Zbigniew Glowaty, Dan Aherne And Patsy Wall sprinting in Clonmel

Baths was also shared 2 members of the polish team

TOM KEOGH REPORTS

POLAND LEAD

Dublin a Close Second After Thrilling Finish

After a scorching 95 miles battle from Dublin the crowds at Ballyjamesduff roared Poland’s blonde 23-year-old Gerzy Mikolajczyk home the winner by inches of the Ras Tailteann first stage from exile John Goddard, with Kerry’s Dan Aherne third. With another Pole, J. Linde sixth in a dramatic nine man sprint the visitors also took the lead in the team event.

And how they deserve their triumph, for all day they were in the vanguard of a hard riding field. Indeed in almost every break the visitors were prominent and the watching crowds certainly gave them every encouragement.

But the home riders showed no fear of these fancied Continentals, for the first to show were former winners Ben McKenna and Gene Mangan, who shot through Julianstown with scant regard for the speed limit signs. But they were quickly hauled back and the next big break did not come until the field had passed Drogheda.

TOGETHER

At a signal from Z. Glowaty, Christy Kimmage burst away with him, and it was not until they were three miles from Carrickmacross that they were caught by a chasing group of seven.

But even this did not last and the entire field, except for a few stragglers, were altogether for the next five mile.

Then came the move which decided the stage finish. Dan Aherne made a great solo burst for two miles and was then joined by eight more – the two Polish riders, Mikolajczyk and Linde, Murt Logan (Kildare), J. McGarry (Armagh), Patsy Wall (Tipperary), John Goddard (Exile), Jim Kennedy (Dublin), S. Lally (Sligo) and Brendan Magennis (Antrim).

These were a minute up on the main bunch at Bailieboro where an entire Feis and Sports came to a halt to cheer the field on. With the bunch slowing up the leaders increased their margin until, at the finish, they were two minutes and forty five seconds ahead of the main major portion of the field.

Stunning

Between these Christy Kimmage came in two minutes five seconds down with the hotly fancied runner-up of last year, Sonny Cullen, ten seconds behind him; Ben McKenna, with a group of five, was two seconds further away.

The Poles had only five men on the starting line, for the Gazda brothers are both riding in the Tour de L’Avenir at the moment. But even without their star – S. Gazda was third in the Berlin-Warsaw-Prague race – they made a stunning impact.

But the Irish riders were not overawed by them and the general opinion was that the Poles were very good but not unbeatable.

As far as Drogheda the race was a helter skelter affair with solo bursts coming in rapid succession, but before the 50 miles mark had been reached things had taken a definite pattern, with the Polish riders featuring in every break.  

Stray Dog

Nor was it a day without accident, for a stray dog in Dundalk brought down five riders. None was badly hurt and all continued.

Mick Christle got a bad fall 25 miles from the finish, but finished with the bunch. He was attended by a doctor for cuts and will not decide whether or not to continue until this morning.

The Kerry pair, Gene Mangan and Dan Aherne, were also involved in minor spills.

The only Pole to have trouble was substitute Malkiewicz, who punctured ourside Dundalk, but chased hard to catch the field after riding four miles by himself.

Stage One

Dublin – Ballyjamesduff (95 miles)

Placings:

INDIVIDUAL

1-    J. Mikloajczyk ( Poland 4 hrs. 5 m 3 c)

2-    J. Goddard (Exiles)

3-    D. Aherne (Kerry)

4-    S. Lally (Sligo)

5-    P. Wall (Tipperary)

6-    J. Linde (Poland)

7-    M. Logan (Kildare)

8-    J. Kennedy (Dublin)

9-    B. Magennis (Antrim) all 4-6-3

TEAM

1-    Poland  12 hrs 19m 26s

2-    Dublin 12-22-29

3-    Exiles 12-22-41

4-    Tipperary 12-23-11

5-    Kerry 12-23-24

6-    Kildare and Antrim 12-23-39

Christle’s Gallant Display

The second stage of Ras Tailteann from  Ballyjamesduff to Mullingar yesterday was another triumph for the Polish team. With a tremendous display of powerful and tactical riding they provided the stage winner once again, this time in the person of 25-year-old Jerzy Linde, a mechanic from Ladz, who captured the laurel wreath and also took over the yellow jersey of race leader.

The manner in which this stage was won demonstrated all too clearly the potent threat these visitors carry for our own riders.

At a signal from their team manager six miles from home, the entire squad produced an immediate response and placed three men in the first five finishers.

