The Northern Ireland cycling season highlight, the P&O Irish Sea Tour of
the North is now only a few days away, with the final entry list being released,
and a truly international feel to the four day Easter event.
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| `In the Pink` Local riders shaping up for the Tour of the North 4-day International next week, Adam Armstrong keeping an eye on the Under 23s Blue Jersey, Fraser Duncan, winner of last weeks John Haldane Memorial race, P&O Irish Sea Communications manager Edel McMahon, Glen Kinning who will be trying to win the AA King of the Hills Jersey for a record third time, and AA Representative and event secretary Davy Ross. |
Along with the European outfits WV de Kaanibaal from Holland, De Cock Capino
from Belgium and Vendee La Roche Sur Yonne from France; Scotland are also
fielding two National Junior teams, with Ireland likewise putting forward their
best young riders, with all hopes pinned on defending Junior title-holder, Sean
Downey from Banbridge.
Downey has been at the UCI Track Training facility at Agile in Switzerland as
a UCI student since the new year and is due home tomorrow to head the Ireland
Junior squad in the 4-day Easter race. Ulster are also entering a Junior team,
with last years Youth Olympians Stuart Henry and Peter Williams teaming up with
Hillsborough`s Peter Wilson and Glenarm`s Leo McAllister.
Closer to home, the Pezula professional team are fielding a top trio,
including two-time winner Ryan Connor from Ballymena. He has won the event in
2004, 2006 and will again be one of the favourites for `08. He is backed up by
Newtownards pair Martyn Irvine and Adam Armstrong, with these riders dominating
the domestic scene so far this season.
Speaking at a photo-shoot on Friday P&O Communications Manager Edel
McMahon commented, “We are delighted with the response to the race this year,
with no fewer than three European teams in the start line-up. With national
representation from Scotland and Ireland, the 2008 P&O Irish Sea Tour of the
North looks like being one of the best yet!`
Local riders put the finishing touches to their Easter preparations this
weekend, with Glen Kinning running out the winner of his own clubs John Moore
memorial on Saturday. The two-time Tour of the North King of the Hills winner
was on dominant form over his `home` Temple-Ballynahinch-Saintfield circuit.
Meanwhile Team Pezulas Adam Armstrong pulled off a major Classic win in the Des
Hanlon memorial in Carlow, and Junior rider Peter Wilson (Maryland Whs) took the
spoils in the St Patricks Downpatrick-Armagh 2nd, 3rd & Junior race.
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P&O Irish Sea Tour of the North
Start List (17/03/08) |
Northern CC-Dave Kane
1 Lewis Ferguson
2 James McMaster
3 Liam Curran
4 Lee Patterson
5 Fraser Duncan
Stamullen-M Donnelly B
6 David Molloy
7 Alan Clogher
8
Juiced-Orchard CC
9 Simon Williams
10 Allister Fiddes
11 Lester Fiddes
12 Martyn Graham
Ballymena RC -
Scott Rooftiles
13 Conor McAllister
14 Ryan Bankhead
15 Sean Wright
16 Phillip Bremner
17 Gavin Scullion
Glasgow Wheelers A
18 Stuart McManus
19 Michael Nicholson
20 Jamie Drever
21 Keith Smith
Newry Wheelers -
Haldane Fisher
22
23 Kevin Lynch
Team Pezula
24 Martyn Irvine
25 Ryan Connor
26 Adam Armstrong
Castlereagh CC-Mattest
27 Glen Kinning
28 Gary Crory
29 Brendan Graham
30 Roger Aiken
31 Tim Edgar
Team SiS
32 Alastair Steele
33 Jimmy Rutherford
Phoenix CC
34 Sean McGreevy
Cuchullian CC
35 Liam Dolan
36
Stamullen-M Donnelly A
37 Chris O`Hare
38 Colin Robinson
39 Craig Sweetman
40 Robert Moore
41 Frank O`Connor
42 Simon Mullany
DeCock-Capino
Belgium
43 Matthias Landuyt
44 Gregory Demunster
45 Tom Vanbecelaere
46 Niki Devoldere
47 Matthieu Langedock
48 Kevin Delie
Glasgow Wheelers B
49 Graeme Neagle
50 Kristoff Aksnes
51 Jamie McQueen
52 Julian Duncan
Michelin-Bib Sport
53 Uel Cunningham
Team Madigan
54 Jimmy Wright
55 Johnny Cole
East Antrim CC-
Isaac Agnew Audi
56 Gordon Scott
57 Keiran McKenna |
Ulster Juniors -
totalcycling.com
58 Leo McAllister
59 Stuart Henry
60 Peter Williams
61 Peter Wilson
Scotland Juniors (T)
62 Aaron Murray
63 Magnus Davidson
64 Callum McClean
65 Graham McGarrity
66 Dean Martin
Ards CC
67 Kirk Sloan
68 Ross Blayney
69 Warren Francis
Clann Eireann
- Linen Green
70 Thomas Martin
71
72 Ronnie Smyth*
Dromara CC
73 Davy McKnight
Foyle CC
74 Jim Doyle
McNally-Swords CC
75 Stephen Halpin
76 Ciaran Lewis
77 Fergus Ryan
78 Henry Crowley
79 Kevin Donnagher
WV de Kannibaal
Holland
80 Ard Aling
81 Albert Schurer
82 Bram Slager
83 Gerard van Dijk
84 Steve McEwen
85 Jinne Osigna
The Bicycle Works-
Fiesten Flanders Cycles
86 Callum Wilkinson
Four Masters CC
87 Adrian McDermott
Usher-Irish Road Club
88 Matt Ward
89 Colm Cassidy
90 Peter Hawkins
91 Neil Delahaye
92 Shane Baker
93 Simon Kelly
Ireland Juniors
94 Sean Downey
95 Sam Bennett
96 Mark Heneghan
97 Aaron Buggle
98 Michael Duffy
North Down CC
99 Sam Craig
Scotland Juniors (M)
100 Hamish Creber
101 Ewan Clarke
102 Robert Hassan
Lucan-Staggs CC
103 Daniel Kirwan
104 James Kirwan
105 Brendan Whelan
VC La Roche Sur Yonne
France
106 Frederic Bertrant
107 Simon Chasseloup
108 Claude Vincendeau
109 Adrien le Mevel
110 Remi Grelier |
