Kinning takes “Spin11 Portaferry Three Day” opener after leaders almost lap field

Winner Glen Kinning leads Thomas Martin through the bell for the last lap (Photo: Murray Young)

Glenn Kinning (East Antrim Audi) has taken the first stage of the “Spin11 Portaferry Three Day” after the winning breakaway almost lapped the field on the Kirkistown Motor Racing Circuit in Co Down last night, Friday.

The small field of 40 riders put up a very aggressive contest for the duration of the 30 mile race, with larger than expect gaps emerging during the short opener to the Three-Day.

Winner Kinning got the better of the Eurocycles duo of Thomas Martin and Fraser Duncan at the finish, with the sprint for stage honours opening up just behind the tail end of what was left of the almost-lapped peloton.

Kinning’s East Antrim Audi team mate Gary Cranston was also right in the hunt for the stage win as was John Heverin of Clann Eireann, with both riders 4th and 5th respectively.

While beaten into third place at the finish, strongman Fraser Duncan had a great race and took all three of the intermediate sprints. Those primes and his third place on the finish line gave him enough points to take the points competition lead into today’s action.
With time bonuses, Kinning has a two second lead on GC from Thomas Martin, with Duncan a further two seconds back.

The riders face a 53 mile road stage today followed by a two-mile TT. The race then concludes on Sunday with a 43-mile road stage. There will be time bonuses on the line on today’s and tomorrow’s road stages so the gallops may prove vital in deciding who takes the overall win.

The race is backed for the first time by Philip Cassidy’s Spin11 cycling kit and clothing company.

Stage 1 Result

1 Glenn Kinning East Antrim CC 1:07:05
2 Thomas Martin Eurocycles 1:07:07
3 Fraser Duncan Eurocycles 1:07:09
4 Gary Cranston East Antrim CC 1:07:10
5 John Heverin Clann Eireann 1:07:10
6 Marcel Kock Phoenix CC 1:07:45
7 Kevin Lynch Newry Wheelers 1:08:36
8 Desi Foley Phoenix CC 1:08:36
9 Devon McIlwaine Duffin Transport 1:08:36
10 Kyle Houston Chain Reaction Cycles 1:08:36
11 David McKnight Team Vision Racing 1:08:36
12 Conor Hanna North Down CC 1:08:36
13 Christop Schweizer Team Nutrixxion 1:08:54
14 Des Woods Newry Wheelers 1:09:00
15 Shane Farren North Down CC 1:09:14
16 Stephen Harkens Madigan 1:09:37
17 Cathal Smyth Phoenix CC 1:09:37
18 Fergus Rooney Phoenix CC 1:10:19
19 Brian Stewart Phoenix CC 1:10:47
20 Brian Steel Team Vision Racing 1:10:47
21 Stephen Beck East Antrim CC 1:10:47
22 Peter Kennedy East Antrim CC 1:10:47
23 Sean Donnelly Team Vision Racing 1:10:47
24 Lindsay Gamble Ards CC 1:10:47
25 Ronnie Smyth Dromara CC 1:10:47
26 Paul Ferguson North Down CC 1:10:47
27 Alastair Macauley Phoenix CC 1:10:47
28 Jay Gault Phoenix CC 1:10:47
29 Andrew Hedley Chain Reaction Cycles 1:10:47
30 Adam Armstrong Eurocycles 1:10:47
31 Liam Curran Curran Racing 1:10:47
32 Bryan McKinney Duffin Transport 1:10:47
33 Gareth Murray Ards CC 1:10:47
34 Peter Hawkins Sigma Sport 1:10:47
35 Damian McDonald Team Vision Racing 1:12:36
36 Mark Watson Ards CC 1:14:47
37 James McMaster Curran Racing 1:14:47
38 Aaron McGrady Dromara CC 1:14:47
39 Anthony Quinn Dromara CC 1:14:47
40 Colm Quinn Cuchulainn DNF

Points Competition

Intermediate Sprint 1
1 Fraser Duncan Eurocycles 5
2 Thomas Martin Eurocycles 3
3 Marcel Kock Phoenix CC A 1

