UCD Cycling Club: Club Honours 2006

Club Rider of the Year: Gavin Haberlin

Gavin Haberlin led both the organizational and competitive side of the Club in 2005/06. His competitive season began in late February when he lined up in the opening event of the Road National Points Series, the Bray Grand Prix. In awful conditions Gavin managed to get the road team’s season off to a flyer by winning the C Category event. On the back of that performance, he was then selected for the Leinster Cycling Team in the Downpatrick Armagh Classic. He was again among the prize money in finishing 7th in the Balbriggan GP and finished 8th in a bunch gallop in the Stamullen GP. He later finished 10th in Bohermeen. He finished off his season by entering the National Triathlon Championships in Dublin as part of the UCD Relay Team and played his part in helping the newly formed Tri Club to second place in Ireland.

Special Achievement: Cait Elliott

Cait Elliott, the Club's Development Officer, won the first round of the inaugural ladies Intervarsity Mountainbiking League, which was hosted by the Institute of Technology Tallaght in November. She was a member of the organizing committee that hosted Round 2 in Ballinastoe Wood, Roundwood, Co. Wicklow and she repeated her first round feat to land her second Intervarsity League race in succession. She completed a hat-trick of victories in Round 3 which was held in Killaloe, Co. Clare in late February, helping the team to overall victory in the process.

Mountainbiking Achievement Award: Oisín Boydell

Oisin Boydell competed in the National Cross Country Points Series achieving 10th place in his category overall. He also took 10th place at the National Cross Country Championships at Kilruddery, Bray in July and 5th place at the National Cross Country Marathon Championships in Carlingford, Co. Louth in September. Another notable result for this UCD rider was 3rd place at the MAD Dash at Slade Valley in July. He completed the summer mountainbike racing season by racing in the Epic Blast in September, a unique racing event which combines both cross country and downhill mountainbiking disciplines. He was a member of the committee that hosted Round 2 in Ballinastoe Wood, Roundwood, Co. Wicklow. He was also part of the victorious UCD team that won Round 3 of the Intervarsity League.

Ladies Achievement Award: Niamh Stephens

Niamh Stephens' road season got off to a flyer as she finished second in the opening round of the Women’s Boot Inn League. They were the first of many points that she got over the season. She eventually amassed 41 points to finish a very creditable 11th overall in this Dublin based series. Towards the end of the season, she entered the Ras na mBan International 2-Day, where she finished very well – 49th in the Time Trial and 59th overall - amongst some stiff competition from home and abroad.

Photos:

From left to right: Brendan Kilbride (Club Vice-President), Theo Mooney, Ben Curtis, Niall Dwyer, Robert Donnelly, Al Dunne, Kevin Harnett, Daniel Morrissey, Cait Elliott, Brendan Doyle, Oisin Boydell, John Walsh, Maoilíosa Ó Dubhthaigh (Club President)

Oisin Boydell receiving the 2006 Mountainbiking Achievement Award from sponsor Robert Tighe of Belfield Bike Shop.

Founder of the Club's mountainbiking section, Brendan Kilbride (on right) presenting 2006 winner Oisin Boydell with the Mountainbike Perpetual Shield.