Over the last two miles a blindingly fast burst by Linde, which was a perfect example of planning and execution, left the field stunned, and it will take hard thinking, and even harder riding, if these visitors are to be overhauled, for each of them appears perfectly equipped for the job on hand.

But the Poles did not steal all the glory, for it was a Dubliner, Mick Christle, who amazed everyone by riding courageously into second place.

Mick was so badly cut after his fall on Sunday that he did not decide to ride until just before the off. He trailed the field for 90 miles, but produced a great late burst which brought him in 15 seconds behind the stage winner.

After a day of hard, steady riding, the drama came in the last 26 miles between Longford and Mullingar. As the field flashed through Longford, Ben McKenna decided to make a burst, and with Liam Miriarty of Kerry gained a lead of one minute from a chasing bunch of four-Chojnacki, Christy Kimmage, Tom Reilly (Meath) and John Nally (Sligo).

With the wind at their backs it appeared that these and the two men in front would fight out the finish, there being no sign of a threat from the race leader, Mikolajczyk, christle or Linde.

Twelve miles from the finish McKenna had dropped Moriarty, but his pursuers had closed the gap to less than half a minute. With a typical determination, however, McKenna flogged himself onwards and still held a slender lead with three miles to go. By now the Pole, Chojnacki, was putting on the pressure and it was obvious that the leader could not hold out. 

Suddenly it was Linde who flashed past the tiring Meath man. In company with Christle, Lonergan of Tipperary and Mikolajezyk, he broke at terrific speed from the field, which by now had slipped a little in arrears.

Without checking, Linde raced on, to leave the remainder battling for the minor placings, and finished 15 seconds in front of Christle, with Lonergan, Mikolajczyk and Chojnacki next in that order. Gene Mangan of Kerry led in the next group to take sixth position.  

Tom Keogh Reports On Fourth Stage

IRISH FIGHT BACK

Dublin’s Cullen Leads the Way To Castleisland

The dominance of the Polish riders in Ras Tailteann has been broken. Yesterday the home contingent whipped them on the way from Tuam to Castleisland and Dublin’s Sonny Cullen celebrated his birthday by finishing first over the line. John Goddard of the Exiles, who finished fourth on the stage, has now taken the race leader’s jersey from Jerzy Mikolajczyk.

The first Pole home yesterday was Glowaty, who came in five mins. 20 secs. behind the leading bunch, just beating Dan Aherne into his home town. The race leader arrived in another bunch eight mins. 41 secs. behind Cullen, so the visitors, who had four men in the first five on general classification after the stage into Tuam, have been split up. 

The position now is that they retain second place through Mikolajczyk. After him come Sonny Cullen, Liam Baxter (Kildare), Patsy Wall (Tipp.) and the tremendously strong Glowaty in that order. Chojnacki is now eight, with Linde 12^th.

ASSAULT

Now the positions have been reversed, and there are eight Irishmen in attacking positions. The Poles are, naturally, disappointed about this reverse and their interpreter commented: “They are very unhappy and say that the boys are tired”.

After the stage into Tuam it had been said that a dozen of the top riders had decided to make an all-out assault on the visitors’ position. Mick Christle and gene Mangan are reputed to have convened this meeting, and although neither figured in the early finishers the Irish contingent have demonstrated quite clearly that these brilliant riders are not invincible. 

Yesterday the visitors were caught napping a few miles after the start, for within nine miles of Tuam, in misting rain, 13 riders, with not a Pole amongst them, had built up a lead of 45 seconds.

At Craughwell these were being chased by another group of nine, who were 30 seconds behind, and after 23 miles the main group, which included all the Poles, was 2¹/₂ minutes behind.

VANISHED

Before they reached Ardrahan the two leading groups had joined forces, but here disaster struck Mick Christle. Tom Beamish of the Exiles crashed and the Dublin motor cyclists gave him a spare wheel, unaware that out of sight around another corner Christle stood, his back wheel in his hands, losing vital minutes. When he eventually remounted, he had been left far behind.

Any chance he had of making up lost ground vanished when he crashed later on and he eventually finished well behind the remainder of the field.

Through Ennis and Limerick the leading group stayed in front, and although they lost three men-two punctures and one crash-they seldom looked in danger of being caught.

The only Pole to get away from the main bunch was Glowaty, who was followed by Dan Aherne.

At the 90-mile mark the leaders were five minutes up followed by Aherne and Glowaty who were only 15 secs. ahead of the field. After 110 miles the break was 6¼ mins. ahead of Aherne and Glowaty, who in turn had 45 secs. to spare over the main bunch.

