MONROE WINS
OPENING STAGE
By Tommy Campbell
Jul 13, 2005,
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| Martin
Munroe |
What a difference a year makes! Twelve
months ago, in Waterford conditions for the opener in the M. Donnelly
Junior Tour were to put it mildly because of the weather, off putting.
Yesterday in Castlebar the sun was shining and the feel good factor was
very much in evidence.
Representing Ireland, Martin Munroe from Castlebar, sent out a warning
last evening that he intends doing the business on behalf of his country
and home town in the M. Donnelly Junior Tour which started last evening
in Castlebar. Co. Mayo. Martin certainly laid down a marker by clocking
six minutes and 12 seconds for the 2.8 miles and significantly putting
it up to his challengers.
Conditions were ideal for the 62 starters that went to the start line
for this the 27th edition of the JT, which down the years has seen well
in excess of over 4,000 participants, most notably the likes of Mark
Scanlon an overall winner, back in 1998. Stage one of six was the time
trial or as many call it the ‘race against the clock’. Indications
were that for the Ballinau Course on the outskirts of the town that it
would be indeed fast.
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| Martin
Munroe |
Mark Sloan from Ballymena was the first
person out of the ‘start house’ specially designed for the occasion
by Brendan Quigley. At the mid point of the time trial, Patrick Vilegan
from the Tempo BMV Veldhoven in Holland who was third off had set the
early standard for the 2.8 miles in a time of six minutes 33 seconds. It
looked as though this was the marker to beat, but with the humidity of
the evening tapering off, it became evident that the speed of the
competitors was picking up. With over 75% competitors now clocked by the
timekeeper Danny O’Shea we had a new leader, Bob Blunden from Wales
who had now set a new standard of 6.25. His tenure as race leader was
short lived when up popped Maurice O’Brien from Kanturk who was a
surprise omission from the line of the Irish team in a new time of 6.24.
Still all eyes were focused on young Munroe back at the Horkan’s
Garden Centre where the official start was. A little nugget of
information for those interested in all sports! The garden centre is
owned by Sean Horkan who was manager of the Irish Boxing team at the
Barcelona Olympics were Michael Carruth won gold for Ireland.
Obviously the expectations were high when Munroe set out. He was not
found wanting as he blitzed the course at an average speed of just over
27 mph for the distance to give him the lead of the M. Donnelly Junior
Tour. Yesterday he proved his worth against the clock as an individual
but today it is stage two with a start and finish in Ballina.
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| The
Podium after Stage 1: Martin Munroe (Ireland) takes the leaders
jersey |
M. Donnelly Junior Tour, Castlebar/Stage one-2.8 miles.
1 Martin Munroe (Ireland), 6mins.12secs;
2 M. Murray (Ulster), @9secs;
3 R. McLoughlin (McNally Swords CC), @10;
4 A. Armstrong (Ireland), same time;
5 M. O’Brien (Kanturk Credit Union), @12;
6 B. Blunden (Wales), @ 13;
7 S. Rock (Ireland), @17;
8 P. Vliegen (Holland A), @21;
9 M. Tracey (Kanturk), 25;
10 S. Halpin (McNally Swords CC), 26secs.
Team-Ireland.
Points-Munroe.
Download
full results in PDF format c/o Seamus Shortall (RapidResults)
PICTURES
OF THE STAGE
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| First
rider leaves the start ramp for the 4.6 Km Time Trial |
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| Stage
sponsor Ken Duff presents stage winner Martin Munroe with the
race leaders jersey |
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| The
podium after stage 1 |
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