Team Competition

1 East Antrim CC S. Beck, G. Cranston, G. Kinning 3h25'02"
2 Eurocycles A. Armstrong, F. Duncan, T. Martin 3h25'03"
3 Phoenix CC A D. Foley, M. Kock, C. Smyth 3h25'58"
4 North Down CC S. Farren, P. Ferguson, C. Hanna 3h28'37"
5 Team Vision Racing S. Donnelly, D. McKnight, B. Steel 3h30'10"
6 Ards CC L. Gamble, G. Murray, M. Watson 3h36'21"
7 Dromara CC A. McGrady, A. Quinn, R. Smyth 3h40'21"

General Classification

1 Glenn Kinning East Antrim CC 1h07'05"
2 Thomas Martin Eurocycles 1h07'07" 02"
3 Fraser Duncan Eurocycles 1h07'09" 04"
4 Gary Cranston East Antrim CC 1h07'10" 05"
3 John Heverin Clann Eireann 1h07'10" s/t
6 Marcel Kock Phoenix CC 1h07'45" 40"
7 Kevin Lynch Newry Wheelers 1h08'36" 01'31"
8 Desi Foley Phoenix CC 1h08'36" s/t
9 Devon McIlwaine Duffin Transport 1h08'36" s/t
10 Kyle Houston Chain Reaction Cycles 1h08'36" s/t
11 David McKnight Team Vision Racing 1h08'36" s/t
12 Conor Hanna North Down CC 1h08'36" s/t
13 Christop Schweizer Team Nutrixxion 1h08'54" 01'49"
14 Des Woods Newry Wheelers 1h09'00" 01'55"
15 Shane Farren North Down CC 1h09'14" 02'09"
16 Stephen Harkens Madigan 1h09'37" 02'32"
17 Cathal Smyth Phoenix CC 1h09'37" s/t
18 Fergus Rooney Phoenix CC 1h10'19" 03'14"
19 Brian Stewart Phoenix CC 1h10'47" 03'42"
20 Brian Steel Team Vision Racing 1h10'47" s/t
21 Stephen Beck East Antrim CC 1h10'47" s/t
22 Peter Kennedy East Antrim CC 1h10'47" s/t
23 Sean Donnelly Team Vision Racing 1h10'47" s/t
24 Lindsay Gamble Ards CC 1h10'47" s/t
25 Ronnie Smyth Dromara CC 1h10'47" s/t
26 Paul Ferguson North Down CC 1h10'47" s/t
27 Alastair Macauley Phoenix CC 1h10'47" s/t
28 Jay Gault Phoenix CC 1h10'47" s/t
29 Andrew Hedley Chain Reaction Cycles 1h10'47" s/t
30 Adam Armstrong Eurocycles 1h10'47" s/t
31 Liam Curran Curran Racing 1h10'47" s/t
32 Bryan McKinney Duffin Transport 1h10'47" s/t
33 Gareth Murray Ards CC 1h10'47" s/t
34 Peter Hawkins Sigma Sport 1h10'47" s/t
35 Damian McDonald Team Vision Racing 1h12'36" 05'31"
36 Mark Watson Ards CC 1h14'47" 07'42"
37 James McMaster Curran Racing 1h14'47" s/t
38 Aaron McGrady Dromara CC 1h14'47" s/t
39 Anthony Quinn Dromara CC 1h14'47" s/t

Points Competition

1 Fraser Duncan Eurocycles 20
2 Glenn Kinning East Antrim CC 13
3 Thomas Martin Eurocycles 12
4 Gary Cranston East Antrim CC 6
5 John Heverin Clann Eireann 2
Marcel Kock Phoenix CC A 2

Team Competition

1 East Antrim CC 3h25'2"
2 Eurocycles 3h25'3"
3 Phoenix CC A 3h25'58"
4 North Down CC 3h28'37"
5 Team Vision Racing 3h30'10"
6 Ards CC 3h36'21"
7 Dromara CC 3h40'21"