Through Newcastlewest the leading bunch maintained their advantage and going through Abbeyfeale it was obvious that they would not be caught.

DROPPED

The original break consisted of Eamonn Ryan (Kildare), Patsy Wall (Tipp.), Tom Beamish and P. J. Doyle (Exiles), John Drumm (Kerry), Michael Collins (Meath), Mick Twomey (Cork), Liam Baxter (Kildare), Pat Firman (Wexford), Pat Reidy (Cork), Mick Creighton (Derry), and Jim Halligan (Kildare).

Beamish got a puncture and was dropped, and Mick Christle and Sligo’s Lally, members of the chasing bunch which eventually caught them, were unlucky to suffer similar misfortunes.

Goddard, who could not produce enough speed to win the sprint, was delighted when he learned he had taken the race leader’s jersey. Almost 30 years of age, Goddard, who is married with one child, has competed in the Tour of Britain and is taking part in his second Ras Tailteann.

Sonny Cullen showed tremendous ability in getting up to win the sprint. At the top of the hill, five miles outside the town, he had to change his bike, but still caught and passed Goddard, who had initiated the break. Jim Kennedy’s sprinting ability was also highlighted here.

Kennedy, who had been told by the doctor that he should not ride, must be delighted with his improved form.

The performances of these Dublin men has cut the lead of the Polish side considerably. They led by 17 mins. 6 secs. at the start of the stage, but this morning, when they set out to cover the Ring of Kerry, their lead will only be 3 mins. 36 secs.

STAGE FOUR

Tuam-Castleisland (127 miles)

INDIVIDUAL

1-S. Cullen (Dublin).

2-J. Kennedy (Dublin).

3-D. Kenny (Exiles).

4-J. Goddard (Exiles).

5-P. Wall (Tipperary).

6-M. Collins (Meath).

All timed at 5 hrs. 35mins. 3 secs. Bonus time deducted on general classification.

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

1-J. Goddard (Exiles) 18h. 28m. 49s.

2-J. Mikolajezyk (Poland) 18-29-20.

3-S. Cullen (Dublin) 18-30-34.

4-L. Baxter (Kildare) 18-32-04.

5-P. Wall (Tipperary) 18-32-05.

6-Z. Glowaty (Poland) 18-32-32.

7-M. Collins (Meath) 18-33-01.

8-M. Chojnacki (Poland) 18-33-24.

9-D. Kenny (Exiles) 18-34-00.

10-J. Kennedy (Dublin) 18-34-17.

11-D. Aherne (Kerry) 18-34-24.

12-J. Linde (Poland) 18-36-30.

TEAM

1-Poland……55h. 35m. 16s

2-Dublin……55 – 38 – 52     

3-Exiles…….55 – 45 – 58

4-Cork……...55 – 57 – 10

5-Meath…….56 – 04 – 17

6-Tipperary…56 – 04 – 28

7-Kildare……56 – 04 – 46

8-Kerry……...56 – 19 – 21

9-Derry, 56-40-35. 10-Wicklow, 56-41-03. 11-Wexford, 56-48-21. 12-Louth, 56-57-12. 13-Galway, 57-09-01. 14-Antrim, 57-13-18. 15-Armagh, 57-31-21. 16-Sligo, 58-30-39. 17-Carlow, 58-51-55.

RAS TAILTEANN STAGE FOR AHERN

Kerry rider beats Pole to line

Dan Ahern of Kerry, who was beaten in the sprint to the line on two occasions by the Pole, Nbijniew Glowaty, got sweet revenge on the sixth stage of Ras Tailteann, which finished in Clonmel yesterday.  Ahern, a 23-year-old dairy farmer from Castleisland, was the first man over the line, followed by race leader, Glowaty, with Carrick-on-Suir rider, Patsy Wall, placed third.

The biggest cheer of the day, however, came for local boy 16-years-old Johnny Lonergan, who finished fourth inches ahead of the Pole, Malkiewicz, with Liam Baxter, of Kildare, in sixth place.

LITTLE CHANCE

All were well timed at 3 hours 55 minutes for the 94 miles’ run from Killarney.   As a result, there is no great change as regards general classification.  Glowaty remains at the head of the table, but now his lead has been cut from 2 minutes 22 seconds to 1 minute 52 by Ahern.

The first twelve men in the general classification still remain there, though there are slight changes –Chojnacki moving up from fifth to third where he displaces Mikolajczyk; Wall coming up two places to fourth: Linde dropping one place to fifth, and Mikolajczyk dropping from third to sixth.

