The US based Mayo girl did the double, and within 40km of her home town, Kiltimagh, too. Blue skies, rolling roads, 40 riders and plenty of drama, made the 2010 Championships one of the most exciting to date.
Time Trial
On Thursday 24th June the top Time Triallists in Ireland lined up on the main Dublin - Sligo road, ready for the race of truth. The 2010 TT saw women travelling from all corners of the world to test contest the much coveted Champion’s jersey. While 5th place Claire Dallat (Carnegie/Caulfield) travelled the furthest (the NI girl came all the way from New Zealand), the gold medal went to Olivia Dillon (Peanut Butter & Co), for the 3rd year in a row.
Dillon did not win it without a good fight. Silver placed Heather Wilson (Maryland Wheelers), and bronze winner, Joanna Hickey (Usher Irish Road Club) were both within 6 seconds of the top triallist.
Fourth placed Caroline Ryan (Garda cc), also did a superb ride, and came home 9 seconds after the in-form Hickey. Confusion on the night had Ryan on the podium. The talent transfer rider won a silver medal as the tandem pilot at the 2009 World Paralympic Championships. However, Hickey’s time has since been ratified, the Usher rider is evidently reacting well to her new training programme set by international rider Paul Griffin, and the times by all riders reflect the healthy state of women’s cycling in Ireland.
Results:
1 O. Dillon (Peanut Butler & Co.), 28.17;
2 H. Wilson (Maryland Wheelers CC), 28.23;
3 J.Hickey (Usher Irish Road Club), 28.23
4C. Ryan (Garda CC), 28.34;
5 C. Dallat (Carnegie Caulfield CC), 28.59;
6 O. Hendron (DTCentre/Orwell Wheelers CC), 30.12;
7 R. Withers (West Tyrone VC), 30.59.
Road Race
With a rolling course, several pros, a few more fulltime cyclists and a field of members of the High Performance Squad, anything could have happened in the women’s Road Race on Saturday 26th June.
Defending Champion, Heather Wilson (Maryland Wheelers), wasn’t going to hand over her title too readily, Siobhan Horgan (nee Dervan), our top road racer, was looking to reclaim her title, and Olivia Dillon, the powerhouse from the States was determined to make her trip home a worthy one.
While all eyes were on these riders, nobody was willing to fall into the trap of spending the day shadowing each other, and from the gun the attacks began.
First attack of the day was Gillian McDarby (Usher), with Rita Boyle (Slaney). The gutsy duo managed to extend their lead as the kilometres ticked by, and by the one third mark in the race, the chase came on to reel in the two. With the gap up to nearly 1min 20 at times, the chase was a big one.
Strong rides from all the domestic riders, and many attacks kept the pace lively for the 80km. Shane Stokes kept a great race report with live updates on irishcycling.com HERE . The next most significant attack was from Louise Moriarty (UCD), who is no stranger to the National Championship Podium, when she jumped out of the group with two laps to go. She managed to maintain this large lead until halfway through the last lap with a strong chase was organised, closing the gap on the former Rás na mBan winner.
As the group reeled in Moriarty, Orla Hendron (DTC Orwell Wheelers) attacked, bringing Dillon with her. While Hendron returned to the bunch, this was the decisive move, with Siobhan Horgan (ESGL 93) jumped across, and in the two person battle for the line, Dillon had the edge.
In a strong finish St Finbarr’s Fiona Meade (winner of last weeks Dublin City Crit) won the bronze medal, with Wendy Bates (Lakeside Wheelers), Claire Dallat (Carnegie/Caulfield) and Adrienne McCarthy (Limerick CC) taking 4th, 5th and 6th.
Claire Oakley (XMTB) won the Junior prize, with Navan girl Fiona Guihan taking silver.
Photos courtesy of Marian Lamb from Cycling Ulster.