Conor Murphy has smashed it again against the watch, with the Irish junior road race and TT champion best of a 92-rider field at the Ulster 10 Mile TT Championships (Photo: Toby Watson)

Conor Murphy (Caldwell Cycles) and Eileen Burns (Ballymena Road Club) lived up to their pre-race favourite billing at the Ulster 10 Mile TT Championships to win the men’s and women’s titles from a huge field of 92 riders.

However, though Murphy – the Irish junior TT champion and national record holder over 10 miles – was the fancied rider in the men’s field, he faced some very strong opposition in the shape of Seth Dunwooody (Bahrain Victorious Development), Ian Inglis (Kinning Cycles) and Marcus Christie (Isle of Man).

Murphy came out on top in a time of 18:11, by no means his fastest of the season over the distance, while Burns, who is really coming back to top for now, rode the 10 miles in 22:27.

Murphy was best in the Ballymena Road Club promotion last night, on the very fast Frosses course in Co Antrim, where he rode 17:42 to equal Ryan Mullen’s elite Irish record earlier this season. Last night he recorded a time of 18:11 to win gold from Christie by just 11 seconds.

Rounding out the podium on the night was Inglis, who has been in great form of late against the watch, after clocking a time of 18:45. That was just one second faster than first-year U23, and Giro Next Gen stage winner, Dunwoody.

There was then a bigger gap back to 5th placed Stuart McCaughey (Phoenix CC), who stopped the clock at 20:24. Rapidly emerging junior rider, Elliott McKeegan (Team Madigan), placed 6th at 20:35.

The time set by Burns in the women’s race, 22:27, was 40 seconds faster than silver medal winner Hazel Smyth (Kinning Cycles Cycling Club). Gillian Orr claimed the bronze medal, competing for Ards Cycling Club, in a time of 25.00.

Wed, August 6th | Ulster 10 Mile TT Championships

Frosses Course, Ballymena, Co Antrim

Promoted by Ballymena Road Club

  1. Conor Murphy Team Caldwell Cycles 18.11
  2. Marcus Christie Cycling club Isle of Man 18.22
  3. Ian Inglis Kinning Cycles Cycling Club 18.45
  4. Seth Dunwoody Bahrain Victorious Development Team 18.46
  5. Stuart Mc Caughey Phoenix CC 20.24
  6. Elliott Mc Keegan Team Madigan C.C. 20.35
  7. James Gordon Phoenix CC 20.49
  8. Gary Cranston AHC Racing 20.56
  9. John Madden Inspired Cycling 21.04
  10. Alan Patterson AHC Racing 21.07
  11. Dean Lockhart Carn Wheelers 21.16
  12. Andrew Hedley AHC Racing 21.22
  13. Adam Jeffers Kings Moss CC 21.24
  14. John Rafferty Killinchy Cycling Club 21.24
  15. Philip Loughlin Banbridge CC 21.25
  16. Philip Castles Banbridge CC 21.29
  17. Erwin Mc Kee Banbridge CC 21.30
  18. Stuart Laverty Ballymena Road Club 21.36
  19. Jimjo Mc Cullagh Carn Wheelers 21.37
  20. David Moore Bann Wheelers CC 21.42
  21. Ryan Lundy Foyle CC 21.46
  22. Justin Bloomer Harps CC 21.51
  23. Robin Bond Dromara Cycling Club 21.53
  24. James Alexander McConvey Cycles 21.57
  25. Gavin Clarke Banbridge CC 21.59
  26. Des Woods Inspired Cycling 22.00
  27. Ellis Allen Phoenix CC 22.15
  28. Luke Mc Mullan Ballymena Road Club 22.17
  29. Graham Mc Connell Killinchy Cycling Club 22.22
  30. Jeremy Martin Team Madigan C.C. 22.23
  31. Mark Kelly Inspired Cycling 22.24
  32. Eileen Burns Ballymena Road Club 22.27
  33. Michael Martin Banbridge CC 22.35
  34. Fergus Byrne Ballymena Road Club 22.36
  35. Brian Kelly Team Caldwell Cycles 22.36
  36. Alan Watson Dromara Cycling Club 22.43
  37. Chris Wheeler Team Madigan C.C. 22.45
  38. Marc Allen AHC Racing 22.48
  39. David Ross Banbridge CC 23.06
  40. Jody Evans Ballymena Road Club 23.06
  41. Hazel Smyth Kinning Cycles Cycling Club 23.07
  42. Andrew Todd Ballymena Road Club 23.09
  43. Martin Birney Team Sportactive Racing 23.18
  44. Robbie Tosh Ballymena Road Club 23.23
  45. Kevin Heywood Killinchy Cycling Club 23.38
  46. Deaglan O Hagan Banbridge CC 23.39
  47. Kevin Mc Crossan Four Masters CC 23.39
  48. Eddie Hampton Ballymena Road Club 24.20
  49. Uel Cunningham Ballymena Road Club 24.34
  50. Trevor Wright Banbridge CC 24.44
  51. James Mc Connell Ballymena Road Club 24.49
  52. Kevin Walker Dromara Cycling Club 24.55
  53. Robin Neeson Ballymena Road Club 24.56
  54. Martin Fitzpatrick Banbridge CC 24.56
  55. Gillian Orr Ards CC 25.00
  56. Brian Darragh Bann Valley Road Club 25.01
  57. Caleb Little Ballymena Road Club 25.02
  58. Adrian Kerr Ballymena Road Club 25.07
  59. William Orr Ards CC 25.09
  60. Martin Duffy Banbridge CC 25.13
  61. Colin Davidson Kings Moss CC 25.16
  62. Seamus Walsh Phoenix CC 25.20
  63. Gary McCappin Ballymena Road Club 25.53
  64. Claire Richardson Killinchy Cycling Club 25.53
  65. Rebecca Carr Phoenix CC 25.55
  66. Tom Henry North Down CC 25.56
  67. Dominic Drumm Bann Wheelers CC 26.04
  68. Dermot Donaghy Island Wheelers 26.05
  69. Colin Wilson Ards CC 26.14
  70. Rachel Jones Ballymena Road Club 26.18
  71. James O Boyle Bann Valley Road Club 26.39
  72. Rachel Newell McConvey Cycles 26.44
  73. Michael Larkin Banbridge CC 26.49
  74. Leo Mc Gurk Four Masters CC 26.51
  75. Vicki Truesdale Un-Attached Ulster 26.56
  76. Vincent Conlon Banbridge CC 27.10
  77. Michael Currid Bann Wheelers CC 27.50
  78. Pamela Ayre Ballymena Road Club 28.02
  79. Derek Dougan Ballymena Road Club 28.10
  80. Carla Mc Ardle Banbridge CC 28.18
  81. Paula Hegarty Four Masters CC 28.24
  82. Joanne Regan Termoneeny Cycling Club 28.28
  83. Richard Nicholl Banbridge CC 28.31
  84. Linda Poots Dromore CC 28.40
  85. Margaret Kearney Agivey Cycling Club 29.14
  86. Hannah Gibson Omagh Wheelers Cycling Club 29.44
  87. Carl Fullerton Donegal Bay Cycling Club 30.11
  88. Deirdre Mc Auley Ballymena Road Club 30.21
  89. Donna Jobson Ballymena Road Club 30.32
  90. Lee Donaldson Castlereagh CC 30.51
  91. Joan Potts Omagh Wheelers Cycling Club 31.30
  92. Emma Weir Un-Attached Ulster 35.21