Dave Kenny of the Exiles and Christy Kimmage of Dublin remain at 7^th and 8^th  respectively, while Liam Baxter (Kildare) and Jim Kennedy (Dublin) exchange places to 9^th and 10^th respectively.

Aherns Effort

The best feature yesterday from the Irish point of view was, of course Ahern’s eclipse of the Pole on the way to the line, but for a yellow jersey to stay up with the leaders, as Glowaty did all day, was a fine achievement.

Wall and the youthful Lonergan made it their business to be with the leaders, understandably so, as the race was heading towards Clonmel. The weather, however, was not the best for the most of the distance, as the cyclists had to contend with squalls for more than half the way.

There was an early break on the Thursday, when at Rathmore twelve miles from the start, the field had broken into two bunches. Then outside Rathmore, Dave Kenny and Malkiewicz got away from the leaders and went down the incline towards Mallow at about 30 miles per hour.

The Pole was not too inclined to do his share of the work, hoping perhaps that he would wear Kenny down and bring him back to the leading bunch, in which Glowaty and two other Poles Linde and Mikolajczyk were figuring.

At Mallow 39 miles from the start, Kenny and Malkiewicz had increased their lead to two minutes over the rest of the field which had closed up with 95 riders chasing through Mallow together.

LEADERS CAUGHT

By Fermoy the leaders had been caught, and, at Mitchlestown, Ahern, Baxter, Lonergan, Wall, Archie Williams (Dublin), Tom Reilly (Meath), and Cork’s Mick Toomey were showing to the fore in an eleven-man group that was to dominate the race for the rest of the journey.

At Mitchlestown Linde punctured, and lost a precious half minute. Afterwards he was never able to make up the leeway, and came in with the first following bunch, 1 minute 15 secs behind the leaders.

The group was led over the line by Kerry’s Gene Mangan, and three minutes 40 seconds behind Managan came the main bunch.

POLES’ BIG LEAD

With two stages totalling 166 miles to go, it looks as if the Poles cannot be beaten for the team prize. At the moment they are 20 minutes 8 seconds in front of Dublin and judging by the last two days, the Metropolitans have very little chance of wiping out the arrears.

If Ahern continues to ride as well as he has done over the past two stages he could be a great danger to Glowaty for individual honours; but the Pole is supported by a much stronger team than the Kerryman.

It is seldom that the yellow jersey wearer is able to force the pace as much as Glowaty did on yesterdays run, and while his lead has been cut somewhat, he can hardly be expected to be put out of the picture when the seventh stage goes to Gorey today.

Today’s stage will leave Clonmel art 11.00 and is expected at Carrick-on-Suir (11.33), Waterford (12.13), New Ross (12.48), Wexford (1.50) before the finish at Gorey at (3.10).

6^th Stage Result

Killarney-Clonmel, 94 miles

(bonuses included)

1.    D. Ahern (Kerry), 3-54-0; 2 Z. Glowaty (Poland) 3-54-30; 3 P.Wall (Tipperary) 3-54-45; 4 J. Lonergan (Tipperary); 5 J. Malkiewicz (Poland); 6 L. Baxter (Kildare, all 3-55-0.

General Classification

1.    Glowaty, 27-19-42;  2 Ahern 27-21-34:  3 M. Chojnacki 27-25-54; 4 P. Wall 27-26-6; 5 J. Linde (Poland) 27-26-25; 6 J. Mikolajczyk, 27-27-16; 8 C. Kimmage (Dublin 27-29-32; 9 L. Baxter (Kildare) 27-29-44; 10 J. Kennedy (Dublin) 27-29-48; 11 J. Goddard (Exiles) 27-31-4; 12 Cullen (Dublin) 27-32-49.

Team Placings

1. Poland 82-12-1; 2 Dublin 82-32-9: 3Exiles 82-51-39; 4 Cork 82-52-36; 5 Tipperary 83-4-9; Meath 83-18-3; 9 Wexford 83-49-6; 10 Louth 84-47-57

POWERFUL GLOWATY TAKES INDIVIDUAL AWARD IN RAS

VICTORY TO POLAND

Kimmage First To Dublin

The Polish cycling team have taken all the honours of the 1963 Ras Tailteann. Despite a gallant effort by Dan Ahern (Kerry) over the last 70-miles stage from Gorey to the Phoneix Park, the individual award went to Z. Glowaty and with three men in the first five on general classification, the Poles also took the team award.

