Team Cycleways rider Philip Cassidy today took his first win of the season at the rain-swept Ben McKenna Memorial race in Balbriggan, outsprinting Usher IRC’s Shane Baker at the end of the 63 mile race.
Baker had been part of a ten-man breakaway group which broke clear on the second of five laps, but despite the efforts of riders such as Aidan Crowley (Cycleways), Denis Easton (Maryland Wheelers), Brian Lennon of St. Tiernan’s and Baker, their lead was negated by a five man chasing group containing Cassidy. This quintet finally joined up with the leaders just before the start of the third 12.5 mile circuit, with Cassidy and Baker jumping clear shortly afterwards.
The duo worked well together and eked out a maximum lead of one minute, but with two groups behind merging to make a large chasing bunch of over 20 riders, the advantage started to diminish. However, the effort proved too little, too late to recapture the two leaders, who left it until the final 400 metres to decide the honours. Cassidy led out the sprint on the slightly-uphill drag to the line, but although Baker was tactically in a better position, the Cycleways rider proved too strong and gained a two second advantage in the final two hundred metres.
"I am delighted to win,’ stated Cassidy afterwards. "I had planned a slower start to the season (than last year) and didn’t expect to win a race until Easter at the earliest, but things worked out well today. Shane (Baker) was stronger when we first got away, he had me under a bit of pressure, but as time went on I started to feel better. Part of it was that his legs started to cramp up a bit with the cold rain, while I was fine as I was wearing a bit more. We decided to leave it to the sprint, I led around the last corner and just went flat out from there to the line."
BEN MCKENNA MEMORIAL, BALBRIGGAN
1, Philip Cassidy (Cycleways) 63 miles in 2 hours 36 mins 1 sec 2, Shane Baker (Usher IRC) at 2 secs 3, Paul Griffin (unattached) at 15 secs 4, Denis Easton (Maryland Wheelers) 5, Gary Cranston (Northern CC) 6, Dave Peelo (Usher IRC)
Senior 2: David McDonald (Orwell Wheelers) Junior/Veterans race: 1, Tim Cassidy (Usher IRC) 2, Tosh Lavery (Garda Motorway) 3, Paudi O’Brien (Kanturk)
First woman: Lorraine Manning (Usher IRC)
Under 16: Chris O’Hara (Balbriggan)
Under 14: Adam Petrie Armstrong (Northern CC)
Under 12: Liam Rawlins (Aqua IRC)
CHRISTY MCMANUS MEMORIAL, ROUNDWOOD
1, Sean Bracken (Usher IRC) 46 miles in 1 hour 50 seconds 2, John McCarthy (Killarney) 3, Ciaran Kelly (Dublin Wheelers) 4, Declan Hanrahan (Premier) all same time 5, Ciaran Farrell (Ravens) at 35 secs
1st Veteran: Bracken
1st woman: Lorraine Manning, Usher IRC
Filed by Seán Folan
