Giant Asia rider Paul Griffin today triumphed in the Des Hanlon Memorial in Carlow

Rebuilding form after a hip injury ruled him out of the recent Tour de Taiwan, Giant Asia rider Paul Griffin today triumphed in the Des Hanlon Memorial in Carlow. The Kerry cyclist was part of a large break which went clear inside the first ten miles of racing, then pressed ahead on the last of three laps with John O’Shea (Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group), Simon Kelly (Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group) and Martin O’Loughlin (Dan Morrissey Carrick Wheelers). Griffin then proved decisively quicker in the gallop, leading the others home in that order. Ray Clarke (Worldwide Cycles) won the chasing group sprint to take fifth ahead of Martyn Irvine (Ards CC), Peter Hawkins (Usher IRC) and Michael Hennessy (Fermoy CC).

“The break went 5 or 6 miles into the race and twelve of us got away,” Griffin said after the race. “We all worked well together. There were five Murphy and Gunn guys, so they had to ride. Everyone else was also tipping through as well.”

Just after the halfway point the leaders had opened up a three minute lead on a trio of chasers, namely last year’s winner Rory Wyley (Dan Morrisey Carrick Wheelers), Greg Swinand (Usher IRC) and Barry Nolan (Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group). Some riders were scattered behind, with the next chasing group a further two minutes in arrears. The bunch were about ten minutes back. Secure in the knowledge that they were unlikely to be joined by riders from behind, Griffin and the rest of his breakaway companions nevertheless continued to co-operate until the final lap, where things started to heat up.

“It stayed together until the last lap, then I put in a few attacks on the drags to try to break it up,” he continued. “Normally we’d have a tailwind on the climb but this year the wind was coming from the other direction, so it actually made it quite hard; if you got a gap, it was difficult to stay clear. Anyway on the last climb with about ten miles to go, I made a big effort and four of us went away. We worked well from there until the finish. Nobody missed a turn. I was happy enough to leave it to the sprint, and it worked out well for the win.”

“I am happy to win the race. It is ten years since I last got it – I won it in 1996, taking that and the Carrick race in the same week.”

Griffin was impressed by the level he saw today. “I think the standard at home seems pretty good. John O’Shea is going very well, he obviously has a lot of confidence after winning in Carrick. He has moved up to a new level, that is good to see.”

Griffin had an injury problem but is now training hard again. “I crashed before Malaysia and my hip was at me in that race. It settled down and I thought that was it sorted, but the day after winning the Lacey Cup it flared right up again. I could hardly walk. I spent a week totally off the bike, getting physio on it. I had to miss the Tour of Taiwan as a result.

Paul Griffin with the Des Hanlon Trophy

“My form is okay but I am not going 100%, to be honest. I am definitely 15 percent off the form I had last summer, I don’t have the super condition I had in Tour of East Java last year. I might do a couple more local races but the focus now is really on doing specific training before the next races.”

Griffin has a busy time ahead in April and May. He leaves Ireland on the tenth of April in order to compete in the Tour of Chongming Island of Chong Ming Province in China [15-19]. After that, he is down to do the Tour de Korea (4-10th May) [which David McCann won last year]. He will then ride a third 2.2 ranked event from May 14-21st, the Tour of Japan.

This clashes with a race he would have liked to ride. “Unfortunately the last day of Japan is the first day of the Rás, so I am likely to miss that, unless the team is changed,” he said. “We are home all of June, however, so myself, David [McCann] and Stephen [Gallagher] will be training specifically for the nationals. It will be good in that there will be three of us there for the race, so whoever gets the opportunity on the day, the others will ride for him. Then, after that, things are very busy again in July and August with Giant Asia.”


Des Hanlon Memorial, Carlow:

1, Paul Griffin (Giant Asia/Earl Of Desmond)
2, John O’Shea (Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group)
3, Simon Kelly (Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group)
4, Martin O’Loughlin (Dan Morrissey Carrick Wheelers)
5, Ray Clarke (Worldwide Cycles)
6, Martyn Irvine (Ards CC)
7, Peter Hawkins (Usher IRC)
8, Michael Hennessy (Fermoy CC).


Senior B:

1, Tom Shanahan (Limerick CC)
2, Sean Rock (McNally Swords)
3, Marcus Tracey (Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group).


Senior 3:

1, Thomas O’Flaherty (Earl of Desmond)
2, Hugh Mulhearne (Dan Morrissey Carrick Wheelers)
3, Myles Kirby (Orwell/Dundrum Town Centre)
4, Kevin Donagher (Swords McNally)
5, Mark Gill (Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group)
6, Mark Power (Dan Morrissey Carrick Wheelers)

Siobhan Dervan

Women:

1, Siobhan Dervan (Lotto Lady)
2, Ashling Daly (Orwell Dundrum Town Centre).

