Creighton wins as Rafferty (16) makes his presence felt in Irvinestown

*Thomas Creighton has already represented Ireland on the big stages and took a clear win today on the home scene of the Ulster Cyclocross Series (Photo: Toby Watson)*

Thomas Creighton of McConvey Cycles has taken a strong
win in the second round of the Ulster Cyclocross series.

The U23 rider and Irish international got by far the best start in the five-lap race promoted by Lakeland Cycling Club in Necarne, Irvinestown, today.

And once he got his nose out front Creighton used his experience and power to simply keep the pressure on and pull away from the opposition.

By the finish of the race he was 1:03 up on the next man
home; Darren Rafferty.

The runner-up from Island Wheelers competed as a youth
rider on the road scene this year and is coming through very strongly.

Rafferty, still aged just 16 years, put in a very good
ride today to take 2nd place. On the basis of the evidence so far he will push
for an elite win by the time the season is over.

Today Rafferty lost a lot of ground early in the contest;
eventual winner Creighton putting a very significant 37 seconds into him on the
opening lap.

However, Rafferty wasn’t on his own in being gapped so
early, with Creighton rounding the opening circuit in 10:10.

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That was some 22 seconds quicker than the next fastest,
Darragh McCarter of Donegal Bay CC.

However, while McCarter paid the price for that start and
slipped back the field a little to finish 6th, Rafferty continued to make
progress.

He picked off those ahead and put in the second fastest
lap time of the race on the second lap, at 10:04.

That was enough to pull level with Graham Boyd (McConvey
Cycles), whom he battled with through the race to decide the order of the final
two places on the podium.

Rafferty pulled clear of Boyd on the third lap and though
the gap was narrowed on the remaining two laps, Rafferty was 2nd some nine
seconds clear of Boyd.

However, there was no matching Creighton out front. He
was consistently the quickest through the race and showed no signs whatever of
slowing after such a fast start.

Sean Nolan, who has just moved up from the junior ranks
to U23, was 4th in the colours of Navan RC, some 1:56 down on the flying
Creighton.

Dromara Cycling Club’s Barry Kellett was 3rd some 2:38
down on the winner with McCarter in 6th a further five seconds down.