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Roisin Performs Well In Nationals: Adamstown Cyclist Roisin Kennedy (ESB CC) put in a battling performance in very tough wet conditions in the Womens National Road Race Championships in Clonmel on Saturday (June 23rd) . The event attracted some of Irelands top professional riders including US based Olivia Dillon (Novartis), French based Siobhan Horgan (GS Gestion), and Belgium based Michele Geoghegan (Steeds Vooraan). After deciding on a cautious approach, Kennedy gave a smile to her Team car as she passed in the very first break of the day - on the first lap.
The event covered 54 Miles of the same tough circuit as the earlier Veterans Race, and it was run off in very wet conditions from the gun.
Dundrum Veteran Orla Hendron (Orwell Wheelers) was on the attack early, as she opened up a 15 second advantage on the main field. Orla was soon joined by 2004 Bronze Medalist Roisin Kennedy and Phoenix CCs Amy Brice.
The trio worked well together, and they had a 44 second lead as Kennedy led them onto the climb on the second lap.
This was as far as they got, as the main field began closing them down. Hendron would pay for her brave attempt and was forced to retire on the 3rd lap.
Kennedy found herself in a chasing bunch of 8 Riders, chasing the winning break of the day (Also 8 riders).
The bunch ahead broke up in the closing laps, and four riders contested the finish with recently declared for Ireland Melanie Spath taking her first title.
Kennedy launched an attack in the the closing miles in an attempt to break into the top ten, but she was held and rode in at the back of her bunch for 16th place after a very tough day.
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