddie Lynch

COACH

Gillian McDarby

Sign on from 6.30pm for a 7.30pm start.  There will be a coached practice spin at 6.45pm especially for those who have never raced beforeThis event will be a 30k handicapped race (3 laps of a 10k circuit) to give all participants a fair chance. The circuit is relatively flat with only 1 sprint hill. If anyone who has never raced before wants to give a lap a go, they are more than welcome.

Map of the Route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/80503

Refreshments afterwards at the Ring Commons Sports Centre

Entry €5 and Cycling Ireland Licence €10, per race
Spot prizes sponsored by Hazel’s Health Food Store
For further information contact

Bernie McNally 087 617 2828 berniemcnally00@yahoo.com

Laura Banfield 085 736 8979 lbanfield@gmail.com

Read on for a report on the Ladies Track Training Camp from Orwell’s Natalie Grieve.

LADIES TRACK TRAINING DAY – 26TH JUNE 2011

After missing out on last year’s track season due to injury, I decided to go along to the Ladies Track Training Day last Sunday for a refresher accreditation and an introduction to omnium racing.  18 of us signed on for the day and the newcomers went through the accreditation (learning how to ride safely on the Track), passing with flying colours.

We were then given a chance to try the starting gate and everyone managed this successfully except for one male rider who will remain anonymous to preserve his dignity!  Following a quick lunch break we started off the omnium with a flying 250m which was tough enough due to the nice breeze on the Track.  This was followed by an elimination race, which is never easy with sprints every lap.  Next up we had a points race over 12 laps, a 4 lap 4 person pursuit, a 10 lap scratch race and a 500m TT using the starting gates.  The informal racing provided us with a fun way to gain track experience and a chance to figure out what events we are most suited to.  At the end of the session we were given feedback from the coaches and our times for the 250m and 500m TTs.

The Track at Sundrive has been greatly improved over the last few years and the pavilion is a great addition to the facility.  I had a great day, learned a lot and we even got some sun!  The standard of riding was very high and we should see some exciting women’s track racing in the future.  Many thanks to Aideen, Dave, Hugh, Stephen, John, Owen and everyone who gave up their Sunday afternoon to help us out.

Natalie Grieve, Orwell CC

We look forward to seeing more riders at our next Ladies Track Training Day on Sunday 24th July for a mock Omnium racing day in prepartion for the demo National Omium Championships in Orangefield, Belfast on 30th-31st July – to express your interest and for further information, please contact Aideen Collard on 087 4179967, E-mail: aideen.collard@gmail.com.  For more info on the Women’s Omnium, see http://www.trackcycling.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=594:womens-omnium-whats-it-about&catid=41:womens-news&Itemid=60

Aoife Sheridan wins Rd 4. photo courtesy Pat Fitzpatrick

Junior Aoife Sheridan (Orwell) broke free of the pack to take the win in Round 4, with Fionnuala ni Bhradaigh (Bray) taking second and last years league winner Eileen O’Sullivan (Sorrento) in third.  Fiona Crean and Deirbhle Ivory (Bray) held off the stampeding pack to take 4th and 5th ahead of scratch rider Roisin Kennedy (Lucan).  7th place was good enough for Ailbhe Ivory (UCD) to hold onto the lead in the overall league, to take the winners trophy home as she did 2years ago.  Full results and links to photos:

Round 4 Results

I would like to thank every rider who came and rode the league, it was great to see so many of you come out and race so hard; many thanks to all who helped out with the goodies – it really makes these races special, I know how much time goes into it so thank you all for being so generous with your skills and your time;  also many thanks to those who undertook the marshalling duties, the unsung heroes who allow these events to go ahead; and thanks of course to my wonderful photographers – esp for helping me with the placings at the end!  Thanks also to the Womens Commission for their unstinting work in supporting womens racing, who funded the trophies and prizes for the overall league.

Pat Fitzpatricks photos can be seen here, thanks Pat.

