IrishCycling.Com

August 2002

IRISH HILL CLIMB CHAMPIONSHIP: (By Jim Traynor Aug 31) Gareth Rogers followed in the footsteps of past irish champions from Banbridge CC such as Noel Teggart, Seamus Downey and Tommy Evans when the younr Banbridge rider was a surprise winner of the Irish Hill Climb Championship promoted by the UCPC at the Spelga Pass.

Defending champion Paul Griffin was on international duty in the Tour of Slovakia but last year's silver medallist Jonathan Dempsey (Classic Walls) only managed 7th place, 53 seconds behind Rogers who twiddled a small gear up the climb.

Irish Hill Climb Championship, Spelga Pass, 1.7m.: 1, Gareth Rogers (Banbridge CC) 6.52; 2, G. Crory (Total Cycling.com) 6.58; 3, S. Coughlan (Dunadon Dynamo) 7.06.84; 4, O. Jeffries (Northern Dave Kane) 7.06.97; 5, M. Kiernan (Total Cycling.com) 7.15; 6, R. Aiken (Banbridge CC) 7.18; 7, J. Dempsey (Classic Walls) 7.45; 8, B. Graham (Total Cycling.com) 7.57; 9, M. Rogers (Banbridge CC) 8.16; 10, C> Crawley (Balbriggan CC) 8.19.

Team: Total Cycling.com (G. Crory, M. Kiernan, B. Graham) 22.10; 2, Banbridge CC (G. Rogers, R. Aiken, M. Rogers) 22.26.

CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS 25, NEWTOWNARDS: (By Jim Traynor Aug 25) Paul Kane (Northern CC/Dave Kane Cycles) won Ards CC's Champion of Champions '25 for the third time recording 55.32 despite a fresh breeze on the coastal Portafery Road course, to give him a 1.22 winning margin over Jonathan Dempsey (Classic Walls).

Kane previously won in '97 and last year. Other names on the trophy include two past world champions and world hour record holders Graham Obree and Chris Boardman, whose 49.36 remains an Irish all-comers' record.

Ian Proctor was third in 57.51 while Ivan Robinson of the promoting club did 58.11 for fourth and he was also the fastest vet. Lisa Rogers won the Ladies prize with 1.07.58.

Ards' Champion of Champions '25', Portaferry Road, Newtownards: 1, Paul Kane (Northern CC/Dave Kane Cycles) 55.32; 2, J. Dempsey (Classic Walls) 56.54; 3, I. Proctor (Castlereagh CC) 57.51; 4, I. Robinson (Ards CC) 58.11; 5, O. Jeffries (Northern CC/Dave Kane Cycles) 59.46; 6, M. McKechnie (Ards CC) 1.01..20; 7, L. Patterson (Northern CC/Dave Kane Cycles) 1.01.36; 8, B. Kirk (Ards CC) 1.03.14; 9, B. McCartan (Phoenix CC) 1.04.15; 10, R. Aiken (Banbridge CC) 1.04...30. Vet: I. Robinson. Lady: Lisa Rodgers (Northern Dave Kane) 1.07.58.

Tommy Givan Cup 50 TT: (By Jim Traynor Aug 18) There was a win for the promoting Maryland Wheelers in the Tommy Givan Cup 50 miles TT at Lisburn when Mark Greer was fastest. His time of 2.00.28 incuded time lost when he punctured and rode for 500 yards before he got a wheel change.

In second place was Tony McConville (Apolo CRT) while Mark Watson (Northern Dave Kane) was third.

Tommy Givan Cup 50m. TT, Lisburn: 1, Mark Greer (Maryland Whs.) 2.00.28; 2, T. McConville (Apollo CRT) 2.02.59; 3, M. Watson (Northern Dave Kane) 2.04..59; 4, M. Birney (Maryland Whs.) 2.06.27; 5, B. McCourt (Phoenix CC) 2.07.28; 6, M. Ward (Roadstars Crumlin) 2.08.19.

