Ulster Cycling News
27Apr/130

Duncan has Classy Win in Beggs Memorial

DSC_0547After a hard seventy seven miles it was Fraser Duncan of Eurocycles who emerged as victor in Banbridge CC's promotion of the John Beggs Memorial Road Race.

The event was run over a new course which still had the Banbridge stamp of toughness. Banbridge had pulled out all the stops to enable this event to go ahead as last minute road works closed down their usual course. The new course included some tough climbs and fast descents.

With many of your top riders getting ready for the May Bank Holiday stage races and the Rás a few weeks later this was the largest turn out of A1 and A2 riders to date.

A break developed shortly into the race with Roger Aiken, the punter's favourite to win in the mix. This was a useful break with many top class riders such as Javan Nulty and Mark Downling (Dunboyne), Thomas Martin (Eurocycles), Jack Wilson (An Post), Rory Devlin (North Pole CC), Gary Cranston (East Antrim Audi), James McMaster (Curran Racing). Cormac Clarke (Newry Wheelers) and Leo McAllister (Chain Reaction Cycles)

Fraser Duncan of Eurocycles missed the break but decided that was where he needed to be and in an heroic effort he dug deep and chased hard. His persistence finally paid off as he joined the group some time later. Meanwhile the chasers behind worked hard with Fergus Rooney (Phoenix CC), Marc Potts (Omagh Wheelers) and Damian McDonald of Dromara CC helping to drive the bunch along. Marc Buchannan of North Pole did his best to control the bunch at the front to give club-mate Devlin a chance.

As the finish line came into view on the final lap, Duncan went for it and his effort was rewarded as he crossed the line as winner two hundred metres ahead of Nulty and Aiken who sprinted for second and third places.

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Dowling had to be content with fourth with Martin on his wheel for fifth. The remaining points were taken by Cormac Clarke (Newry Wheelers), Jack Wilson (An Post Sean Kelly Team), Gary Cranston (East Antrim), Damian McDonald (Team Vision Racing) and Marc Potts (Omagh Wheelers).

The A3 Seamus McGreevy Memorial Race saw a full field of riders take to the roads around Kinallen to cover the 90 km at a fast pace. The race did not break up as much as was expected although groups did get away for short periods. Newry's Jude Sands, Ronnie Smyth (Dromara CC), Thomas Simmons (VC Glendale), Curtis Gilmore (Team Madigan) and Jay Gault (Phoenix CC) made some progress but the peloton never let them get out of sight and they were reeled in.

In the final straight the riders were more broken up and lined out and it was Curtis Gilmore of Team Madigan who saw his chance and pushed through to take a clear win.

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The next riders came from a small group who managed to get twenty seconds on the bunch. Alex Donald of Phoenix took the sprint ahead of David Hamilton (Curran Racing), Paul Keogh (Eire Óg CC) and Anthony Quinn (Dromara CC). It was left to a bunch sprint to decide the final placings with Aaron McGrady (Phoenix CC) taking sixth place ahead of junior, Declan Reid (Newry Wheelers)and Nathan Mullan (Dromara CC).

The A4's faced a hard seventy kilometres which stretched the riders. A few were dropped early on but the majority managed to get into a rhythm  and worked together.  Again the peloton did not split as much as expected and it was in the closing kilometres that the battle was fought and won.

With the line just in sight Brian Morrow of Sligo took the bull by the horns and went for it. He took a clear win with twenty seconds to spare.

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Madigan's Chris Hutchinson who has shown consistent form so far this season was second ahead of Liam Cullen (Barrow Wheelers). This should now give Hutchinson enough points to move to A3 status.

The final points were taken by Matthew Killop (Orchard  Shelbourne), Ian Carson (Ards CC), Tom McGread (Omagh Wheelers), Ryan Mallon (Dromara CC) and Andrew Gregg (North Down CC) as these riders come in singly. The toughness of the course ensured that there was no bunch sprint today.

There was also European Youth Olympic selection events for both U16 Boys and Girls. The boys faced more than fifty km of hard racing and the lead changed several times. In the end it was Declan Mulholland (Clann Eireann) who took the win in the boys race ahead of Jake Grey (East Tyrone CC)  and Ryan Orr (Ballymoney CC)

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Munster's Emily Birchall proved strongest in the girl's event although Josie Knight (Kanturk CC) was pushing her hard. Ciara Doogan (Errigal CC) took an excellent third place.

