National events set for finale

Cycling Column: This Sunday the Irish national under-23, junior and veteran's championships will be decided with a series of races in Westport.

The under-23 race will be over 90 miles, with some of those who rode well in the senior championships in June lining out. The junior and veterans championships will take place over 73 miles, while the junior women's race is 42 miles long.

Race organiser Joe Maguire has also put on a non-championship event for first, second and third category senior riders.

"It should be a good day's racing," he says. "The course is running through Westport, Newport and Castlebar and some of the races will also pass through Partry, so we are hoping for a good turnout of spectators."

Maguire is, however, disappointed a number of riders will be racing in Belgium instead this weekend, thus weakening the lineout for the championships.

One of Ireland's big under-23 prospects Nicolas Roche rode well in the 1.5-ranked Tour du Jura in Switzerland last Sunday. Roche went clear in a small breakaway group during the 187-kilometre race and crossed the line in ninth place, finishing one minute and 37 seconds behind Auber 93-professional Yannick Talabardon.

Meanwhile, Louise Moriarty finished 94th on the opening stage of the four-day 2.9.2-ranked Tour Feminin Krasna Lipa in the Czech Republic yesterday. The stage was won by Chantal Beltman (Ondernemers Van Nature) with Moriarty part of a large group finishing 16 minutes down. She is taking part in the event with the Movingladies team, having also ridden the race with them in 2002.

The event features many of the world's top female riders. It continues today with a 98.4-kilometre road race, then features a time trial and road race tomorrow before ending with a single stage on Sunday.

The improving fortunes of women's racing here was reflected in the strong performance of the Irish team in the Danny Boy International two-day last weekend. Roisín Kennedy built on her recent fine form by winning the first stage and the overall title, while Colette Swift won the stage-two time trial, the points classification and finished third overall.

Julie O'Hagan and Siobhan Dervan were fourth and sixth respectively and the Ireland squad won the overall team prize.

Kennedy also won the latest round of the Boot Inn Women's League on Wednesday, ahead of Siobhan Jacob and Grace McNally.

FIXTURES: Sunday - Irish under-23, veterans, junior men and women's championships, Westport. First race at 11.30 a.m. Also includes senior race. Full details from Joe at 086 8702062. Connacht XC League round 2, Tuam, Co Galway. Starts noon. IVCA 25-mile TT, Enfield, 9.30 a.m. Kevin King memorial cycle, Donore Road, Drogheda (all ages welcome). More details from Gerard Campbell at 086- 8192205.

Results - Women's Boot Inn League Round 6: 1, Roisin Kennedy (Usher IRC); 2, S. Jacob (Usher IRC); 3, G. McNally (Swords); 4, E. Quirke (Swords); 5, J. Burns (Orwell Dundrum SC); 6, B. McNally (Swords)