Fiona "Cookes" up another result

Not being content with coming up with awful puns, Marble City Cyclers have made great strides in some Ladies Cycling competitions, courtesy of Fiona Cooke.

As many of you will know, Fiona only started cycling last year. However she is out on a regular basis, every weekend, through those cold autumn and winter days.  Such dedication and consistency have definitely paid off when you see her progress through her ‘first proper year’.

At the beginning of the year, Fiona applied for a normal Cycling Ireland leisure licence and duly took part in some local sportives.  She had her first taste of competition when she took part in the Tramore Hill Challenge in May and lost out on first place by a mere second – still second place wasn’t bad for a first time!!  Shortly afterwards, she comfortably took the Kilkenny Cycles Bike Shop TT Ladies league.

Then she made her intentions known and upgraded her licence to a Club licence allowing her to participate in the Women’s Wicklow League.  In the first race she earned a respectable 7^th, then a more respectable 5^th the following week.  Then in the third week, another fine performance saw Fiona breaking away in the last lap to take a very clear win.  In the fourth and last week, her very respectable ninth place was enough to see her winning overall second place in the league.

Another call to the head man to have her licence upgraded to a full competition licence signalled her intent and ambition.  She had her eyes firmly fixed on the Mullingar Two Day open competition.  This is a serious test and involves a race on the Saturday morning, a TT in the afternoon, followed by another race on the Sunday!  Despite being up against some other club ‘teams’, Fiona put in a very fine and consistent performance throughout the weekend and took overall first place in the ladies league!  And this in her first open race!

Well done Fiona and we look forward to hearing more great results in the future!