By Bobby Power     Founded in 1954, Carrick Wheelers have had some great years in the intervening period, but 2008 could well top the lot as the club, now known as Dan Morrissey Carrick Wheelers, continue on their amazing run of victories in all categories. While junior rider Sam Bennett is undoubtedly the star of recent weeks with his wins…

  By Bobby Power  Sprint, climb, time-trial. To be a winner in the sport of cycling, you need to sprint faster than the rest in the final dash for the line, climb the steep mountains better than the rest, or power along faster than the rest in the individual time-trials. To be a champion cyclist, you need to be able…

  Dan Morrissey took the big prize in the Munster road race championships today with Martin O’Loughlin taking gold and John O’Brien taking Bronze. The future of the club would also look to be assured with fine performances in the underage categories: U11 – Michael O’Loughlin (Gold) U12 – Dylan O’Brien (Silver) u15 – John Skeehan (Silver) U16 – Eamonn…

Congratulations to Sam Bennett who won the Junior Tour today. Sam, representing Stena Ireland had been leading the GC by 28 seconds going into the final stage and just needed to stay out of trouble today. Sam put in a mature performance to finish 7th in the bunch sprint to take the biggest prize of them all. 2 stage wins…

Another great day for Sam Bennett today. On his second run up the windy gap a group had a gap of 1:30 which Sam reduced to 12 seconds by hammering up the climb in a 52×14. Sam has now extended his lead to 28 seconds overall. He has decided that yellow is his colour it seems. Suits you sir!

Sam Bennett moved back into yellow today by 5 seconds from Mark Christian & 21 seconds to Simon Lambert Lebay (USA). The stage was won by Charles Prendergast of Mayo, followed by Marcus Christie and Michael Duffy. 4 days in and Sam has 2 stage wins and the overall lead. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s update.

Congratuations to Hugh Mulhearne on taking gold in the Munster Time Trial Championships on Thursday night. Hugh rode the 18k course in a time of 23:34 which was a new course record. Vinny Gleeson was second whilst Kevin Shelly won the “B” category. As far as Thursdays go it was pretty good: in addition to the Munster titles and Sam taking the…

Another great show from Sam in Mayo today. He won todays stage in a sprint finish to remain second behind Philip Lavery at 3 seconds.  Good luck tomorrow Sam !

Sam Bennett is well positioned at the end of todays stage in Westport. After pulling back a dangerous move from the Isle of Man riders which had gained 2 minutes with 20 miles to go, Sam eventually gave up the yellow jersey by 3 seconds to Stena Ireland teamate, Philip Lavery. Well done Sam and good luck tomorrow.

Sam is in yellow after the first stage of the Junior tour tonight in Castlebar. Sam won the 4km prologue TT by 0.13 ahead of Mark Christian of Isle of Man. Marcus Christie of Usher was 3rd at 7 seconds. Well done Sam !

Bobby Powers race report (this will appear in the local papers).. 2008 has been a great year to date for the Dan Morrissey Carrick Wheelers team but last weekend has topped the lot with three All Ireland titles coming to the club. In Sam Bennett the club has claimed to have the best junior cyclist in the country and on…

  Emma Walsh of Dungarvan CC (who came 9th in the ladies champs at the weekend in her first race season – well done Emma!) sent us in some pretty darn fantastic pictures of Sams national championship win, as well as some of our competitors in the Senior race. I will put a couple up here in honor of Sams…

Congratulations to Sam Bennett who today claimed his first (but no doubt not the last!) Irish Road Racing championships from Mayo’s Charles Prendergast in a thrilling race.  Sam was not listed as a favourite in some quarters (you know who you are !) but for those in the know i.e. those who had seen him dominating a field of A riders in…

Martin O’Loughlin won his second national championships in 12 months in Newcastle on Friday. Martin rode a stunning time of 1:05:43 to take the veterans title ahead of Mark Greer and our own Rory Wyley. Sean McIlroy finished 10th, whilst in the Senior race Kevin Shelly, Hugh Mulhearne and Cathal McCarthy put in storming times to finish 7th, 9th and 10th respectivley…

Scott Bennett followed in the wheel tracks of his older brother Sam when he won the Dan Morrissey Carrick Wheelers promoted O’Ceallacháin’s Beginners League in fine style on Monday evening last. Sam won the league when it was promoted in Seskin Wood on mountain bikes and has since gone on to bigger and better things on the road, and now…

Monday night saw the annual WorldWideCycles TT take place in near ideal conditions. Kevin Shelly went one better than his 2nd place in last last weeks Waterford TT, taking a very convincing first place on the night in a time of 20:51, more than a minute quicker than the nearest challenger. Well done Kevin.