Ahern made a spirited attempt to snatch victory from Glowaty by breaking away at the start of the Wicklow Gap in yesterday’s final stage.  He opened up a lead of a minute, reached the summit still ahead, but was caught on the way down.

Eventually Ahern finished 14 seconds behind Galwaty, whose third place behind Dublin’s Christy Kimmage in yesterday’s stage was sufficient to ensure him of victory.

Christy Kimmage earned his second stage win by sprinting home first in a five-man bunch which included Galwaty.  Just behind Kimmage came Murt Logan (Kilkenny), Glowaty, Chojnacki and Liam Baxter (Kildare).  Fourteen seconds later came Mick Twomey (Cork), heading a bunch which included Ahern, who thus retained his overall second position, but only four seconds from Chojnacki.

Right from the start in Gorey yesterday it was felt that Ahern was out to try to emulate the performance of Seamus O’Hanlon last year. It will be remembered that O’Hanlon got away on the Wicklow Gap and finished alone.

Wrong Way

Machlin Gaffney of Kildare was first to try a move and within five miles of the start he had burst away. But Glowaty was chasing hard and although the Kildare man tried on several occasions he had burst away.  Bu Glowaty was chasing hard and although the Kildare man tried on several other occasions he was being very closely policed by Glowaty and his teammates.

At Avoca the field was still sweeping along at a cracking pace and on the climb out of the village Archie Williams (Dublin) tried a solso effort. He built up a fifty-yard lead, but with the Poles working at the head of the bunch, Williams was soon joined by Glowaty, D. Kenny (Exiles) and Dan Ahern, Kerry then decided to try to lead at the start of the Gap.

For six miles he held a slight advantage but lost ground when he took a wrong turn at Rathdrum. He was soon afterwards caught and we waited to see would Ahern’s bid to shake off Glowaty succeed. At the beginning of the climb Ahern, Glowaty, Dermot McGrath had a slight lead.

They were still together two miles further on and still there was no move by Ahern. Then suddenly he opened up that vital twenty yard gap and began to go steadily ahead.

Glowaty left the task of chasing Ahern to the others, but they were making little impression. In fact Ahern was going further away, and only when a Cork rider caught Glowaty did the Pole actually begin to close gradually.

As Ahern neared the crest he was in front by approximately half a minute, but this was not a big enough margin against a rider of Glowaty’s calibe and befor they were halfway down the Dublin side a bunch of ten had caught Ahern.

Dan Akerne Kerry Second Overall

McKenna Falls

Ben McKenna was most unlucky here. A sheep ran out, just missed Tom Finn and brought McKenna down heavily. He was cut about the head, but remounted to chase. He had to dismount again later to have his injury bandaged. This accident cost Ben many places on the general classification.

Before the leading bunch had reached Blessington, Glowaty, Baxter, Logan and Kimmage had gone clear and, with all four working hard, it seemed certain for third place he would have got a bonus of 15 seconds and beaten Dan Ahern out of second place.

The riding of the Poles through the week has been excellent and it is really no surprise that they triumphed, for they are a National team pitted against a collection of countries. On the day the home riders unofficially organised on a national basis showed that they could be beaten. However the plan was not continued after the stage into Castleisland.

FINAL STAGE

Gorey to Dublin (70miles)

INDIVIDUAL

1- C. Kimmage (Dublin); 2-M. Logan (Kildare); 3-Z. Glowaty (Poland): 4-M. Chojnacki (Poland); 5-L. Baxter (Kildare) all at 2hrs. 50 mins. 10 secs.; 6-M. Twomey (Cork) 2 hrs. 50 mins. 24 secs.

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

1-Glowaty (Poland), 34-09-17.

2-D. Ahern (Kerry), 34-11-34.

3-M. Chojnacki (Poland), 34-15-34.

4-J. Linde (Poland), 34-15-49.

5-P. Wall (Tipperary), 34-16-10.

6-C. Kimmage (Dublin), 34-17-12.

7-L. Baxter (Kildare), 34-19-34.

8-J. Kennedy (Dublin), 34-22-26.

9-J. Goddard (Exiles), 34-23-42.

10-J. Mikolajczyk (Poland), 34-23-48.

11-D. Kenny (Exiles), 34-24-19.

12-S. Cullen (Dublin), 34-25-27.

13-M. Twomey (Cork), 34-26-26.

14-P. Reidy (Cork), 34-26-31.

15-S. Lally (Sligo), 34-30-40.

16-A. Williams (Dublin), 34-32-21.

17-R. Shaw (Cork), 34-32-25.