There was a great turn-out for the inaugural event in the new Carlow Kildare Cycling League hosted by Naas Cycling Club at Mondello Park. Almost forty riders from five clubs competed in a hotly contested shoot-out that lasted almost an hour on the full circuit at the Kildare venue. In the end Colm Bracken from Kilcullen Cycling Club outgunned Derek Clifford of Naas Cycling Club in a group sprint.

The league went to post last night with six categories of riders. U16’s ( who rode for free ), A1’s, A2’s, A3’s, A4’s and a special A5 category for club racing licence holders. Recession-busting value is on offer as twenty five euro nets you eleven races including a time trial and two races at the wonderful Mondello track.

The U16’s were first away and followed a minute later by the A5’s. This category included Derek Clifford of Naas CC, terrorist of the sportifs but in only his second competitive start. Five minutes and almost a lap of the 2 and 1/4 mile circuit had passed before Liam Walker dropped the flag to allow the scratch group, consisting totally of his own Kilcullen men, to join the fray.

There was head-scratching after the first lap as it became obvious that the A5’s had not lost time to the chasers and had actually gained on some. It was time for the men of Carlow, Newbridge, South Dublin and Kilcullen to get the lead out! This they did, the Kilcullen scratch group riding the circuit in a stunning Team Trial fashion that would have done credit to a Pro outfit. They soon began to eat into the time difference and started hovering up the A3 and A4 groups. With forty minutes elapsed, the riders were given the three lap board.

Excitement built amongst the spectators as it appeared the A5’s might stay away. But the handicapper showed Punchestown a thing or two and all the groups came together on the last lap to set up an exciting mass gallop. Colm Bracken surged to the front and took the checkered flag in fine fashion.