Lady: Lisa Rodgers (Northern Dave Kane) 2.20.38. Veterans Age Standard: Billy Kirk (Ards CC) Plus 32.43.

IRISH CRITERIUM CHAMPIONSHIP, LURGAN: (By Jim Traynor Aug 17) Paul Doyle (Tile Choice Deeside) is the new Irish Criterium Champion after a very fast and hard fought race promoted by Clann Eireann CC at Lurgan, where he outsprinted Stephen O'Sullivan (unatt.) for the gold medal.

Ten seconds behind the winner Roger Aiken (Banbridge CC) led in David McCann (Volksbank Ideal) after the final 14 laps of the race had developed into a pursuit between these two pairs of riders.

An early break of six riders went away on only the second lap of what turned out to be a 46 lap race (1 hour plus 3 laps on a 1 km. circuit) and they were joined by two more leaving eight at the front. Behind David McCann was doing nearly all the chasing as the leaders stretched their lead to a maximum of 25 seconds.

As the lead started to come down O'Sullivan jumped away on his own on the 19th lap and stayed out in front for the next 12 laps. The bunch, mostly led by McCann eventually caught the remainder of the break but not before Doyle jumped away and after several laps chasing joined up with O'Sullivan.

When the two started working the lead went up again but behind McCann had finally got clear of the bunch and was closing. After a couple of laps he was joined by Aiken and although the pair got to within 7 seconds the gap started to grow again and was 12 seconds at the bell.

Irish Criterium Championship, 1 hour plus 3 laps, Lurgan: 1, Paul Doyle (Tile Choice Deeside) 1.02.58; 2, S. O'Sullivan (unatt.) at 1 sec.; 3, R. Aiken (Banbridge CC0 at 10 secs; 4, D. McCann (Volksbank Ideal) at 16 secs.; 5, A. Crowley (Cycleways Lee Strand) at 36 secs; 6, S. Whelan (McNally Swords) at 45 secs; 7, C. Sweetman (Stamullen M. Donnelly); 8, P. O'Brien (Kanturk CU); 9, K. MacMahon (Earl of Desmond); 10, A. Layhe (Apollo CRT); 11, G. Crory (Total Cycling.com); 12, F. McCormack (Newbridge CC), all same time.

No more days at the races? The Phoenix Park: A year short of their centenary, the future of the Phoenix Park motor races [and cycling races] seem in doubt because of the state of the roads. Conor Lally reports More Here...

MURPHY WINS TOUR OF ARMAGH: (By Jim Traynor Aug 11) Conor Murphy (McQuaid Fireplaces, Emyvale CC) collected a couple of major scalps when he outsprinted David McCann (Volksbank Ideal) and Denis Easton (Total Cycling.com) to win the Tour of Armagh.

The 66 miles Clann Eireann CC event was the penultimate round of the Irish Classic League and his third place put Denis Easton into top spot with an 8 point lead going into the final race, the Sheffry Grant Prix in Mayo in two weeks.

The first three riders were in an 8-man break which went away on the first climb after Markethill. On the climb of Keady Mountain the leaders split into two groups of four with McCann, Easton and Murphy in the front group along with Gary Crory (Total Cycling.com).

They were chased by Stamullen M. Donnelly pair Craig Sweetman and Tom Hughes along with Alastair Martin (Ards CC) and Jonathan Dempsey (Classic Walls).

McCann punctured on the descent but after a 5-mile chase he got up to the leaders. He then attacked after Armagh, wtih 13 miles to go and got a lead of 30 seconds but after three miles chasing the others got back to him. Crory dropped back on the run-in leaving three for the sprint when Murphy went for a long one and won comfortably by 2 seconds from McCann with Easton a further three seconds down. Crory held off the chasers to finish 4th.