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There was a big group of U14's on the line today. Harvey Barnes of East Tyrone emulated recent performances in youth events by winning this event ahead of Ethan Fleville (Clann Eireann) and Liam Wilson (Clann Eireann)

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Eoin Birchall matched his sister's win by taking first in the U12 event followed closely by Aaron Heaney (Clann Eireann) and Dylan Traynor (Errigal CC). Shauna McFadden was fourth and first girl in this event.

Banbridge pulled everything together today to make this an excellent day's racing. Loads of marshalls ensured the safe passage of the race while there were more than sufficient lead cars. Back in Kinallen the catering crew had been busy preparing loads of food for the hungry cyclists and supporters. Their work was much appreciated by all.

Thanks also to the ambulance crew and to our commms for the day Brendan Kirk and Dany Blondeel.

Comms

Marian Lamb

John Beggs Memorial RR A1/A2 Results – 125 km

  1. Frazer Duncan (Eurocycles)
  2. Javan Nulty (DID Dunboyne)
  3. Roger Aiken (Banbridge CC)
  4. Mark Dowling (DID Dunboyne)
  5. Thomas Martin (Eurocycles)
  6. Cormac Clarke (Newry Wheelers)
  7. Jack Wilson (An Post Sean Kelly Team)
  8. Gary Cranston (East Antrim)
  9. Damian McDonald (Team Vision Racing)
  10. Marc Potts (Omagh Wheelers)

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Seamus McGreevy Memorial - A3 Results – 90 km

  1. Curtis Gilmore (Team Madigan)
  2. Alex Donald (Phoenix CC)
  3. David Hamilton (Curran Racing)
  4. Paul Keogh (Eire Óg CC)
  5. Anthony Quinn (Dromara CC)
  6. Aaron McGrady (Phoenix CC)
  7. Declan Reid (Newry Wheelers)
  8. Nathan Mullan (Dromara CC)
  9. Mike Millar (Phoenix CC)
  10. Jude Sands (Newry Wheelers)

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A4 Results – 70 km

  1. Brian Morrow (Sligo)
  2. Chris Hutchinson (Team Madigan)
  3. Liam Cullen (Barrow Wheelers)
  4. Matthew Killop (Orchard  Shelbourne)
  5. Ian Carson (Ards CC)
  6. Tom McGread (Omagh Wheelers)
  7. Ryan Mallon (Dromara CC)
  8. Andrew Gregg (North Down CC)

DSC_0286

 

U16 Boys -54 km

  1. Declan Mulholland (Clann Eireann)
  2. Jake Grey (East Tyrone CC)
  3. Ryan Orr (Ballymoney CC)
  4. Michael O’Loughlin (Iverk Produce Carrick Wheelers CC)
  5. Cathal Clarke (Newry Wheelers)
  6. Aaron Swann (TSC Racing )
  7. Adam Stenson (Lucan Cycling RC)
  8. Sean Yelverton (Limerick CC)
  9. Caimin Muldoon (Seven Springs)
  10. Evan Donaghue (Four Masters)?

U16 Girls 35km

  1. Emily Birchall (U/A Munster)
  2. Josie Knight (Kanturk CC)
  3. Ciara Doogan (Errigal CC)
  4. Laura Cooke (Limerick CC)
  5. Christine Russell (Errigal CC)
  6. Orlaith Fogarty (Errigal CC)

Under 14’s 18km

  1. Harvey Barnes (East Tyrone)
  2. Ethan Fleville (Clann Eireann)
  3. Liam Wilson (Clann Eireann)
  4. Conor Halvey (Errigal CC )
  5. Dean Chambers (Newry Wheelers)
  6. Sam Cantley (West Down Wheelers)

Under 12’s 8km

  1. Eoin Birchall (U/A Munster)
  2. Aaron Heaney (Clann Eireann)
  3. Dylan Traynor (Errigal CC)
  4. Shauna McFadden (Errigal CC)

First Girl Shauna McFadden (Errigal CC)

 

 

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