SLIPSTREAM CYCLING: It was a good turn-out for our first training race of the season, with a field of over 25 riders and all the Wexford clubs well represented. After about 4k into the race, Andrew Bracken from S.C.C. got into an early break which was brought back at the end of the first circuit.

Denis McCarthy of Slipstream C.C. also made several attempts off the front, with one break staying away for over 22k which was brought back with 9k to the finish, but it was a day for the riders from the south of the county, with one Wexford Wheelers man, Dave Walsh, and two from Barrow Wheelers, Hugh Byrne and Greg Dempsey, nipping off the front to keep away to the finish line.

The honours went to Mr. Sprint, Dave Walsh. Next week's training race shall be over the same route again as the road is in good condition and not too much traffic to deal with - starting around 10.30 a.m. on Sunday at Toss Byrne's, Inch, with sign-on from 10 a.m. and all local riders welcome to take part.

Results: 1, Dave Walsh, Wexford Wheelers; 2, Hugh Byrne, Barrow Wheelers; 3, Greg Dempsey, Barrow Wheelers.

ENNISCORTHY HOCKEY

Enniscorthy 2, Athy 1: The Enniscorthy squad had a tough week, with three matches in seven days. Having beaten Portlaoise 1-0 on the previous Sunday, Enniscorthy faced the same opponents mid-week in Kilkenny.

Enniscorthy started well and had all the play for the first 20 minutes, but failed to capitalise on this possession before the game became much more even, with Portlaoise attacking the Enniscorthy goal which required goalkeeper Mag Luddy to make some excellent saves. The game finished nilall on this occasion.

The squad then faced Athy at home on Sunday last. Athy had beaten the home team earlier in the season but Enniscorthy knew where their strengths and weaknesses lay.

Enniscorthy took push back and about ten minutes into the game Lisa Frayne picked the ball up on the right wing and passed into the circle where Marty Rudd made no mistakes to score the first goal. Athy fought back in an extremely high-tempo game, with neither team giving an inch.

Enniscorthy continued to push forward but a break in play resulted in Athy one-on-one with the goalkeeper and the equaliser arose. Enniscorthy came out fighting in the second-half against a very physical Athy side. Both teams had their chances through sidelines and short corners, with Carrie Clifford unfortunate not to score from a cross.

Coach Carmel Maguire made some switches, allowing Leah Chapman, who had already played a stormer in centre-mid, into the centre-forward position.

Enniscorthy had Athy under pressure for some time when Olga Williamson picked up a long corner and passed to Leah Chapman who scored the winner. Enniscorthy held Athy for the remaining minutes and finished 2-1 up.

SOUTH EAST ROAD CLUB

The South East Road Club would like to wish member and star cyclist Niall Heffernan, Ballywilliam, Gorey, who has been selected to represent Leinster at the All-Ireland under-age training camp in Castlebar, every success next weekend. This is a great honour for Niall and is the result of much hard training and dedication through the winter months.

Also selected was club member Stephen Bracken who unfortunately is unable to attend due to examinations. Stephen competed in the Slipstream-organised training race on Sunday last and acquitted himself well against top-class Senior cyclists. Mick O'Neill from Rathdrum donned the club colours for the first time in a long number of months with distinction.

The Wexford Rás team squad had the use of facilities at the Arklow Bay Hotel, thanks to Fitness Centre manager, Jackie Gannon, for team training on Saturday last. Three club members are included in the panel, namely Derrick Evans, Cathal Redmond and Anthony Mills. The club has the honour of hosting a stage finish and start in Gorey.

The club is organising a Touring Cycle on March 13 to assist with fundraising for the Rás team. It is a long number of years since a Wexford team competed in the Rás.

Slaney C.C. member Pat Whitney and S.E.R.C. member Derek Webb have been putting in a huge amount of work to ensure that the Wexford 2010 team will be more than adequately prepared for the toughest stage race open to both amateur and professional cyclists in this country.

The South East Road Club sends it

? heartiest congratulations to club committee member, Johnny Halford from Gorey, and his wife, Patricia, on the birth of their son, Evan James.

The club sends it best wishes to associate member Frank O'Leary from Fernhill, Arklow, who was in an accident recently. More fortunate on Sunday last were a number of club members who had a lucky escape in icy conditions around Laragh, Co. Wicklow, and were able to make it home despite cuts and bruises.

GOREY CELTIC F.C.

The first team were away last weekend in the last 32 of the Leinster Cup. They were playing Trinity Corinthians from Dublin. The lads tried their best but lost out 4-1, with our goal coming from Tiernan O'Gara.

The second team was away to Camolin in the Gwyn Jones Cup. The lads played a good attacking game and ran out 2-1 winners, with both goals scored by John Lavery.

