A four strong Cycling Ireland track team contested the European Junior & U23 Track Championships last week (26-31 July). The recently opened velodrome in Anadia, Portugal was the venue; and with temperatures of 25-30 degrees all week it was a challenge for both riders and staff to ensure riders were prepared for each of their events. The team ably managed by Brian Cardy all produced excellent performances across eight different track disciplines.

The highlight of the week was Shannon McCurley who secured a hard won bronze medal in the women’s U23 scratch race. With 23 riders and some countries having two riders it was going to be tough, but Shannon using her formidable track craft to the full was not easily intimidated; and when the pressure for places in the final 5 lap wind up for the finish she gave as good as she got to hold her place for the final sprint. On reflection some of the argy-bargy probably cost us a different coloured medal, however we were happy to win the medal and a place on the podium was a culmination of the hard work Shannon has done over the last few months. Shannon also contested the points, 500m TT and Kerin with good performances in what were wide ranging disciplines which require a good mix of speed, skill, power and endurance.

Ciara Horne excelled in finishing 6^th in the individual pursuit. She recorded 3.46 which was less than 2 seconds off a medal ride off. A personal best by 10 seconds shows how much Ciara has improved in the last few months. She has focused much of her training on the track in Newport. Ciara raced her first Omnium and while the bunched events were a challenge she scored well in the individual events where her best result was the pursuit where she was 6^th only 0.5 seconds off 4^th.

Eoin Mullen has spent the last 10 weeks in Aigle, Switzerland at the World Cycling Centre (WCC). He has been on a scholarship that was extended due to excellent application and progress. Fred Magne the Director of the WCC is very impressed in the progress young Eoin has made and he gave a good account of himself in the kilo where he finished with a 1.05.549, which gave him a final 5^th place from 19 starters. He then moved into the sprint competition where he qualified 5^th fastest with a 10.565 – an Irish record – and after a first round reprecharge finished 7^th. The Kerin was a tough call but Eoin battled well but was eventually put out in the reprecharge.

The relative novice of the team, Ryan Mullen fresh from a tough European road champs 2 weeks ago has honed his track form in the Tuesday evening track league in Manchester. However, after excelling in TT’s we added the individual pursuit to his programme and in his first ever competitive pursuit he recorded a fine 3.26 which was only 2 seconds off a bronze medal ride-off. This event is well suited to Ryan and as a first year junior he has many years to improve on what was an excellent debut time. Ryan also rode consistently in the points and scratch but missed out on a top placing.

All 4 riders have gained and learned from the experience over the 6 days of tough competition. GB and Russia tied with 9 Gold’s each, but Ireland is back in the medal table and this championship was a marker of where we can aspire to and build on going forward. The Irish team contested well at what were a very competitive championships and gained huge respect from other nations; especially with a medal winning performance to cap the week off.

Riders:

1. Ciara Horne (U23) – Individual Pursuit & Omnium
2. Shannon McCurley (U23) – Points race, Scratch race, 500m TT & Kerin
3. Eoin Mullen (J) – Kilo, Sprint & Kerin
4. Ryan Mullen (J) – Individual Pursuit, Points race & Scratch race

Staff:

1. Phil Leigh – HPD
2. Brian Cardy – Coach/Manager
3. Terry Cromer – Mechanic
4. Austin Mooney – Soigneur

For detailed results: http://uec-federation.eu/results/ & http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/european-track-championships-u23-juniors-2011/sessions

For further info contact: b.cardy@talktalk.net

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