Barry Meade takes stylish win at Ned Flanagan Trophy; opens account for Planet Tri

Barry Meade takes the flag in Monasterevin, Co Kildare, to get his 2013 campaign off to a great start

By Brian Canty

Former underage prodigy Barry Meade (Planet-Tri) today, Sunday, claimed the first win of the domestic season, taking the Ned Flanagan Memorial in Co Kildare in convincing fashion.

Meade, who only returned to racing last season after a few years away from the sport, got away with five others with around 20 kilometres to race in today’s 70km loop starting and finishing in Monasterevin.

The Banteer native played his cards perfectly, and with the help of his long-time friend and fellow Cork team-mate Paidi O'Brien, he made no mistake when he attacked with less than a kilometre to go and soloed to a fine win.

UCD's Eoin Morton was next over the line and defending champion Robin Kelly (Aqua Blue) was in third as the group behind the two leaders swelled.

O'Brien had helped Meade into the breakaway and rode selflessly for him. And they left with the spoils after a cracking days racing.

"I was lucky to win it, to be honest," a modest Meade said afterwards.

"But it's brilliant to win and I have to thank Paidi for his help in getting me into the break. He kept me cool in there as well because with Buggle (Aaron- Rapha Condor JLT) and Robin (Kelly) we certainly weren't hanging around.”

"I started with the A3s obviously so we had a few minutes handicap on the scratch group but they caught us early enough, maybe around 38 kilometres in and with around 25km to go a few of us got away. Buggle instigated the move and took a few of us with him and we stayed away until the finish. Thankfully there wasn't any hillls really because I wasn't feeling so good. The bikes we've been given by Cathal (Murphy, Planet Tri) are exceptional though and you need all those small things in a race like this," he said.

Indeed, with the run-in practically pan flat, Meade was always one of the favourites. To get the better of Buggle and Kelly was a fine achievement too, so early in the season. And Meade said he's looking forward to more in the coming weeks.

"We'll see how it goes. To get a win so early in the season is a brilliant feeling and though I won races last year, to win a race with this quality of field is mighty. I wouldn't mind another one!"

The A1s and A2s were let off last in one group of the handicapped event, chasing the A3s for three minutes who were in turn chasing the A4s for three minutes. There was a massive field of 228 riders.

The A1/A2 group split as the strongest riders emerged to overhaul the A3s and A4s with only around 38kms covered. However, after a group containing the likes of Buggle, Kelly and O’Brien had left that A1/A2 scratch group, that bunch was turned the wrong way near Portlaoise effectively ending the race for anyone still in it.

Once the strongest of the scratch men merged with the A3s and A4s ahead of them, the attacking started, with six riders – Meade, O'Brien, Kelly, Morton and young Comeragh junior Conor Trihy – pulling clear.