Tour of Armagh, 66m., Craigavon: 1, Conor Murphy (McQuaid Fireplaces, Emyvale CC) 2.47.10; 2, D. McCann (VOlksbank Ideal) at 2 secs; 3, D. Easton (TotalCycling.com) at 5 secs; 4, G. Crory (Total Cycling.com) at 2.04; 5, C. Sweetman (Stamullen M. Donnelly) at 2.34; 6, J. Dempsey (Classic Walls) at 2.38; 7, A. Martin (Ards CC) at 2.43; 8, T. Hughes (Stamullen M. Donnelly) at 3.23; 9, N. Campbell (unatt.) at 2.20; 10, B. Nugent (Classic Walls); 11, S. Gray (Harps CC); 12, B. Kirk (Ards CC) all same time.

Het Zeekanal Brussels (130 K Race) 1 D. Interven (Bel), 2 Clayton Smith (Aus), 3 Martin Nijland (Holl), 4 Michael Clarke (Aus), 5 Eugene Moriarty (Cycleways Lee Strand), 18 Gary McQuaid (Emerald), 24 John Dempsey (Earl of Desmond), Simon Kelly (Galway) and Paul Healion (Usher) finished with the main field.

ROCHE WINS M DONNELLY JUNIOR TOUR: (By Shane Stokes Aug 11) Nicolas Roche today moved into the history books when he became only the fourth rider in 25 years to lead the M. Donnelly Junior Tour from start to finish. Nicolas, the son of 1987 Tour de France winner Stephen Roche, rode strongly during the stage to secure his hold on the mountains jersey and, more importantly, finished safely in the main bunch to make sure of the yellow. More...

MADIGAN GRAND PRIX: (By Jim Traynor Aug 10) Paul Kane (Northern cc/Dave Kane Cycles) won the Madigan GP at Carrickfergus, just ahead of Denis Easton and his Totalcycling.com clubmate Gary Crory. The trio were the remains of a five man break which went clear on the third and final lap of of the 18.5 mile circuit.

Earlier the field had split into three groups, with the leading 8 riders 45 seconds clear at the end of the first lap. The race came together starting the final lap as 5 riders moved clear. By the final climb they were down to thre when. Easton attacked on the seven sisters climb, but he was caught on the descent, leaving a 3-man sprint for the line.

Madigan Grand Prix, 55.5m.: 1, Paul Kane (Northern Dave Kane) 1.22.09; 2, D, Easton (TotalCycling.com); 3, G. Crory (TotalCycling.com) all same time; 4, R. Aiken (Banbridge CC) at 26 secs.; 5, B. Doherty (TotalCycling.com); 6, A. Martin (Ards CC) all same time; 7, J. McConnell (Kings Moss) at 40secs.; 8, J. Dempsey (Classic Walls) at 1.21; 9, D. Travers (Banbridge CC) s.t.; 10, W. Hamilton (Whirline West Down) at 1.44.

Under 14: 1 Nadine Morris; 2 Victoria Swann; 3 Chris Church (all Ballymena Scott RC).

Under 16: 1, D Burbage (Ballymena Scott RC); 2, T. McAuley (Team Madigan); 3, K. Cromie (Roe Valley).

LAVERY WINS FPM CROSS-BORDER 3-DAY: (By JIM TRAYNOR Aug 4) Peter McConville (Newry Haldane Fisher) gave the home fans something to shout about when he won the 4th and final stage of his own club's FPM Cross-Border 3-day at Warrenpoint.

However it was Thomas Lavery, who finished in 7th place in the winning break, who claimed the overall honours by 2 seconds from time-trial stage winner Gareth Rodgers (Banbridge CC) with Wilie Hamilton (Whirline West Down) third a further second back.

Yellow Jersey Mark Greer (Maryland Wheelers) who had led the race since the TT missed the vital break and dropped back to finish 10th overall.

Kirk Sloan (Ards CC) won the opening stage on Friday evening beating Willie Hamilton in a sprint from an 8-man group which finished 28 seconds in front of the bunch. ON Saturday morning's 6 miles time-trial at Newry won by Rodgers from Castlereagh CC's Ian proctor, Greer was third, 16 seconds down and took over the yellow jersey.

