Timothy Ahern returned from Italy to take over the Captaincy of the Club. However, despite his best efforts, he failed to form a committee, and Sport EXPO had gone without membership. This lack of commitment from UCD’s student cyclists left Club President Maoilíosa Ó Dubhthaigh with little option but to place the Club in a state of dormancy as far as affiliating with the Athletic Union Council was concerned. Non-affiliation, however, meant forgoing a college grant.
Although students were unwilling to make a commitment, in terms of forming an executive committee, interest remained and training sessions continued throughout the winter months. As the Cycling Ireland season approached, a number of riders approached the Club President with a view to affiliating the Club with Cycling Ireland. Given that the Club had not affiliated with the AUC, it was surprising that it managed to affiliate with Cycling Ireland. The racing team was as follows: Timothy Ahern, David Lane, Andrew O’Carroll and Eoghan de Bhulbh. Maoilíosa Ó Dubhthaigh and Tim Ahern’s dad took out general licences to enable the Club to affiliate with the national federation.
Despite the absence, due to work commitments, of the 2003 Individual Runner-Up and UCD Cycling Club team captain Tim Ahern, the 2004 Cork IT hosted Road Championships turned out to be a very successful championship for the UCD club with the Club emerging victorious in both Individual Intervarsity Championships.
The 2004 Road Championship began with individual time trial held over the testing 8.6 mile Carrigroahana/Iniscarra circuit which was won by Gary Mc Keegan (UUJ) in a time of 20 mins, 3 secs. UCD’s Andrew McQuaid clocked a time of 22:02, which was good enough for fourth place. The 43 mile road race was effectively reduced to 7 riders on the opening lap as a leading group formed and worked well together to create an unbridgeable gap over the rest of the peleton. No great attempt was made to break up this group until the third lap, when Derek Finnegan (UUJ) led the attack on the hill, which resulted in Andrew McQuaid (UCD) and Miceal Concannon (CIT) going clear. By the end of this lap the leading duo had built up a lead of 15 seconds over the chasing pack. By the final lap, their advantage stretched to almost the 2 minute mark. In an exciting sprint finish, the UCD rider crossed the finish line with a half a wheel length to spare from Concannon of the host club CIT. David Duffy (UCC) won the sprint for 3rd.
The Club Rider of the Year Award was won by David Lane for his fine performance in the Gorey 3-day, Tour of Newry, and other 1-day races this season. It was a long overdue accolade for a rider, who has consistently been in the running for this honour. He doubled up by claiming the Special Achievement Award for his stage win in the Tour of Newry. Perhaps, fittingly, after 9 years uninterrupted service with the college club, David decided that it was time to move on, and did so with the best wishes of all associated with the Club. He was the longest serving competitive member in the history of the Club, and that is one record that is unlikely to ever be broken.
The Mountainbiking Award was won by Philip Roche for his dominant performance in the Intervarsity Championship.
1997/98 UCD CC Captain, Brian Lennon died suddenly at his parental home on April 2004. Brian was a cheerful guy who never had a bad word to say about anyone. His palmares were astonishing. He had been chosen on regional, Under-23 National, and Senior National squads. He helped UCD win the 1996 Inter-varsity Road Race Championships, where he collected an individual bronze medal. He was awarded a U.C.D. Sports Achievements Award by UCD’s Sports Governing Body for his exploits. He recorded 2 race wins – the Newbridge GP and Stage 2 of the Dublin Bus 5-day during his time with UCDCC. He was narrowly beaten into 2nd place in the Beggan Trophy at Bohermeen and also recorded runner-up positions in both the Dick Comerford race in the Pheonix Park, and the M.E.R. league race at Ballymun. Further successes included a 4th place in the Gene Moriarty Classic League race at Listowel and the overall King of the Hills jersey in the Tour of Morey. The former U.C.D. team leader also finished a very impressive 6th in both the 110-mile Senior Road Race Championships at Carrick-on-Suir and in the Under-23 Championships a fortnight later. He took the Overall Runners-Up spot in the M.E.R. League. Brian was ranked 8th in the Federation of Irish Cyclists Road Racing Rider Rankings. He was a clear winner in the 1997 UCD CC Rider of the Year Award. Brian Lennon rightly had the respect of his peers, a fact highlighted by the tremendous farewell he received. The Bird Avenue church was packed to the rafters for his funeral mass. Most of his former UCD Club mates – close friends Alan and David Lane, former and current Club Presidents, Cormac and Maoilíosa Ó Dubhthaigh, 1997 Club Captain, Noel McGlynn and former team mates Brendan Kilbride, Louis Twomey, Helen Kerrane, Kieran Keane, James Walsh and Colm Farrell were in attendance. His beloved St. Tiernan’s Cycling Club, to who he was attached at the time of his passing, formed a guard of honour as the coffin was removed from the church.
Brian was the most distinguished cyclist to have donned the UCD jersey and his performances did much to enhance the reputation of the Club as well as promoting the sport in general. However, it was surely Brian’s endearing, genuine, easy going personality that will live in the memory of those who had the pleasure of knowing him.
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