Mullen breaks time-trial record

Navan Road Club cyclist Ryan Mullen was in excellent form over the weekend as he set a new record time for a time-trial on Saturday and then on Sunday bettered that time to establish another record. Over the weekend, Mullen twice broke the u-16, 10-mile time-trial record in two separate races in England and Wales. On Saturday in Derbyshire he recorded a time of 19 minutes, 49 seconds and then smashed his own record on Sunday morning with 19 minutes 36 seconds at the Rhos-on-Sea event in north Wales. Another Navan cyclist, Colm Laverty was also in top form last week. Laverty was fourth overall and won the A3 Championship race in the Leinster Time-Trial Championships at Dundalk last Wednesday where he recorded a personal best of 21 minutes 27 seconds for a great victory just a few seconds behind the winner. In the u-16 Championship, James Lynch (Navan Avonmore) won the silver medal with Jordan Flood (Cuchulainn) claiming the bronze medal Irish Olympic cyclist David O'Loughlin (An Post/Sean Kelly) won the Mullingar Town Centre Criterium with Mark Dowlinig (Dunboyne Engraveit. ie) securing second place while Michael Redden (South Dublin) was third. Local cyclists to show up well in the race included Colin Robinson (Stamullen M Donnelly) who crossed the line in fourth position, Andrew Meehan (Engraveit.ie) was fifth while Craig Sweetman (Stamullen M Donnelly) finished in eighth place. In the senior three race, Colin Farrell (Navan Avonmore) secured fourth place while Chris Reilly (Bohermeen) was seventh. On Thursday night, Cuchulainn CC promoted the Leinster 10-mile Time-Trial Championship in Dundalk. Local riders who figured in the medals were Tim O'Regan who picked up the bronze in the A1 Championship. On Friday night the opening stage of the Newry Wheelers three-day, four-stage race was held at Warrenpoint. Colm Crawley (Stamullen M Donnelly) was only just denied victory by inches when Peter Lilley (Banbridge) caught him on the finish line. Gary Gorman (Stamullen M Donnelly) crossed the line in fourth place at the end of his stage. On Sunday, the final stage of the Paddy Flanagan Memorial race was held and this was another town centre race in Kildare. Here, there was a thrilling bunch sprint where just metres from the line, Paul Kennedy (McNally Swords CC) looked to have victory in the bag only to be passed in the dying strides by Colm Bracken from the Murphy-Surveys CC in Kildare. Aidan Crowley (Dunboyne Engraveit.ie) finished third. In the u-12 race, Megan Lynch (Navan Avonmore) finished sixth and in the u-16 race James Lynch (Navan Avonmore) secured third place while Daragh Campbell (Drogheda Wheelers) finished in sixth place. Next weekend will be the most important weekend of cycle racing in Ireland, when Sligo CC promote the All-Ireland Road Race Championships. Starting off this Thursday night, the 40km Individual Time-Trial Championships will get underway. On Saturday at Collooney it will be the veterans (over-40) championship and also the ladies championship. On Sunday, the 180km All-Ireland Senior Road Race Championship will start in Sligo. Bohermeen Cycling Club held a very successful family fun cycle on Tuesday evening of last week with over 80 adults and children taking part.