Ulster Cycling News
25Aug/150

McConvey wins North Down GP

Connor McConvey (Team 3M) won the North Down Grand Prix today (Sunday 23 August) in Donaghadee after a gruelling 90 miles race around the Orlock, Springwell, Hightrees circuit. The North Down Cycling club promotion was also the final round of the Cycling Ireland National Road Race series and Dundalk man Bryan McCrystal (Team Asea) retained his overall lead despite finishing outside the top ten placing.

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A top class field of Ireland's best riders, including the current National road race champion Damian Shaw (Team Asea) and the recent winner of the Agnew SEAT Criterium series Mark Dowling (DID Dunboyne), started the race in warm and dry conditions. The attacks came immediately and after a brutally fast first lap a break away group was forging ahead. In this group were McConvey, Adam Armstrong (Northern – Dave Kane Cycles), Declan Mullholland (Powerhouse), Eoin Morton (UCD), Ian Richardson (UCD), Dave Watson (North Down CC), David Hamilton (North Down CC), Javan Nulty (DID Dunboyne) and Sean McIntyre (Caldwell Cycles).

After just three laps (24 miles) this group was already one minute ahead of the next chasing group which included Damian Shaw (Team Asea) and Mark Dowling (DID Dunboyne) who was in second place in the National road series. The main bunch was over two minutes down and the gaps grew bigger as the frontrunners worked like clockwork.

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McConvey attacked on the last lap and soloed to a memorable victory. Morton was second, 53 seconds down closely followed by the promoting clubs Dave Watson who has held good form for the whole season. Comeback man Adam Armstrong (Northern CC-Dave Kane cycles) showed a return to form in fourth with Mulholland and Hamilton completing the top six. The King of the Hills competition, which was contested on the Springwell Road Hill, was won by Eoin Morton (UCD).

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The A4 race was won by Stamullen rider Glenn White with Andrew Ferguson (Castlereagh CC) leading the bunch in for second from Ryan Wallace (Ballymoney).

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Aideen Keenan (DID Dunboyne) won the women’s race from Grace Young (De Ronde Van Cork) and Maura Chafferty (UCD). Keenan wins the Joe Daly Womens League.

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Paul Kirk (North Down CC) took his third win of the season in the Masters event which was held in the morning.

The under 12 race was won by Errigal CC lad Adhran Dougan with Shay O’Kane (Phoenix CC) and Rachel white (North Down CC) second and third. Keiran Cahoon (Clann Eirean) was best Under 14 while Katie Armstrong (North Down CC) was first Under 14 girl.DSC_1630

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Xeno Young (Powerhouse) beat PJ Dougan (Errigle CC) for the Under 16 win.

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The North Down Cycling Club staged a superb day of racing for all categories with the final round of the National men’s and women’s league drawing competitors from all over Ireland. The new format for the National Series was devised by Newtownard's man Anthony Mitchell and it has proven to be a great success with the top riders competing for honours later in the season.

Under 12s
1 Adhran dougan – Eirigal CC
2 Shay O’Kane – Phoenix CC
3 Rachael White – North Down CC
1st unplaced girl – Maria McAllister – Island Wheelers

Under 14s
1 Kieran Cahoon – Clann Eirean
2 James Glasgow – East Tyrone
3 Rob Lawrence – Bann Valley
1st Unplaced Girl – Katie Armstrong – North Down CC

Under 16
1 Xeno Young – Powerhouse
2 PJ Dougan – Errigal CC
3 Niall Lawrence – Bann Valley

Over 50s
1 Paul Kirk – North Down CC
2 Neil McCartan – Powerhouse
3 Gerard Maguire – Phoenix CC
4 Brian Docherty – Bann Wheelers
5 Michael Crowe – North Down CC
6 Ian Blayney – North Down CC

Women
1 Aideen Keenan – DID
2 Grace Young – De Ronde Van Cork
3 Maura Clafferty – UCD
4 Clare McIlwaine – Phoenix CC
5 Nomh stevens – UCD
6 Karen Deenihan De Ronde Van Cork
7 Catherine Sands – Newry Wheelers
8 Jennifer Fortune – De Ronde Van Cork
9 Ann Horan – Orwell Wheelers
10 Alwynne Shannon – Newry Wheelers
11 Monica Marconi - Orwell

A1,A2 & A3 Race
1 Conor McConvey – 3M
2 Eoin Morton – UCD
3 Dave Watson – North Down CC
4 Adam Armstrong – Northern CC Dave Kane Cycles
5 Declan Mulholland – Powerhouse
6 David Hamilton – North Down CC
7 Javan Nulty – DID
8 Ian Richardson UCD
9 Sean McIntyre – Caldwell CC
10 Damien Shaw – Team Asea
1st Unplaced Junior – Jake Grey – Nicholas Roche Performance Team
2nd Unplaced Junior – Matthew Armstrong – Dromara CC

King of the Hills Primes
1 Eoin Morton – UCD
2 Adam Armstrong – Northern CC Dave Kane Cycles
3=Ian Richardson – UCD
3= DaveWatson – North Down CC

A4 Race
1 Glenn White – Stamullen Martin Donnelly
2 Andrew Ferguson – Castlereagh
3 Ryan Wallace – Ballymoney CC
4 Rob Carr – Kings Moss CC
5 Michael Boyd – Unattached
6 Patrick Mulroe – Emyvale
7 Neill McAllister – Banbridge CC
8 Mark Kendall – Banbridge CC
9 Colm McKenna – VC Glendale
10 Fergus Byrne – Bann Valley

Report by Brendan Kirk
Photos by Bronagh Kirk
For more photos from Bronagh click here

Photos by David McVeigh (Belgium Project) - here

Posted by Martin Grimley (martin@ulsterxc.com)

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