Scott McDonald

Scott McDonald (MyHome.ie / Dunboyne) took his biggest victory of the season when he outsprinted professional Paul Healion (Murphy & Gunn / Newlyn / M. Donnelly / Sean Kelly Team) to win the Stamullen Grand Prix today.

Paul Healion

Healion had been involved in the action all day, escaping with 2005 Rás stage winner Roger Aiken (Banbridge) early on and building a maximum lead of almost a minute, and the Murphy & Gunn pro looked certain to repeat his victory of the Monie Nolan Memorial the day before until the final few metres of the 120kms race.

With three laps of 20kms to go, last year's winner Connor Murphy (Usher Insulations) rode across to the lead duo. The trio were joined a lap later by McDonald and Peter Hawkins (Usher Insulations) and this new duo then attacked the leaders on the final ascent of Snowtown with 15kms to go, before a resilient Healion regained contact after the descent in Naul Village.

Former international McDonald tried numerous unsuccessful attacks on the run in to Stamullen but the trio arrived at the finish together. Healion led out the sprint from a long way out before McDonald jumped past for an emphatic victory, his fourth of the season.

"We kind of waited on Healion after the hill," said the 35-year-old afterwards, "because it was very windy and he was really strong, so it was better to have him with us than behind us. I attacked a lot on the run in because I wanted to win on my own, rather than leave it to a sprint. I felt very strong but anything can happen in a sprint finish. My sprinting has been good this year and I was fairly confident in the end."

McDonald, previously raced in France with both ACBB in 1994 and then EC Mayenne the following year. He also represented Ireland at the 1994 world championships but has been off the scene for a few years, running his coaching business Winning Solutions. "I coach mainly triathletes and cyclists now," he says. "I had been on the bike a bit last year and the year before but decided this winter to put in a proper winter's training and see what I could do. Not many people, especially my clients know that I used to race before, or that I actually won the odd race, so I suppose it's good for business too."

Murphy outsprinted Aiken for fourth, 15 seconds after the leaders had crossed the line, with Paddy Moriarty (Diamond T) pipping Greg Swinand (Usher Insulations) and the rest of the main field for sixth, 42 seconds behind the delighted winner.

RACE RESULTS:

JOEY WHYTE MEMORIAL CUP:
72 mile – Winning time 2Hr,53mins,37sec.



1 Scott McDonald, Myhome.ie/BDBC - Time
2 Paul Healion, Murphy-Gunn/M.Donnelly
3 Peter Hawkins, Usher IRC
4 Conor Murphy, Usher IRC @ 15 sec.
5 Roger Aiken, Bandbridge CC @ 20 sec.
6 Paddy Moriarty, Diamond T @ 42 sec.
7 Greg Swinand, Usher IRC S/T
8 Simon Coughlan, Dynamon Dynamos S/T

SENIOR B; PATRICK KENNEDY MEMORIAL



1 Urban Monks, Murphy-Gunn/Newlyn Group
2 Kevin Donagher, McNally Swords CC
3 Alan Carey, Usher IRC
4 Jason O’Callaghan, McNally Swords CC
5 John Dorris, Sorrento CC
6 Mark Nestor, Murphy-Gunn/Newlyn Group


SENIOR C: PAT HOWARD MEMORIAL CUP



1 Darren Hughes, South Dublin CC
2 Michael Barry, Trinity CC
3 Yannick Pigeat, Naas CC
4 Robbie Kenny, Lakeside Whls
5 Mike Millar, Castlereagh CC
6 Seamus Howard, Stamullen MDonnelly


JUNIORS: JIMMY GOUGH CUP



1 Philip Lavery, Usher IRC
2 Mark Heneghan, South Dublin CC
3 Aaron Buggle, South Dublin CC
4 Damien Gavin, Covey Whlrs.
5 Niall Rock, McNally Swords CC


VETS: Safe-linK Shield



1 Andre Engerman, St. Tiernan’s CC
2 Eddie Lynch, Orwell Dundrum SC
3 Hughie Nestor, Murphy-Gunn/Newlyn Group
4 Ger Madden, Obelisk CC
5 Noel Beggs, Orwell Dundrum SC

Ladies



1 Julie O’Hagan, Rapha Condor
2 Jenny Fay, Rapha Condor,
3 Orla Hendron, Orwell Dundrum SC



UNDER 12

1 Ciara Mulholland, Clann Eireann
2 Ryan Orr, O.B.C.C..
3 Daragh Campbell, Drogheda Whlrs.
4 Ciaran Campbell, Drogheda Whlrs.
5 Colm Dunne, Lucan CC
6 Joe Boyd, Navan Avonmore RC

Under 14

1 David Boyd, Navan Avonmore RC
2 Javan Nulty, Stamullen M Donnelly
3 Niall McAree, Emyvale CC
4 Daragh Reidy, Covey Whlrs.
5 James Lynch, Navan Avonmore RC
6 Shaun Rigley, Bray Whlrs.

UNDER 16

1 Charles Prendergast, Mayo Whlrs.
2 Stewart Henry, Toyota North Down
3 Mark Fitzsimons, Ena Loakman Remax
4 Axel O’Connor, Laois CC
5 Peter Williams, Orchard Whlrs.
6 Darren Connolly, Laois CC
7 Conor Campbell, Drogheda Whlrs.
8 Sean Carolan, Covey Whlrs.

Kay Howard, Cycling Ireland, Results Coordinator 07

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Results McCann Cup - in Omagh

John Niell Phoenix CC

1 John Niell Phoenix CC
2 Simon Williams Orchard Wheelers
3 Lennie Kirk Slane Cycles
4 Davy McCall Maryland Wheelers
5 Tony Hare Apollo CT
6 Ray Dunlop Lakeland CC
7 Thomas Martin Clan Eireann/Linen Green
8 Paul Harte Phoenix CC