The third team were also away in the Gwyn Jones Cup to Enniscorthy Town. They also came out 2-1 winners with their goals coming from Chris Swinton and Robbie Bent.

The Under-14 'A' team were home in the first round of the cup against Caim. On a lovely morning and after a brilliant 70 minutes of high-class football, the lads got their name in the hat for the next round.

The lads started where they left off two weeks earlier, on the front foot and attacking. They really are becoming a tough nut to crack at home, with 15 goals without reply in their four home wins this season.

The lads showed great patience after missing chances through Adam, Joe, Jared and a couple from Ross which included a penalty. The lads never dropped their heads or lost their ability to keep doing the right things, and they were rewarded with two great strikes from the two best perfromers on the day, Ross O'Connor and Jared McGirr.

The lads went in at half-time 20 up. Credit to Caim who are a good side and never stopped trying and contributed to a freeflowing game, but the lads were up for this and the back four and Jakub in goal never put a foot wrong.

The four lads in midfield are quality and their centre-half, filling in at centre-forward with his mate, ran their socks off. They really should have added to their total, with Ross Reardon, Mark Doran and Jared McGirr all hitting the woodwork at some stage.

But it was their workrate and focus on not taking their foot off the pedal which won the cup tie. The 13 on duty were terrific and very professional, and we're really happy with how they are all progressing. Well done lads and keep up the good work.

The Under-14 'B' team were also playing in the first round of the cup away to Kilmore. The lads made the long trip to Kilmore to play first division Kilmore United in the cup and started of really well, keeping a clean sheet for the first 25 minutes with some strong defending, but the Division 1 team took the upper hand before the break.

Kilmore started the second-half stronger but we came back into the game and got a couple of goals from our Under-12 player, Jordan Synnott, who came along as we were missing four lads due to illness. The lads lost out to a stronger team but showed great heart.

The Under-10 girls were at home to Premier league opposition in the cup in the form of Forth Celtic. We started off well and after ten minutes we went 1-0 up with a great shot from Debhlin Yeates. Forth kept up the pressure and got their reply just before half-time.

After the break we came out of the blocks with all guns blazing and soon got our reward, with Debhlin Yeates getting her second with the momentium improving, and Amy Wilson shot from all angles before finally getting her well-deserved goal to make it 3-1.

Forth kept battling, but Stacey Lavery kept them out with a soild display in defence. Our fourth goal came at the end of a great team move and was finished by a great strike by Orla Crowe. Overall, it was a great team display.

FERNS RUNNING CLUB

Ferns Running Club had another very successful night in its Fit4Life series on Wednesday evening last, with 22 runners completing three laps of the 'V' in the village.

Results: Paul Gibbons, 12.08; Tommy Levingston, 12.09; Myles Gibbons, 12.10; Willie Rossiter, 12.11; Munch Cash, 12.31; Tommy McElwaine, 12.31; Raymond Byrne, 13.23; Jean Wilson, 13.25; Pat O'Neill, 13.45; Denis Moynihan, 13.56; David Leonard, 13.56; Pat Kirwan, 14.52; Conor Swaine, 14.56; Andrew Foran, 14.58; Roy Nolan, 15.57; Richard Lynch, 16.15; Patrick Leacy, 16.11; Brendan Kehoe, 16.29; Steven Redmond, 17.10; Conan Doyle, 17.44; Pat Murphy, 18.38; Paul Mountain, 22.22.

It was very encouraging to see such a good turn-out, with some new faces, and anyone interested in improving their fitness is encouraged to come along each Wednesday. This week's run will encompass four laps of the 'V' (just short of three miles), with the event starting at 7.30 p.m. Further information can be had from Luke Kehoe on 087-3222914 or Brendan Kehoe on 086-8237935.

KILANERIN TAEKWON DO

Black belt students from the Kilanerin school of Cho's Taekwon Do were celebrating recently following the grading in Dublin under Grandmaster Hee Il Cho.

Student John O'Sullivan was added to the rank of 1st Dan black belt. John's daughter Eireann, along with John, was awarded the 2009 student of the year.

John brings to ten, the number of black belts in the club, which has been running since 2002 under the guidance of instructor Martin Byrne, 5th Dan, who also runs a small club in Castletown G.A.A. complex on Friday evenings. For information about class times, please contact Martin on 0876239459.

Kilanerin School of Cho's Taekwon Do after receiving their black belt grading. Front (from left): Erin O'Connor, Elaine Cosgrave, Eireann O'Sullivan, Hope O'Connor, Lisa Cosgrave. Back (from left): Liam Clare, Liam O'Shaughnessy, instructor Martin Byrne, Killian Ó Lionáin, Pat O'Connor, Megan O'Connor, John O'Sullivan.