Saturday afternoon'2 64 miles stage saw a valiant break for almost half the stage by vet. Sean Bracken (Leinster) and Ian Proctor (Castlereagh CC) but they were almost caught at the line, Bracken just managing to hold on for third in the same time as the bunch led in by Lennie Kirk (Ards CC).

Ahead of them Paul Doyle (Dee Side Tile Choice) had jumped from the bunch and passed Proctor to take the stage. Greer finished in the bunch, 6 seconds down on the stage winner to hold onto his lead.

On the final day an early break containing most of the favourites was caught before the KOM climb at Rathfriland but before thenext climb at Hillltown a 9-man break got away and built up a lead on the 4-mile climb. With 1 mile to go at Moygannon McConville went for a long one and a moment's hesitation by his breakaway companions was enough for the Newry rider to make it to the line 2 seconds ahead of Andy Layhe (APolo) with Willie Hamilton leading in the rest of the break 6 seconds down.

Stage 1, Newry, 45m.: 1, Kirk Sloan (Ards CC) 1.44.34; 2, W. Hamilton (West Down Whs.) at 5 secs; 3, P. Ferguson (Ards CC); 4, T. Lavery (Leinster); 5, E. Roche (Leinster); 6, M. Greer (Maryland Whs.) all same time.

Stage 2, Newry, 6m. TT: 1, Gareth Rodgers (Banbridge CC) 12.29.62; 2, I. Proctor (Castlereagh CC) 12.43.31; 3, M. Greer (Maryland Whs.) 12.45. 88; 4, M. Colbert (Dee Side Tile Choice) 12.49.30; 5, T. Lavery (Leinster) 12.53.64; 6, S. Bracken (Leinster) 12.54.65.

Stage 3, Newry, 63m.: 1, Paul Doyle (Dee Side Tile Choice) 2.38.22; 2, I. Proctor (Castlereagh CC) at 1 sec; 3, S. Bracken (Leinster) at 6 secs; 4, L. Kirk (Ards CC); 5, D. Cunningham (Bray Whs.); 6, S. McGreevy (Phoenix CC) al same time.

Stage 4, Warrenpoint, 54m.: 1,Peter McConville (Newry Haldane Fisher) 2.12.57; 2, A. Layhe (Apollo CRT) at 2 secs; 3, W. Hamilton (Whirline West Down) at 6 secs; 4, G. Rodgers (Banbridge CC); 5, D. Cunningham (Bray Whs.); 6, E> Crory (Newry Haldane Fisher) all same time.

General Classification: <Full Results Here> 1, Thomas Lavery (Leinster) 6.49.03; 2, G. Rodgers (Banbridge CC) at 2 secs; 3, W. Hamilton (Whirline West Down) at 3 secs; 4, K. Sloan (Ards CC) at 15 secs; 5, P. McConville (Newry Haldane Fisher) at 28 secs; 6, S. Gray (Harps CC) at 33 secs; 7, D. Cunningham (Bray Whs.) at 34 secs; 8, D. Travers (Banbridge CC) at 36 secs; 9, A. Layhe (Apollo CRT) at 54 secs; 10, M. Greer (Maryland Whs.) at 59 secs; 11, M. McDowell (Whirline West Down) at 1.07; 12, I. Proctor (Castlereagh CC) at 1.18; 13, P. Doyle (Dee Side Tile Choice) at 1.28; 14, M. Colbert (Dee Side Tile Choice) at 1.29; 15, S. Bracken (Leinster) at 1.34.

Veteran Overall: 1, Sean Bracken (Leinster). Junior Overall: 1, Michael Rodgers (Banbridge CC). Senior 3 Overall: Willie Hamilton (Whirline W. Down). Points: 1, I. Proctor 23; 2, P. Doyle 19; 3, G. Rodgers 13. Mountains: 1, D. Cunningham 11; 2, K. Sloan 9; 3, M. McDowell 7. Team: 1, Leinster 20.30.23; 2, Ards CC at 1.29; 3, Apollo A at 1.56.