AFTER achieving National success in August, talented Donegal cyclist Clodagh Ní Ghallchóir is hoping to push on and represent Ireland again in the future.
The Gaoth Dobhair native won the National Elite 500m Time Trial at the Sundrive Velodrome back in August, while also helping her four-person UCD team claim silver in the Women’s Team Pursuit over 4km.
It was what the UCD student has been aiming to do from the beginning of the year.
And when it came around on the first Saturday in August, she flew home in 38.83s to take the National title and make her the worthy winner of the Donegal News Sports Personality of the Month for August, in conjunction with Brian McCormick Sports & Leisure.
But she didn’t have much time to celebrate that triumph as she made her way to Belgium later that day to compete.
“It was in the velodrome in Crumlin and it was my goal at the beginning of the year to get at least one National title in the Elite section.
“I had won one before in the Junior section but I’d never got an elite title so it was a big goal for me so I was happy out with it.
“It was a big aim for the year, that and to win the Team Pursuit with UCD and the Madison, we came second in both of those but I was still happy out.
“I was flying out to Belgium that night, I had to get the bus at 4am so it was a bit crazy and I did a few races over there, the standard over there was so crazy but I got a top 20 so I was happy with that, it was good training for the rest of the season back home.
“It kind of took a few weeks to sink in, I went from that to racing the day after I landed in Belgium so it was all go for a few weeks then when I came home it sank in again so it took a while.
“But definitely it’s one of my best moments on the bike without a doubt.”
In a GAA dominated area, Cycling wouldn’t be the most popular sport in Gaoth Dobhair, but the setting up of the AAA Cycling Club in her area is what started Ní Ghallchóir on her journey to success and she began competing at an early age.
The Medicinal Chemistry student was hoping to get another national title at the end of August at the Senior Track National Championships but she picked up silver in the Team Pursuit along with UCD Cycling club mate Jennifer Neenan, while she narrowly missed out on individual medals in the Scratch and the Keirin, with two fourth place finishes.
And as she looks ahead to next year, she is eyeing up further National success, while attempting to make the Ireland Olympics team is the main goal for the future.
“There was a club starting up in Gaoth Dobhair and they sent leaflets out to the primary schools.
“My sister was in fifth class and mum sent myself and my sister up to learn the rules of the road to commute to college but then I got into the competitive side of it and I really enjoyed it.
“I started racing competitively when I was 15 and it took off from there.
“I got onto the Irish squad when I was in my second year of Under 16 and I was in it for both years in the Junior section and I’m looking to get back on it now for next year.
“Hopefully building on the National title that I’ve won and winning a few more next year and being selected for the Irish team hopefully going into the winter of 2024.
“That would be a big aim and then getting onto the development squad for the 2028 Olympics – that would be the biggest goal for next years.”
Ní Ghallchóir is coached by Barcelona-based Sam Williams who has been with her for the past three years and the cyclist praised her coach for her development and help towards winning a national title as she enjoyed a well-earned break in the off season.
“The competition is completely done until March, the season runs from March until mid-September so I’m all finish up now, I took a month off but I’m back into training now for the winter, it’s a bit tough getting back into it with the weather.
“I started being coached by him when I went into the senior ranks and I’ve come on a lot.
“I interact with him over zoom and I train six days a week, four on the bike then two days in the gym.
“I’ve never actually met him which is kind of crazy I suppose, but it’s not like GAA where they’re always there for every training session. It’s kind of weird that way where it’s just like an online relationship but it’s working so far.”
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