SOUTH EAST ROAD CLUB: The underage are showing the way again with excellent results from the Bray Wheelers organised Roundwood Grand Prix on Saturday last this morning. Reece Young won the under-12 race with the race largely strung out very early on. Becky Heaney was the only other rider to offer any real competition to Reece when she took a fine second place.

Keith Furlong and Gary Walshe rounded off another great day for SERC in taking sixth and eighth places respectively.

Niall Heffernan has to get the award for the most improved rider this year with an excellent third place in the under-14 race against strong competition including a trio from Limerick C.C. Niall's excellence and ability on the track is really standing to him

The underage squad then went onto compete in the in the Leinster championships on Sunday in Kilmessan, Co Meath, where again there were some excellent results with the very promising Reece Young taking the silver medal in the under-12 race. Becky Heaney took fourth place in her race.

To round off an excellent day for the South East Road club, Niall Heffernan by winning the bunch sprint took the bronze medal in the under-14 race while Stephen Bracken took a fine sixth place and with another year to go in the under-16 category should have some excellent results next year.

The club would like to wish the best of luck to the under squad who are travelling to Coalisland, Co. Tyrone next weekend for the All Ireland Youth Championships.

The club also ran the very first "Falling Leaves" Classic, which attracted over forty riders for the A2/A3 race and a field of twenty-three for the separate A4 race with a very good representation from the South East and Munster and some riders from the West of Ireland.

This race was under the stewardship of leading cyclist John Maguire who showed tremendous organisational ability to organise an event that will grow from year to year, with a technically demanding course including the leg sapping climb of the "New Line, at Woodenbridge four times for the A2 and A3 riders and three times for the A4 riders, it was predicted to have a pivotal role in deciding the race outcome as the descent back into Arklow had 90 degree turns and very fast downhill stretches.

The results of the A2/A3 were determined on the first lap when the eventual first and second placed riders, who were Derek Cunningham of Bray Wheelers and Wes Murphy of Dublin Wheelers, went clear very early and were joined the eventual third placed rider for this trio to fight out a tremendous sprint finish with the main bunch a bit back. The A4 race splintered with a leading group of eight contesting the sprint.

Tony Mills, Stephen Furlong and junior rider, Tony Breen put in excellent performances for the South East Road club.

The club would like to thank the Woodenbridge Hotel for their sponsorship and use of their facilities.

The other sponsors were club member, Garreth McCabe of Health Matters, Bray and Dublin, Club President, Derek Web of Sprintdesiginc.ie, Gorey and club member, Karl Bracken of Bracken Autobodies, Arklow.

Results - Falling Leaves Classic - Woodenbridge, Arklow A2/A3 Race: 1. Derek Cunningham - Bray Wheelers; 2. Wes Murphy - Dublin Wheelers; 3. Brian Hallissey - Dungarvan CC; 4. Richard Hootin - Kanturk CC; 5. Anthony Doyle - unattached; 6. Thomas Lavery Comeragh CC. First unplaced A3 - Maurice Dore - Bray Wheelers; First unplaced SERC - Anthony Mills

Results - A4 Race: 1. John McCormack - unattached; 2. Brian Cullen - Barrow Wheelers; 3. Mark Gunning - Waterford Cycling Club; 4. Dave Allen-Wexford Wheelers; 5. Diarmuid Collins - Orwell Wheelers; 6. Denis O'Brien-Barrow Wheelers; First unplaced SERC - Stephen Furlong.

BRAY WHEELERS

It was a busy couple of weeks with numerous successes for Bray Wheelers. The season is almost coming to a close with only about one month of racing left and with the good weather lately everyone is trying to get their last few races in as we've seen Bray Wheelers members out in racing force.

The Bray Wheelers run Roundwood GP took place on Saturday 20th August, five laps of the championship course. It was open to A3 and A4s only with junior races preceding the main race.

The A4s were given a short head start and were caught by the A3s on the 3rd lap. A small A3/A4 group brokeaway from the newly formed bunch, with one Bray Wheeler, Odhran O Coilte in this breakaway group. The finishing sprint saw Odhran take second A4 place as the race was won by Mullingar Lakeside Wheeler, Damien Shaw.

The chasing group sprint was won by Jason Howick who also took the first unplaced Bray Wheelers prize, followed closely by Maurice Dore and the rest of the Bray Wheelers team.

Roundwood GP Results: 1st Damien Shaw (Lakeside Wheelers); 2nd John Sower (Orwell Wheelers); 3rd Bryan Cunningham (Murphy & Gunne); 4th Thomas Doyle (U.C.D.); 5th Kevin Keane (Wheelworx); 6th Dairmuid Collins (Orwell).

