Derek Cunningham (Lucan CRC) on his way to fourth place on the final stage of yesterday's Newry Three Day; proving enough to bag him the outright win (Photo: Toby Watson)
By Amy-Norah Farrell
Derek Cunningham (Lucan CRC) has returned home triumphant following four grueling stages of the Newry Three-Day at the weekend.
Always a very strong rider, Cunningham got into the winning move on the fourth and final stage yesterday, Sunday. And his 4th place on that final leg was enough to give him the outright win after overnight leader Daniel Stewart missed the boat and lost 48 seconds.
North Down’s Paul Ferguson was quickest of the breakaway men at the finish and sprinted home for stage victory after 117 wet kilometers.
Yesterday’s closing stage started with 11 riders within 52 seconds of Stewart in the Spin11 yellow jersey.
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And as the flag dropped to commence racing, a group of five riders attacked off the front, before being pulled back in by the fast paced bunch.
As the field began to settle down, Cunningham saw his chance and launched a massive attack. The bunch was slow to react, letting him slip away.
It wasn’t long before local man Kevin Lynch (Newry Wheelers) and South Dublin’s Shaun Rigley attacked and managed to pull out a gap of 100 metres over the main field.
They rode hard to catch Cunningham and were rewarded when they bridged the gap, only for second placed overall Ian Inglis (Curran Racing) to pull the bunch up to the three-man break.
As the rain began to fall, Jude Sands (Newry Wheelers) attacked and held a gap of 50 metres off the front of the main field.
The bunch continued to ride hard, but with the race for the outright win so close it was only a matter of time before another five riders joined Sands.
With the breakaway of six pulling out a gap of 14 seconds, Cunningham made a jump and rode across to the break just before the first sprint prime at Poyntzpass.
Gavin Magowan (Dromara) fought off stiff competition to take the maximum points, with Gareth McKee (Banbridge) second and Darren Weir (TVR) third.
David Hamilton (Curran) now had his sights on the breakaway, riding solo across the divide and making the escape a very strong nine-man lead group.
The leaders continued to ride hard and the gap was soon 1:15. Countless attacks continued from the front of the bunch, with numerous attempts from riders failing to get across.
The second sprint prime went to McKee, with Ivan Reid (Omagh Wheelers) second and Hamilton third.
Colm Laverty (Stamullen RC) and Cunningham were the main contenders for yellow in the break, having started the final stage less than a minute down on GC.
The pair of A2s continued to push in the break, and when the gap reached 3:20 the advantage was now looking unassailable for the bunch and the yellow-jerseyed Stewart stranded in it.
But the hardest part of the stage was yet to come, with two laps of Rathfriland on its way.
As both groups thundered towards the first KOH at Castlewellan, Kevin Lynch (Newry Wheelers) reached the top first, riding himself into the climbers’ jersey on the road.
Cunningham was on a charge, and not content to sit in the break he continued to grind away and was first across the KOH line in Rathfriland. The gap began to plummet and the bunch began to sweep up all the riders caught in no-man’s-land on the descent.
The breakaway then began to fall apart, and Cunningham attacked again.
Laverty and McKee went with him, and the trio held a gap of 13 seconds over those just behind.
Hamilton attacked those chasers and pulled himself up to the leaders to make a four-man group. Brian McArdle (Orwell) was next to attack, with the climbers’ jersey wearer jumping across to the chase group and then attacking straight away to try and get to the leaders.
Time gaps were continually being counted, with both Cunningham and Laverty swapping virtual yellow on the road. The four leaders now held a 33 second advantage over the chasers, with the yellow jersey group a further 25 seconds down.
The bunch began to fall to pieces once more as they headed towards Rathfriland for the second time, with Inglis trying his hardest to get across to the break.
McArdle had made his way to the leaders and took the second KOH, with Rigley second and Cunningham still in the mix in third.
Paul Ferguson (North Down) took the next KOH in Rathfriland, with McArdle second and securing the climbers’ classification win, while Inglis crossed the top a close third.
The descent from Rathfriland was even hairier this time, with the leading group aware of the peloton starting to close in.
The gap was down to 54 seconds to the bunch, with the yellow jersey sitting 30 seconds behind the leaders.
As the race hurtled towards the finish-line, the gap continued to stretch and contract, with each second precious to Cunningham.
With only a few kilometres to go, the main field caught the yellow jersey group and the gap to Cunningham stood at 28 seconds.
The leaders continued to push on and sprinted for the line, with North Down’s Paul Ferguson taking the stage ahead of Rigley, McKee, Cunningham and Nigel Quigley (Bann Wheelers).
Tommy Simmons (VC Glendale), David Hamilton (Curran) and Ian Inglis (Curran) were next to cross the line, having lost two seconds to the winner.
