Antrim's Daniel Stewart takes this afternoon's road stage of the Newry Three Day from South Dublin's James Davenport and lifted the yellow jersey from Curran's Ian Inglis who won yesterday's opening road stage and this morning's short TT (Photo: Amy Norah Farrell)
By Amy Norah Farrell
After taking victory in yesterday’s opening road stage of the Newry Three Day and winning this morning’s short time trial, Ian Inglis (Curran Racing) lost his leader’s yellow jersey on this afternoon’s leg when U23 international Daniel Stewart won the stage and moved into the jersey.
The East Antrim Audi first-year senior has already ridden with the Irish U23 team in Nations Cup races this year. And when he got up the road on today’s lumpy stage he showed he still has plenty of poke in the engine despite easing back from racing recently to focus on his A levels.
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He comfortably got the better of a flying James Davenport of South Dublin CC, with the best of rest Shaun Rigley from the same club some 26 seconds back.
Stewart, who has been selected for a programme of racing and training in Belgium with the international set-up later in the summer, leads the race by seven seconds from today’s runner-up Davenport. Local rider Sean Featherstone (Newry Wheelers) is in third, some 26 seconds back.
Stewart is a strong emerging rider on the home scene and it will take a very good performance by his rivals in tomorrow’s final stage to knock him from his perch at the very top of the standings.
Today’s www.spin11.com sponsored stage saw the riders take in three laps of the hilly Kilcoo circuit, before heading out to Rostrevor for the testing Elm Hall and Reed Hall category 1 climbs.
With the start time being pulled forwards 30 minutes to 1pm, it wasn’t long before the attacks began, with a three-man break of Bann Wheelers’ Bobby Kane, Newry Wheelers’ Kevin Lynch and Phoenix’s John Neill riding away from the 83-strong field. They managed to pull out 12 seconds on the bunch before being joined by Darren Weir (TVR).
While beached buses were a problem for the first stage of the Tour de France today, parked cattle trucks played havoc with the first prime of the Newry Wheelers run event, with the sprint moved 25 metres because of a narrowing of the road due to the trucks. It didn’t deter North Down’s Paul Ferguson who took both sprints confidently.
With the first prime decided, the bunch began to close in on the breakaway very quickly and it wasn’t long before the field was back together.
The most promising move of the day came when Brendan Maloney (South Dublin CC) and Anthony Quinn (Dromara) went clear off the front of the bunch and were soon joined by Kevin Lynch (Newry Wheelers).
A matter of minutes later and the breakaway had become five men, with Nigel Quigley (Bann Wheelers) bridging the gap with his team mate Bobby Kane.
Next to make his move was Paul Ferguson (North Down) and the six-strong group began to work well to increase the gap to the bunch. It wasn’t long before the gap was up to 1:16 and Nigel Quigley was now in virtual yellow on the road.
Attacks continued to jump off the front of the main field, but every time the riders were engulfed by the organised peloton.
The gap to the six leaders slowly began to decrease, and over the next few kilometres teams waited anxiously to hear time gaps over the radio. The gap jumped dipped to 55 seconds, with Curran Racing and East Antrim Audi working hard at the front of the bunch.
As the main field swept through Hilltown on their way out to the first KOH and the final run into the finish line, the gap stayed static at 23 seconds.
But the KOH competition was to prove brutal, and the bunch began to line out after relentless attacks into a headwind and lashing rain.
The bunch began to fall apart and Bobby Kane took the first KOH at Reed Hall, with James Davenport taking the second at Elm Hall after the breakaway had all been caught.
The sprint to the finish was now on, and Daniel Stewart and James Davenport clipped away up the final climb and made it all the way to the finish to fight it out.
The field continued to cross the line sporadically for the next half hour, with all 83 starters finishing.
McKinley Contracts stage 1 and Velo Cafemagain stage 2 winner, Ian Inglis still holds onto the McKinley Contracts points jersey after losing yellow.
Brian McArdle (Orwell Wheelers) leads the FPM KOH competition by one point, and will remain in the polka dot jersey for tomorrow’s final stage.
