Club Honours 2007

Club Rider of the Year: Louise Moriarty

Sports Scholarship student, Louise Moriarty, began her UCD cycling career with a bang by recording a time of 3 minutes 56 seconds for the 3km pursuit at the Manchester Track World Cup meet in February. In doing so, she became the first Irish lady cyclist to beat the 4 minute barrier, thus smashing the Irish record.

A month later, she competed at the Road Inter-varsities, winning both the Individual Time Trial and Road Race. She captained UCD to overall team success.

Louise won the ladies section of the Gorey 3-day, The Corkman 3-day and Rás Dún na nGall stage races.

She took the gold medal at the National Time Trial Championships and a bronze medal in the Road Race Championships the following day.

She represented Ireland at the European Track Championships in Germany, where she finished 16th in the points race. Soon afterwards, she competed in the 5-day Tour de Bretagne in France, finishing 4th, 9th and 11th on stages and finished 8th overall.


Special Achievement Award: Kevin Harnett

Few would argue that Club Secretary, Kevin Harnett, was the one of the Club’s most outstanding committee members during his term in office. From attracting increased membership to the Club, filling out grant forms, and dealing with the day to day matters concerning the Club, Kevin excelled in every aspect of his post. He was almost single handedly responsible for the organization of a highly successful trip to Belfast in which 12 UCDCC riders, himself included, participated in the Irish Road Cycling Inter-varsities.

He also setup a joint committee comprising of clubs from UCD, DCU and Trinity for the purpose of hosting the 2007/2008 version of the inter-varsities and has pushed closer cooperation throughout the season.

Kevin again showed his administrative skills when successfully coordinating the hosting of Round 9 of the Ladies Boot Inn League. It was the first time UCD has ever organized a round of this series.


Mountainbiking Achievement Award: Cait Elliott

Cait Elliott began the season by winning the Sports category in the 'K Capital Cup' - a home staged four race international series. She was soon upgraded to the Elite category but remained competitive, despite the higher standard, finishing 4th and 5th in successive rounds and 5th overall in the series.

Cait’s sights then turned to the prestigious NPS series. She competed in all seven rounds and remarkably never finished outside the top 2 in the Elite category. She deservedly won the series outright, which was an incredible feat for the UCD student.

In August, Cait lined up for the Irish National Cross Country Championships in Rostrevor and despite the most competitive field of the season, she again excelled and returned home with a bronze medal.

After showing such fine form throughout the season, it was little wonder that Cait received her international call up. She joined up with the Cycling Ireland team in September to race in the final round of the UCI classed British NPS series in Coed y Brenin in Wales. She finished a very creditable 7th place.

Cait ended the season with second place in the Cúchulainn C.C. marathon race in Carlingford.


Ladies Achievement Award: Niamh Stephens

Niamh Stephens was part of the victorious Inter-varsity Ladies Team that dominated in Belfast. She was awarded a UCD Sports Achievement Award from college’s Athletic Union Council on foot of that performance.

Niamh competed in 8 of the 10 Boot Inn League races throughout the season. The highlight of her ‘open’ season was to come in round 8, where she rode superbly and tasted her first individual success in UCD colours. Other notable placings included 3rd and 6th in the two time trials held and she just missed out on a podium finish in another road race. Her consistency throughout the season was rightly rewarded as she finished a highly creditable 3rd overall in the League.