All eyes were on the clock as riders reached the line, with 48 seconds elapsing before Stewart arrived.
Cunningham and Stewart were both in for a long wait, as the results needed to be checked and verified before finally it was confirmed that Cunningham had won the overall by just 6 seconds from Inglis, with Stewart third.
Paul Ferguson (North Down) was awarded the green jersey, having fought off stiff competition from McKee and Inglis.
Orwell’s Brian McArdle hung onto the KOH jersey, with host clubs Newry Wheelers’ Kevin Lynch second and South Dublin’s James Davenport third.
The team prize went to Dromara, with North Down second and Phoenix CC third.
Newry Three Day June 28th-30th, Newry Wheelers
Sunday June 6th: Stage 4 Newry Circuit - 116.59km
1 Ferguson,Paul North Down 2h55'10"
2 Rigley,Shaun South Dublin s/t
3 McKee,Gareth Banbridge s/t
4 Cunningham,Derek Lucan s/t
5 Quigley,Nigel Bann Wheelers s/t
6 Simmons,Tommy VC Glendale @02"
7 Hamilton,David Curran @ s/t
8 Inglis,Ian Curran @ s/t
9 Smyth,Ronnie Dromara @44"
10 Kane,Bobby Bann Wheelers @ s/t
11 Morgan,Karl Phoenix @46"
12 McAteer,Conor Bann Valley @ s/t
13 McFerran,James TVR @48"
14 Stewart,Daniel East Antrim @ s/t
15 Davenport,James South Dublin @ s/t
16 Grogan,Ross Lucan @ s/t
17 Featherstone,Sean Newry Wheelers @ s/t
18 Quinn,Anthony Dromara @ s/t
19 McGrady,Aaron Phoenix CC @ s/t
20 Greer,Robert Apollo @ s/t
21 Taylor,Johnny Carn Wheelers @ s/t
22 McCabe,Gerry Cuchulainn @ s/t
23 Quinn,Conor Newry Haldane @ s/t
24 McArdle,Brian Orwell @ s/t
25 Dunlop,Raymond Lakeland @ s/t
26 McMullan,Michael North Down @ s/t
27 Laverty,Colm Stamullen @ s/t
28 Prenderville,Philip Swords CC @ s/t
29 Dolan,Karol Omagh Wheelers @ s/t
30 McConville,Martin Clann Eireann @ s/t
31 Belshaw,Phillip Coventry RC @ s/t
32 Stewart,Rodney TVR @ s/t
33 Kelly,Paddy Carn Wheelers @ s/t
34 Farren,Shane North Down @ s/t
35 Stewart,Andrew Orchard @ s/t
36 McAlinden,Kevin Banbridge @56"
37 Magowan,Gavin Dromara @01'45"
38 Wilson,Kenny East Antrim " @01'51"
39 Reid,Ryan Omagh Wheelers @ s/t
40 Coleman,Mark Orchard @ s/t
41 Cunningham,Aidan Cuchulainn @ s/t
42 Irvine,Bryce Madigan @ s/t
43 Porter,Colin Madigan @ s/t
44 Reid,Ivan Omagh Wheelers @ s/t
45 Blennerhassett,Tom Orwell @ s/t
46 O'Hagan,Martin Cuchulainn @ s/t
47 Keelan,Dermot Cuchulainn @ s/t
48 McKinley,Drew Newry Wheelers @ s/t
49 Boyce,Noel North Down @ s/t
50 Hutchinson,Chris Madigan @ s/t
51 Lynas,Darren West Down @ s/t
52 Lynch,Kevin Newry Wheelers @ s/t
53 Sands,Jude Newry Wheelers @03'24"
54 Hanthorn,Aaron Orchard @ s/t
55 Smyth,John Phoenix CC @ s/t
56 Coogan,Ray Stamullen @03'26"
57 Murphy,Richard Cuchulainn @ s/t
58 McAuley,Junior Apollo @03'52"
59 Loughrey,Colin Carn Wheelers @03'58"
60 Convery,Barry Newry Haldane @04'19"
61 McGibbon,Andy Apollo @06'19"
62 Purcell,Billy Irish Road Club " @06'32"
63 Farrell,Rory Newry Haldane @06'45"
64 Mullan,Nathan Dromara @07'02"
65 Donaghy,Seamus Omagh Wheelers @07'07"
66 McCrystal,Eve Garda @07'53"
67 Ennis,John Lucan @ s/t
68 Neill,John Phoenix CC @ s/t
69 Sullivan,Kenny Cuchulainn @ s/t
70 Maloney,Brendan South Dublin @ s/t
