Sport

Final big test for top Ras contenders

IN ADDITION to the Shay Elliott memorial race at Bray on Sunday being the final big test before the FBD Milk Ras - and the third…

By JIM MCARDLE
Fri May 09 1997 - 01:00

IN ADDITION to the Shay Elliott memorial race at Bray on Sunday being the final big test before the FBD Milk Ras - and the third of 10 events to count in the Classic League - it is the first of five trials listed by the Northern Region to assist in Commonwealth Games selection.

All the top first category men are expected to be in the line up for the testing 75 mile Wicklow course, starting at noon from the Bray Wheelers clubhouse. It takes in Rathnew, Rathdrum, Aughrim and over the Glenmalure climb to the Elliott monument, down to Laragh and on through Roundwood to the finish back at Bray, on the Dargle road.

Last year David McCann won from Tommy Evans with Peter Daly third ahead of Bray's Stephen O'Sullivan. After O'Sullivan's Tour of Ulster win last weekend he should be a leading contender again.

Raymond Clarke leads the league. He followed up his fourth place at Carlow - behind Ian Chivers, David Peelo and Michael Smyth - with a good win at Ballyboughal from Anthony Doyle and David Hourigan.

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Clarke has 22 points with Chivers next on 15, Doyle has 13 and Peelo 12. Hourigan and Smyth have nine each with Paddy Moriarty and Denis Easton on seven, but this severe test is likely to produce some changes to that order.

The Bill Hyland memorial race at Clonmel on Sunday starts an hour later than listed, at one o'clock, with the Mooney Cup events at Sligo (2.0).

The moves initiated by Brendan Donoghue, chairman of the FIC coaching committee, to have a proper coaching system operating in all regions are under way and he has a select group to assist him.

David Peelo will liaise with elite and national squad riders; Aidan Ryan is to organise schools coaching with John News in a similar role in the Northern Region; Harry Brennan is adviser on the scientific aspects of coaching and training with Pauric McGlynn the co ordinator of NCTC activities and coaching aims.

. Janet Ogle from Newtownards requests support for a 120 mile charity ride - the Lough Neagh Challenge - she is undertaking with her husband on Saturday, May 24th, in aid of the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust. They are setting out from Newtownards at 7.30 a.m. on a circuit around Lough Neagh.