Newry Three Day: June 28th – 30th
June 29th, Stage 3 – Hilltown Circuit 88.45km
1 Stewart,Daniel East Antrim 2h03'40"
2 Davenport,James South Dublin @02"
3 Rigley,Shaun South Dublin @26"
4 Cunningham,Derek Lucan @28"
5 McArdle,Brian Orwell @ s/t
6 McGrady,Aaron Phoenix CC @ s/t
7 Featherstone,Sean Newry Wheelers @ s/t
8 Laverty,Colm Stamullen @ s/t
9 Smyth,Ronnie Dromara @ s/t
10 Morgan,Karl Phoenix CC @33"
11 McAteer,Conor Bann Valley @ s/t
12 Dunlop,Raymond Lakeland @ s/t
13 Simmons,Tommy VC Glendale @ s/t
14 Inglis,Ian Curran @44"
15 Magowan,Gavin Dromara @53"
16 Smyth,John Phoenix CC @58"
17 Collins,Aidan Orwell @ s/t
18 Farren,Shane North Down @ s/t
19 Grogan,Ross Lucan @ s/t
20 Sands,Jude Newry Wheelers @ s/t
21 Kane,Bobby Bann Wheelers @01'02"
22 Quinn,Anthony Dromara @ s/t
23 Stewart,Rodney TVR @ s/t
24 Taylor,Johnny Carn Wheelers @ s/t
25 Blennerhassett,Tom Orwell @ s/t
26 Swirydowicz,Adam Swords CC @ s/t
27 Reid,Ivan Omagh Wheelers @ s/t
28 Greer,Robert Apollo @ s/t
29 Belshaw,Phillip Coventry RC @ s/t
30 Alexander,Mark West Down @ s/t
31 McMullan,Michael North Down @ s/t
32 Dolan,Karol Omagh Wheelers @ s/t
33 Neill,John Phoenix CC @ s/t
34 Wilson,Kenny East Antrim @ s/t
35 McKee,Gareth Banbridge @ s/t
36 McIntyre,Sean Orchard @ s/t
37 McConville,Martin Clann Eireann @ s/t
38 Porter,Colin Madigan @01'16"
39 McFerran,James TVR @01'28"
40 Stewart,Andrew Orchard @ s/t
41 Boyce,Noel North Down @ s/t
42 Coleman,Mark Orchard @ s/t
43 McCabe,Gerry Cuchulainn @ s/t
44 Cunningham,Aidan Cuchulainn @ s/t
45 McKinley,Drew Newry Wheelers @ s/t
46 Purcell,Billy Irish Road Club @ s/t
47 Quinn,Conor Newry Haldane @ s/t
48 Hanthorn,Aaron Orchard @ s/t
49 Reid,Ryan Omagh Wheelers @ s/t
50 Mullan,Nathan Dromara @ s/t
51 McAlinden,Kevin Banbridge @ s/t
52 Hudson,Neal Orwell @ s/t
53 Lynas,Darren West Down @01'34"
54 Ferguson,Paul North Down @01'36"
55 Weir,Darren TVR @ s/t
56 Quigley,Nigel Bann Wheelers @ s/t
57 Gordon,Dan West Down @ s/t
58 Coogan,Ray Stamullen @ s/t
59 Hutchinson,Chris Madigan @01'41"
60 McAuley,Junior Apollo @02'21"
61 O'Hagan,Martin Cuchulainn @03'05"
62 McGibbon,Andy Apollo @03'08"
63 McCann,Sean Island Wheelers @ s/t
64 Lyons,John South Dublin @ s/t
65 Keelan,Dermot Cuchulainn @ s/t
66 Ennis,John Lucan @ s/t
67 Lynch,Kevin Newry Wheelers @ s/t
68 Warriner,Paul Omagh Wheelers @ s/t
69 Loughrey,Colin Carn Wheelers @ s/t
70 Convery,Barry Newry Haldane @ s/t
71 Hare,Tony Apollo @ s/t
72 Farrell,Rory Newry Haldane @03'15"