Brendan Culleton also made the trip down from Dublin to visit us last night, his photos can be found here.

Ailbhe Ivory wins overall. Pic courtesy Pat Fitzpatrick

Full Overall Results of Wicklow League 2011:

Eileen O’Sullivan (Sorrento), Fiona Duggan, Fionnuala ni Bhradaigh and Deirbhle Ivory (U14) (all Bray) rounded out the top 10.  Many thanks to all riders, marshals and helpers for turning up in such horrible weather - Midsummers day, longest day of the year and I’m amazed that so many hardy souls showed up on such a rotten evening.   Special thanks to all who baked such wonderful goodies for the picnic this evening – made it all worthwhile!  Only one more evening to go, results of Rd 3 are below, and beyond that is the points table after all the rounds so far.

Pat Fitzpatrick braved the bad weather to come and take pics of all you glamorous ladies, many thanks Pat, his photo’s can be found here.

Points Table after 3 Rounds:

Rachel Glendin (Orwell) solo’d from her group tonight to win alone in fine style, while behind her we were treated to a thrilling sprint for the podium places by Ailbhe Ivory (UCD) and Rachel Kaye-Mellor (Orwell), both sprint specialists, with Ailbhe throwing her bike over the line just ahead and taking 2^nd.  (links to photos added)

Another Ivory, U16 Caoimhe (Bray) showed her grit and took 4^th spot ahead of Fiona Cooke (Marble City Cycles), with U14 Naoise Sheridan (Orwell) doing a truly hard-ass ride and finishing 6^th, while just behind was U16 Rebecca Heaney (Orwell) – and with another U14 Deirbhle Ivory making her debut appearance in the Wicklow League this year the future is looking good! Keep up all the track cycling girls ‘cos it’s sure paying off!

With the handicapped groups working well and performing more strongly than expected, the scratch had a hard time making up the extra lap they had to do, even though their lap times were consistently excellent – less than 8mins a lap for Roisin Kennedy (Lucan) and Anne Dalton (Orwell). So be warned – we know what ye are all capable of now – there’ll be no hiding next week!

Many thanks to all the marshals who helped out tonight, to Pat Fitzpatrick and John Shiels for coming to take photos, and of course to all the women who travelled out to take part.  Also great to see the womens commission ride down to keep an eye on proceedings – just in time to miss the finish – have to ride faster next time girls!

Round 2 Wicklow League 2011

Read on for the report on the Women’s Cycling Training Camp held in Mullingar on the 28th May.

Mullingar was the location for the latest installment of the ladies training camps. Despite the wind, the wind, some more wind we had a fantastic day aimed at women of all abilities interested in improving their cycling skills. The day was structured in such a way as to further develop the riders skills in the areas they were interested in . Attendees included experienced competitive road cyclists, triathletes and those focused on sportives. All took something new away. The first part of the day saw two groups head out on the road divided up based on their experience and ability.

Paddy Doran, Gillian McDarby and Shay O’Toole took one group and focused on bike handling skills such as cornering, riding in a bunch, holding a wheel, up ’n’ overs. Orla Hendron put the second group through their paces with a tough training spin. Theory was put into practice as Orla helped us develop skills such as attacking off the front of the bunch, riding race tempo speed in close formation and demonstrating some timed intervals which could be very successfully integrated into a training plan.

The women’s training camps serve as a great introduction for those new to the sport and gives compeitive riders the opportunity to come together for a training ride and find out how everyone else is getting on. Feedback was very positive from all who took part.

We would like to thank those who helped make the day a success; Sarah Piner & Shay O’Toole from Lake Side Wheelers, Paddy Doran and Gillian McDarby for their coaching guidance on the road and their very informative talk in the afteroon, Orla Hendron for on-road coaching, Valerie Considine from the Women’s Commission who spoke about the women’s racing scene in Ireland with many  racing opportunities available from beginner leagues to the National League and the training structures such as the Leinster squad and Development squad and the Annebrook Hotel which served as an ideal base for the day.