Unplaced A4: 1st Patrick Santini (On Your Bike); 2nd Odhran O Coillte (Bray Wheelers); 1st Unplaced Bray Wheeler - Jason Howick .

Derek Cunningham had a tremendous victory this weekend when he won the inaugural Race of the Falling Leaves which took place around a hilly course in Wicklow.

Maurice Dore wasn't far behind him to take first unplaced A3. It was a superb weekend of racing from the lads.

Maurice Dore had another great race the previous week in Donore, Drogheda. Now racing as an A3 after his promotion from A4 Maurice got 1st unplaced A3 after 85km of racing.

The same weekend saw stunning success for the Bray women on the track as Ailbhe Ivory and Rebecca Harris won the National Sprint title in Sundrive Rd., breaking the previous Irish record. Ailbhe is no stranger to the track and Rebecca made an impressive return after a couple of years break. She still has speed! Caoimhe Ivory and Gillian Peelo came in in 4th place.

Jenny Mc Cauley competed in the last race of the National Womens league in Kilmessin, Co. Meath, on Sunday. She came fourth, securing her third place in the overall league.

Jenny, Orla Mc Evoy and Catherine Devitt will go on to race in the women's three day stage race, Ras na mBan, next month in Killarney.

Congratulation to the overall winners of the club summer league, Derek Cunningham, Maurice Dore and Rob Magee. Mary Dawson, Fionnuala Ni Bhradaigh and Eithne Ni Chinneide were top three women in the ladies league and well done to Greg Sinclair who won the Interclub league in style with a well earned victory in the final race of the league.

For more details on all of the above rsults and all Bray Wheelers activities go to www.braywheelers.com.

ARKLOW UNITED PIGEONS

Arklow United Racing Pigeon Clubs race from Dungarvan race point last weekend was a replica of the previous race with the dynamic duo of Michael and Joe O'Reilly once more lifting the top two club positions.

The partnership showing the rest of the 600 strong entry a clean pair of heels to record a hat-trick of wins and move into second spot on the clubs young bird average board.

The first in the winners enclosure covered the 75 miles at an average speed of 62.11 mph to record a velocity of 1,822.15 mph.

This weekends race takes place from Pilmore Beach near Youghal.

Result:1, 2, 7. Michael and Joe O' Reilly; 3, 4, 5. Dempsey and O'Keeffe; 6, 8, 9, 10. Tony Hobbs.

INBHEAR DEE

Last Thursday was a special day for Inbhear Dee Athletic Club. Not only did the club celebrate thirty years of athletics in Wicklow but it honoured a vey special lady.

Noreen O'Reilly was a founder member of Inbhear Dee Athletic Club all those years ago and since then, has almost single-handedly built the club into what it is today.

It was fitting that the club house at Wicklow Rugby Club was full to capacity with family, friends, and colleagues from athletic clubs throughout the county and further afield and athletes, past, present and even future, to honour Noreen on her special night.

Unfortunately the weather played havoc with the planned proceedings and the marquee, bouncy castle, fun and games for the kiddies and even the barbecue had to be cancelled at the last minute!

However this did not dampen our spirits as the night kicked off with tributes to Noreen from many of her friends.

A "This is your Life "book and box of memories was presented to Noreen and, as we were reliably informed that her newest passion is for gardening; we thought it was fitting to present Noreen with some gardening equipment, plants and books, so she can transform her garden in Ballynerrin, into a botanical paradise!

The highlight of the night was the slide show produced by Tomas Earls.

The photos and film clips brought back many memories of happy occasions for Inbhear Dee over the past thirty years.

Culmination of proceedings was to be the lighting and release of paper lanterns into the night sky, but again the weather let us down and few, if any of the lanterns made it airborne!

Many thanks to all involved in this great night of celebration and we are now looking forward to the next thirty years of athletics in Wicklow Town.

Noreen has decided to step down as head coach but we hope that she will remain on, as a member of the backroom team, and continue to guide up and coming Wicklow athletes to even bigger and better things to come.

Training will resume for the older athletes on Wednesday, August 25th at 5 pm sharp at the Ceoltas Ceoltoire Building on The Murrough, Wicklow Town and for the younger athletes, training will resume on Friday, September 17th.

The exact venues and times for all training sessions have yet to be finalised and there will be a note regarding this, posted as soon as possible.

There will be an Athletic Club meeting at 8 p.m . in the Grand Hotel, Wicklow on Thursday 2nd of September to discuss training schedules, venues and events for the forthcoming season. All are very welcome to attend.