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Noel Taggart Memorial 2003
By winning the Irish Classic League event, the Noel Taggart Memorial,promoted by Banbridge CC over 80 miles at Banbridge, Tommy Evans completed a weekend double having taken the first ever Northern Ireland Open Road Race Championship the previous day.
It was also a double as he won the Noel Taggart race last year and a treble in that this was his third win in the race as he also won the inauguralevent in 1998.
As has been the norm for recent weeks the race was run off in heavy rain throughout. On the third of 7 laps there were 10 riders in the leading group and this was down to 7 a lap later and with two laps to go the race was down to six riders.
Included were Evans, league leader Joe Fenlon and his Cidona Carrick Wheelers teammates John O'Shea and Martin O'Loughlin, Brian Lennon (St. Tiernans) and Conor Murphy (Crannog Ireland).
On the penultimate lap Lennon and O'Shea went clear and built up a 45 second lead before Evans and Murphy shook off the other two Carrick riders to go in pursuit. They caught the leaders half way round the final circuit. On the 4-mile drag up from Scarva Evans made one unsuccessful attack before finally opening a gap near the top of the hill which he held to the finish where he was 13 seconds ahead of Murphy and O'Shea.
Veteran Jim McConnell (East Antrim CC) also had a double in the B event for 3rd cats, vets and juniors breaking away on the second of five circuits and,like a year ago, soloing it to the finish to win by 49 seconds from Colm Crowley (Stamullen M. Donnelly CC).
Noel Taggart Memorial, 80m. Banbridge:
1, Tommy Evans (Total Cycling:Lindsay Cars) 3.20.03;
2, C. Murphy (Crannog Ireland) at 13 secs;
3, J. O'Shea (Cidona Carrick Whs.) s.t.;
4, B. Lennon (St.Tiernans CC) at 23secs;
5, J. Fenlon (Cidona Carrick Whs.) at 1.41;
6, M. O'Loughlin (Cidona Carrick Whs.) s.ty.;
7, D. Cutting (Killorglin CU CC)at 5.18;
8, B. Graham (total Cycling Lindsay Cars) s.t.
3rdcat./Jun./Vets:
1, Jim McConnell (East Antrim CC) 2.33.06;
2, C. Crowley (Stamullen M. Donnelly CC) at 49 secs;
3, O. McQuaid (Emerald CC) at 1.33;
4, E. Crory (Newry Haldane Fisher CC);
5, D. Corrigan (Phoenix CC);
6, J.Conran (Four Masters CC) all same time.
Under 16:
1, Brian Henning (Newry Haldane Fisher CC);
2, M. Murray (Clann Eireann);
3, S. Williams (Orchard CC).
Under 14:
1, Michael McAree (McQueid Fireplaces, Emyvale CC);
2, J. Kane (Emyvale);
3, T. Martin (Clann Eireann).
Under 12:
1, Peter Williams (Orchard Whs.);
2, C. Campbell (Drogheda Whs.);
3, C. Blayney (XMTB).
PICS: Marian Lamb
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