It was a busy week for the Lakeland Cycling Club. The first event was the first road race of the season on Wednesday last.

The flat 20 mile Bellanaleck circuit is always the season opener and 20 competitors were separated into two groups with a 2.5 minute handicap allowed for the front group.

With experienced campaigners Nigel Foster and Kenny Boylan pulling the strings this front group worked well, with even race newbies Paddy Corry and Aidan Reihill pulling strongly and contributing to the effort.

By the turn at Derrylin cross the lead had only been reduced to just under 1.5 minutes. The larger group behind struggled to be as cohesive with Aaron Little, Conor Sprice and Michael Pickles working hard.

By the turn towards the finish in Bellanaleck ,the front group still had a good 10 second advantage and were still working well, but as scratch attacked each other on the final 2km the stronger riders came to the fore and caught the front group just 100 yards from the finish.

The final Sprint was won by Conor Sprice with Nathan Gray of Omagh wheelers taking second and Seamus McGovern in third.

A great night’s introduction to racing for all and a great atmosphere at the finish enjoyed by spectators from all the local cycling clubs including Ballinamallard Flyers and Three Peaks whom as always, were generous with their help marshalling on the night.

The second event on the calendar was the Lakeland GP run out of Derrygonnelly GAC grounds on Saturday. With a large crowd of 100 cyclists travelling from all over the North for this iconic circuit a great days racing was on the cards. The weather did not play its part, and constant rain and a biting easterly wind meant several riders had to pull out after the climb suffering from exposure.

The first race went off at 10am with Lakeland’s Conor Sprice and Kyle Fisher amongst the A2 grouping.

They were chased by some of Ireland’s highest ranking cyclists including regulars Darnell Moore and Lyndsay Watson. The two minute handicap was closed over the first 20 miles with the catch coming half-way up the Glenashaver Climb.

Ireland’s number three ranked rider Watson attacked immediately and only Darnell Moore (Caldwell) was able to hold his wheel, but conditions, along with Watson’s incessant attacking style meant he dropped off the wheel on the descent and formed a chasing group of four alongside Darragh McCarter, Keane Ryan and Conor Halvey.

Watson (Powerhouse Sport) then put on a display of fortitude on the second lap back over the Glenashaver Climb and soloed home to take the win with a final advantage of over three minutes.

The chasing group of four split up in the final 2km with Conor Halvey of Four Masters CC taking second place ahead of Darnell Moore.

Lakeland’s Kyle Fisher came in with the third group on the road with a fantastic ride, and took second in the group sprint, which made him the first A2 rider over the line and will soon get a well deserved upgrade to A1.

The second race off on the day was the A3/Junior race. There was strong favourite in this event with last year’s winner Adam Rafferty back to defend his title.

This Junior rider is part of the Irish Junior set-up and rides for French team Team 31 Jollys Cycles and is tipped for a big future in the sport.

Although the A3 grouping contained many promising and talented riders including Lakeland’s Aaron Little, William MacFarland and Niall Murphy, Rafferty showed his undoubted class and soloed away from the large field after eight miles to ride 55 miles alone and take the win by over four minutes.

Second place was also a solo ride over the last part of the race by Daniel Todd of Dromore CC with a bunch sprint for third won by Dave Reilly of Emyvale. Aaron Little was Lakeland’s best placed rider in fourth, with William MacFarland just behind in seventh.

The final race was the A4/Ladies/Masters race. Just one lap of the 32 circuit for this grouping and several Lakeland riders taking part including Fergus McGirr, Stephen Campbell, Kenny Boylan, Ciaran Toye, Paddy Corry, Mark Veitch and Aidan Reihill. The climb once again proved to be decisive with a small group of about 10 riders going clear and although there were several solo attacks it was all together over the last kilometre. The winner was Tir Connaills Peter McGee. Second was Kevin Doherty of Saddle Rock with Niall McCamphill of Dunloy in third. Best placed Lakeland rider was a fantastic sixth place in his first A4 event for Paddy Corry.

The Lakeland Club and committee are very grateful to all the myriad of helpers, marshals and drivers on the day without whom this event could not have taken place, and also a special word of thanks to Derrygonnelly Harps GAC for the use of their fantastic facilities,

Thanks to Leslie’s Bakery for supplying catering to help feed the hungry cyclists, BJT Commercial for the barriers at the start finish, and both Three Peaks and Ballinamallard Flyers for the help and motorcycle outriders and Sharon McFarland for an incredible photographic record of the event.

Finally, thank you to Donnelly Brothers Volkswagen for supplying all the lead cars and commissaire cars to help the event run safely.