73 Sullivan,Kenny Cuchulainn @03'29"
74 Hamilton,David Curran @04'44"
75 Murphy,Richard Cuchulainn @04'51"
76 Kelly,Paddy Carn Wheelers @05'51"
77 Donaghy,Seamus Omagh Wheelers @ s/t
78 Priest,John Lucan @08'28"
79 Magowan,Chris Dromara @08'41"
80 Maloney,Brendan South Dublin @11'46"
81 Irvine,Bryce Madigan @22'31"
82 Prenderville,Philip Swords CC @28'35"
83 McCrystal,Eve Garda @33'08"
Sprint 1: Hilltown
1 Ferguson,P 5pts
2 Quigley,N 3pts
3 Lynch,K 1pt
Sprint 2: Hilltown
1 Ferguson,P 5pts
2 Lynch,K 3pts
3 Quigley,N 1pt
KOH Category 1, Reed Hall
1 Kane,B 8pts
2 Lynch,K 6pts
3 Ferguson,P 3pts
4 Quinn,A 1pt
KOH Category 1, Elm Hall
1 Davenport,J 8pts
2 Stewart,D 6pts
3 Rigley,S 3pts
4 McArdle,B 1pt
Team Stage Placing
1 Phoenix CC 6h12'59"
2 Dromara 6h13'23"
3 Orwell 6h13'28"
4 Newry Wheelers 6h13'54"
5 North Down 6h14'28"
6 Omagh Wheelers 6h14'32"
7 South Dublin 6h14'36"
8 Orchard 6h14'58"
9 TVR 6h15'06"
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10 West Down 6h15'12"
11 Lucan 6h15'34"
12 Cuchulainn 6h17'01"
13 Apollo 6h17'31"
14 Newry Haldane 6h18'51"
15 Carn Wheelers 6h21'01"
16 Madigan 6h36'28"
General Classification
1 Stewart,Daniel A2 East Antrim 3h34'49"
2 Davenport,James A2 South Dublin @07"
3 Featherstone,Sean A2 Newry Wheelers @26"
4 Cunningham,Derek A2 Lucan @36"
5 McGrady,Aaron A2 Phoenix CC @37"
6 Inglis,Ian A2 Curran @40"
7 Laverty,Colm A2 Stamullen s/t
8 Rigley,Shaun A2 South Dublin @49"
9 Smyth,Ronnie A3 Dromara @51"
10 McArdle,Brian A2 Orwell s/t
11 McAteer,Conor A3 Bann Valley @52"
12 Dunlop,Raymond A3 Lakeland @01'02"
13 Morgan,Karl A3 Phoenix CC @01'03"
14 Magowan,Gavin A2 Dromara @01'08"
15 McKee,Gareth A2 Banbridge @01'10"
16 Simmons,Tommy A3 VC Glendale @01'13"
17 Sands,Jude A3 Newry Wheelers @01'22"
18 McIntyre,Sean A3 Orchard @01'23"
19 Dolan,Karol A3 Omagh Wheelers @01'24"
20 Wilson,Kenny A3 East Antrim @01'27"
21 Smyth,John A2 Phoenix CC @01'29"
22 Taylor,Johnny A2 Carn Wheelers s/t
23 Quinn,Anthony A3 Dromara s/t
24 Stewart,Rodney A3 TVR @01'34"
25 Reid,Ivan A2 Omagh Wheelers s/t
26 Belshaw,Phillip A3 Coventry RC @01'37"
27 Greer,Robert A3 Apollo @01'43"
28 McMullan,Michael A3 North Down @01'45"
29 Alexander,Mark A3 West Down @01'46"
30 Swirydowicz,Adam A3 Swords CC @01'48"
31 Blennerhassett,Tom A2 Orwell @01'50"
32 Farren,Shane A2 North Down s/t
33 Hudson,Neal A3 Orwell @01'56"
34 Grogan,Ross A2 Lucan @01'57"
35 Kane,Bobby A2 Bann Wheelers s/t
36 Neill,John A2 Phoenix CC s/t
37 Quigley,Nigel A3 Bann Wheelers @01'58"
