Adam Armstrong
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The Ben McKenna was the big draw today for the top cyclists in the country who came from the four corners with outright victory going to Adam Armstrong of the EuroCycles team. But Adam ran right up against the wire to be the hero of the day.
A top class field assembled on the outskirts of Balbriggan for the 75 mile event held in glorious sunshine over four laps of a very testing course which in places was narrow, but the organisation in conjunction with the Civil Defence and literally an army of volunteers was sufficient to get everybody home safe and sound.
Two interesting competitors were Stephen Gallagher a former FBD Insurance Ras winner and recently a member of the An Post/Sean Kelly Team who was back for his first outing of the season in the colours of the Sigma Sport Special in the UK and Martyn Irvine of Planet X who literally flew into Dublin an hour before the start.
It was straight into the event from the off at the Rings Common Centre with Roger Aiken, Stephen Gallagher and the McAllister brothers, Conor and Leo. Initially they hovered on a lead of seconds for the best part of 10kms, but going through the village of Ballybough on the first of four passages and turning left at the end of the village and a tail wind, they suddenly up the anti, but the bunch were hot on their heels at an astonishing pace of close on 40mph. But, still they held their rhythm and in a blink of an eye they had manufactured a break of close on one minute despite the best efforts of the main group.
On the second circuit the advantage crept ever so close to a four minute lead and the alarm bells started to echo through the bunch who were stop starting in their efforts to close them down.
First to take up the chase was Peter Lilley, Colm Robinson, Tim O'Regan, Keith Fox, Colm Coyle, Ryan Connor, Paul Vaughan and Colm Quinn.
Evidently this was the impetus for the Armstrong group to up the anti. Now with two select groups ahead of the possee, more or less the thinking behind the move was to hop across the gaps and make contact with the lead groups. Still the advantage lay with the quartet up front who were rolling through and keeping the pace at a respectable level, whereas the bunch was acting every so often that stop signs were aearing thus halting their progress, but the six chasers changed the complexion of the event.
In as much to say, Adam and company were not yet adrift.
Now there was fireworks and even the bunch snapped into action going hell for leather.
On the final lap, the leaders were still plugging ahead, but the gap was all the time ebbing away with the Armstrong train closing the lead.
By this time the eight escapees had lost their cutting edge and had dropped back to the bunch, but still the advantage was still with the leaders on the road and going through Ballybough on the las occasion, it looked as though the impetus was now with the original leaders as the chasers oiled to have overcooked themselves in their quest close the gap.
Evidently they had still had reserves in the tank and out onto the old main road, the gap was ebbing away.
Finally with one majestic burst Armstrong and co finally ended the dream of a pillar to post breakaway that looked odds on to succeed, until the Armstrong train checked in with the leaders.
Then the stop start tactics of the leaders came into play
Armstrong and Gallagher between them had sufficient reserves to split the leaders and at finish it was the favourite on the day who stole all the thunder, Adam Armstrong.
Still, it was a good day for Stephen who despite the heartbreak that he and his wife have endured in the recent past it was great to see him in action on the bike again.
Finally a word of thanks to all who helped in the successful running of the event including the ladies who provided the sandwiches and tea a big thank you and to Declan Halligan who masterminded the operation in relation to safety.
Ben McKenna Memorial, Balbriggan-75miles.
1 A. Armstrong (EuroCycles), 2hrs.45mins.16secs;
2 S. Gallagher (Sigma Sport Special), same time;
3 R. Aiken (Planet X), @42secs;
4 T. Martin (EuroCycles), st;
5 C. McAlister (Ballymena CC), st;
6 L. McAlister (Ballymena CC), @1.02;
7 C. Murphy (EuroCycles), @2.21;
8 J. Cole (Team Madigan), st.
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YOUTH RACES IN PALMERSTOWN
The first event held in the new development of a cycling track in Palmerstown yesterday was by all accounts a very successful. Chatting with Colm Rigley this morning. Parents in particular were very happy with this development and thre safety facto is of huge concern to them.
Underage results from Waterstown Park, Palmerstown.
Under 12
1 Adam Thatcher Slaney CC;
2 Reece Young S.E.R.C.;
3 Barry O�Donovan Kanturk CC/Credit Union;
4 Adam Stenson Lucan/Staggs CC'
5 Rachael Miller Orwell CC;
6 Rebecca Heany S.E.R.C.
Under 14
1 Eddie Dunbar Kanturk CC/Credit Union;
2 Darragh Long Orwell CC;
3 Niall Hefffernan S.E.R.C.;
4 Michael Jones Kanturk CC/Credit Union;
5 Richard Donovan Kanturk CC/Credit Union;
6 Caoimhe Ivory Bray Wheelers.
Under 16
I Shaun Rigley Eurocycles;
2 Craig Arrigon Orwell CC;
3 David Fitzsimmons Newbridge CC;
4 Aidan Wall Navan RC/Avonmore;
5 Ciaran Campbell Drogheda Wheelers;
6 Stephen Bracken SERC.
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KENNEDY WINS HARRY REYNOLDS MEMORIAL
Paul Kennedy
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A blast from the past..... Paul Kennedy's win in the Harry Reynolds Trophy brought back happy memories to the 'Kennedy' household this afternoon when he demonstrated the raw talent that was so much in evidence in his racing days.
Particularly to win a trophy in honour of Harry Reynolds a towering figure that has been associated and that kept Irish cycling on a par with the rest of the world in bygone days.
Of course Paul had the benefit of a handicap along with many other participants, but still, they had to stay away from the A1/2 chasers who failed to bridged the time allocated by the race organisation.
In the sprint to the line Paul brought his former experience into play and the uphill sprint played right into his lap. Second was Javan Nulty with Eugene Murtagh in third place.
It is not if Paul Kennedy has suddenly returned to racing, at Darach McQuaid's 40th birthday a couple of months ago he told me that he would grace the pages of www.IrishCycling.com and true to his word he has delivered.
All I have to do now is wait and see if Paddy Calally can follow suit. Also they said they would be mixing it in the peloton again.
Results: Harry Reynolds Trophy, Balbriggan.
1 Paul Kennedy (McNally Joinery/Swords CC);
2 J. Nulty (Stamullen/Martin Donnelly CC);
3 E. Murtagh (Finglas Ravens CC);
4 S. O'Dea (Navan/Avonmore CC);
5 S. Byrne (Usher Irish Road Club);
6 C. Laverty (Navan/Avonmore CC);
7 A. Maye (Clonard/Sixt CC);
8 R. Campbell-Gough (Staggs/Lucan CC).
Fastest: P.Bremner (Ballymena CC).