Juniors:

1 Gary Rigley (Bray Wheeelrs)
2 Paul Nolan (Carlow RCC).

Veterans:

1,Terry Ferris (Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group)
2, Eddie Lynch (Orwell Dundrum Town Centre)


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ARMSTRONG, IRVINE AND HACK WIN NORTHERN RACES


First year senior Adam Petrie-Armstrong secured his category one licence with a fine win in the Downpatrick-Armagh St. Patrick’s classic on Sunday. The 18 year old got clear of a breakaway move inside the final mile and beat Cycling Leinster trio Sean Bracken, Jim O’Reagan and Brendan Whelan to the line.

Over 100 riders turned out for the race but despite a number of early attacks, good work by the Cycling Ulster squad kept all gaps to a manageable level. However inside the final ten miles the three Leinster riders plus John Neil (NICF) and David Mulholland (Apollo) built a lead of over one minute. Armstrong managed to bridge and then made his winning move inside the final mile, holding off Bracken.

The veteran rider crossed the line ten seconds down, while O’Reagan, Whelan, Neill and Mulholland galloped in a further 30 seconds later. The bunch were a minute and a half back, Dave Watson (Cycling Ulster) beating Tony Hare (Apollo), Gordon Scott (East Antrim) and Peter McConville (Newry Wheelers) in the sprint. Alaister Fiddes (Orchard Wheelers) was first unplaced junior.

Meanwhile Martyn Irvine (Ards CC) won the Cicli Sport Grand Prix in Moneymore on Saturday. He beat Paul Mulligan (Murphy and Gunn), Gordon Scott (East Antrim), Conor Murphy (Murphy and Gunn) and Jim McConnell (East Antrim) in the uphill gallop to the line, while Frazer Duncan (Northern) took sixth, ten seconds later. Gary Cranston (East Antrim) led home Paul Vaughan (Maryland), Tommy Wilson (Ballymena RC), Lawrence Diver (Bann Valley) plus other chasers 1 minute and 22 seconds behind.

The race had been run as a handicap. A group including Jim McConnell and Gordon Scott (both East Antrim), Ernie Magwood (East Tyrone) and Laurence Diver (Bann Valley) tried to stay clear but they were hauled back inside the final 15 miles, setting things up for Irvine’s sprint victory.

Kay Hack (Bann Wheelers) soloed in to a clear win in the women’s race, the second round of the Northern Ireland league. Edel Savage (Newry Wheelers), Elaine Harte (Phoenix CC), Hanna Francis (Ards CC), Ciara McManus (unattached) and Clara Cole-Hawthorne (Roe Valley) filled the top six places. Sara Wilson (Ballymena RC), Rachel Cole- Hawthorne (Roe Valley) and Margaret Curran (Omagh Wheelers) were next.



Downpatrick Armagh St. Patrick’s Classic:

1, Adam Petrie-Armstrong (Cycling Ulster) 56 miles in 2 hours 13 mins 20 secs
2, Sean Bracken (Cycling Leinster) at 10 secs
3, Jim O’Reagan (Cycling Leinster) at 40 secs
4, Brendan Whelan (Cycling Leinster)
5, John Neill (N.I.C.F.)
6, David Mulholland (Apollo) all same time
7, David Watson (Cycling Ulster) at 1 min 30 secs
8, Tony Hare (Apollo)
9, Gordon Scott (East Antrim)
10, Peter McConville (Newry Wheelers) all same time

First unplaced junior: Alaister Fiddes (Orchard Wheelers)


Cicli Sport Grand Prix 2006 - Moneymore

1, Martyn Irvine (Ards CC) 45 miles in 2 hours 18 secs
2, Paul Mulligan (Murphy & Gunn/Newlyn Group)
3, Gordon Scott (East Antrim)
4, Conor Murphy (Murphy & Gunn/Newlyn Group)
5, Jim McConnell (East Antrim) all same time
6, Frazer Duncan (Northern) at 10 secs
7 Gary Cranston (East Antrim) at 1 min 22 secs
8, Paul Vaughan (Maryland)
9, Tommy Wilson (Ballymena R, C)
10, Lawrence Diver (Bann Valley) all same time


Northern Ireland Women's League Round 2, Moneymore:

1, Kay Hack (Bann Wheelers)
2, Edel Savage (Newry Wheelers)
3, Elaine Harte (Phoenix CC)
4, Hanna Francis (Ards CC)
5, Ciara McManus (U/A),
6, Clara Cole-Hawthorne (Roe Valley),
7, Sara Wilson (Ballymena R, C, )
8, Rachel Cole- Hawthorne (Roe Valley)
9, Margaret Curran (Omagh Wheelers)