38 McConville,Martin A3 Clann Eireann @01'59"
39 Collins,Aidan A2 Orwell @02'04"
40 Weir,Darren A2 TVR @02'08"
41 Gordon,Dan A3 West Down s/t
42 Hutchinson,Chris A3 Madigan @02'10"
43 McAlinden,Kevin A3 Banbridge @02'11"
44 McKinley,Drew A2 Newry Wheelers @02'12"
45 Stewart,Andrew A2 Orchard @02'19"
46 McCabe,Gerry A2 Cuchulainn @02'28"
47 Boyce,Noel A3 North Down @02'30"
48 Porter,Colin A3 Madigan @02'33"
49 Lynas,Darren A2 West Down @02'34"
50 McFerran,James A3 TVR @02'38"
51 Reid,Ryan A3 Omagh Wheelers @02'45"
52 Coleman,Mark A3 Orchard @02'55"
53 Mullan,Nathan A3 Dromara @02'57"
54 Quinn,Conor A3 Newry Haldane @03'01"
55 Cunningham,Aidan A2 Cuchulainn @03'16"
56 Hanthorn,Aaron A3 Orchard @03'18"
57 Coogan,Ray A3 Stamullen @03'40"
58 Purcell,Billy A3 Irish Road Club @03'42"
59 Lynch,Kevin A2 Newry Wheelers @04'06"
60 McAuley,Junior A3 Apollo @04'11"
61 Ferguson,Paul A2 North Down @04'13"
62 Convery,Barry A3 Newry Haldane @04'17"
63 Farrell,Rory A2 Newry Haldane @04'24"
64 Ennis,John A3 Lucan @04'28"
65 O'Hagan,Martin A3 Cuchulainn @04'37"
66 Keelan,Dermot A3 Cuchulainn @04'48"
67 Hare,Tony A3 Apollo @04'58"
68 Hamilton,David A2 Curran @05'14"
69 Warriner,Paul A3 Omagh Wheelers @05'19"
70 Loughrey,Colin A3 Carn Wheelers @05'20"
71 Lyons,John A2 South Dublin @05'22"
72 McGibbon,Andy A3 Apollo @05'23"
73 McCann,Sean A3 Island Wheelers @05'33"
74 Sullivan,Kenny A3 Cuchulainn @06'15"
75 Murphy,Richard A3 Cuchulainn @06'31"
76 Kelly,Paddy A3 Carn Wheelers @06'52"
77 Donaghy,Seamus A3 Omagh Wheelers @08'33"
78 Magowan,Chris A3 Dromara @10'09"
79 Priest,John A2 Lucan @11'44"
80 Maloney,Brendan A2 South Dublin @12'56"
81 Irvine,Bryce A3 Madigan @24'31"
82 Prenderville,Philip A3 Swords CC @29'30"
83 McCrystal,Eve A3 Garda @35'23"
Sprints Classification
1 Inglis,I 12
2 Ferguson,P 10
3 Stewart,D 9
4 Neill,J 8
5 Rigley,S 6
6 Davenport,J
57 Magowan,G 5
8 McGrady,A 4
9 Morgan,K 4
10 Quigley,N 4
11 Lynch,K 4
12 Cunningham,D 3
13 McArdle,B 2
14 Featherstone,S 1
King of the Mountains
1 McArdle,B 9
2 Davenport,J 8
3 Kane,B 8
4 Stewart,D 6
5 Inglis,I 6
6 Lynch,K 6
7 Rigley,S 4
8 Belshaw,P 3
9 Ferguson,P 3
10 Quinn,A 1
Team General Classification
1 Phoenix CC 10h47'36"
2 Dromara @ 09"
3 Newry Wheelers @ 34"
4 Orwell @ 58"
5 South Dublin @ 01'54"
6 Omagh Wheelers @ 02'34"
7 North Down @ 02'56"
8 TVR @ 03'11"
9 West Down @ 03'19"
10 Orchard @ 03'28"
11 Lucan @ 03'52"
12 Cuchulainn @ 06'34"
13 Apollo @ 07'43"
14 Newry Haldane @ 08'33"
15 Carn Wheelers @ 10'32"
16 Madigan @ 26'05"