71 Hare,Tony Apollo @ s/t
72 Lyons,John South Dublin @11'58"
73 Priest,John Lucan @ s/t
74 Weir,Darren TVR @12'46"
75 Warriner,Paul Omagh Wheelers @ s/t
76 McIntyre,Sean Orchard @15'50"
77 McCann,Sean Island Wheelers @ s/t
Sprint: Poyntzpass
1 Magowan,G 5pts
2 McKee,G 3pts
3 Weir,D 1pt
Sprint: Katesbridge
1 McKee,G 5pts
2 Reid,I 3pts
3 Hamilton,D 1pt
KOH Category 2: Castlewellan
1 Lynch,K 5pts
2 Magowan,G 3pts
3 Reid,I 1pt
KOH Category 2: Rathfriland
1 Cunningham,D 5pts
2 McKee,G 3pts
3 Laverty,C 1pt
Sprint: Newry 1st Pass
1 Hamilton,D 5pts
2 Cunningham,D 3pts
3 McKee,G 1pt
KOH Category 2: Seven Bends
1 McArdle,B 5pts
2 Rigley,S 3pts
3 Cunningham,D 1pt
KOH Category 2: Rathfriland
1 Ferguson,P 5pts
Related News
2 McArdle,B 3pts
3 Inglis,I 1pt
Team Stage Placing
1 North Down 8h47'06"
2 Dromara 8h48'47"
3 Cuchulainn 8h50'00"
4 Omagh Wheelers 8h50'00"
5 Newry Wheelers 8h50'00"
6 Phoenix CC 8h50'28"
7 Madigan 8h51'03"
8 Carn Wheelers 8h51'04"
9 Orchard 8h51'33"
10 South Dublin 8h54'11"
11 Lucan 8h54'11"
12 Apollo 8h56'29"
13 Newry Haldane 8h57'22"
14 TVR 8h59'52"
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Stage 3 winner Daniel Stewart rode hard into the finish but lost his yellow jersey to outright winner Derek Cunningham (Photo: Toby Watson)
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Final General Classification
1 Cunningham,Derek A2 Lucan 6h30'35"
2 Inglis,Ian A2 Curran @06"
3 Stewart,Daniel A2 East Antrim @12"
4 Rigley,Shaun A2 South Dublin @13"
5 Davenport,James A2 South Dublin @19"
6 McKee,Gareth A2 Banbridge @34"
7 Featherstone,Sean A2 Newry Wheelers @38"
8 Simmons,Tommy A3 VC Glendale @39"
9 McGrady,Aaron A2 Phoenix CC @49"
10 Laverty,Colm A2 Stamullen @52"
11 Smyth,Ronnie A3 Dromara @59"
12 McAteer,Conor A3 Bann Valley @01'02"
13 McArdle,Brian A2 Orwell @01'03"
14 Morgan,Karl A3 Phoenix CC @01'13"
15 Dunlop,Raymond A3 Lakeland @01'14"
16 Quigley,Nigel A3 Bann Wheelers @01'22"
17 Dolan,Karol A3 Omagh Wheelers @01'36"
18 Taylor,Johnny A2 Carn Wheelers @01'41"
19 Quinn,Anthony A3 Dromara = s/t
20 Stewart,Rodney A3 TVR @01'46"
21 Belshaw,Phillip A3 Coventry RC @01'49"
22 Greer,Robert A3 Apollo @01'55"
23 McMullan,Michael A3 North Down @01'57"
24 Farren,Shane A2 North Down @02'02"
25 Kane,Bobby A2 Bann Wheelers @02'05"
26 Grogan,Ross A2 Lucan @02'09"
27 McConville,Martin A3 Clann Eireann @02'11"
28 Magowan,Gavin A2 Dromara @02'17"
29 McAlinden,Kevin A3 Banbridge @02'31"
30 Stewart,Andrew A2 Orchard = s/t
31 McCabe,Gerry A2 Cuchulainn @02'40"
32 Wilson,Kenny A3 East Antrim @02'42"
33 Reid,Ivan A2 Omagh Wheelers @02'49"
34 McFerran,James A3 TVR @02'50"
35 Blennerhassett,Tom A2 Orwell @03'05"
36 Quinn,Conor A3 Newry Haldane @03'13"
37 Hutchinson,Chris A3 Madigan @03'25"
38 McKinley,Drew A2 Newry Wheelers @03'27"
39 Ferguson,Paul A2 North Down @03'37"
40 Boyce,Noel A3 North Down @03'45"
41 Porter,Colin A3 Madigan @03'48"
42 Lynas,Darren A2 West Down @03'49"
43 Reid,Ryan A3 Omagh Wheelers @04'00"
44 Sands,Jude A3 Newry Wheelers @04'10"
45 Coleman,Mark A3 Orchard = s/t
46 Smyth,John A2 Phoenix CC @04'17"
47 Cunningham,Aidan A2 Cuchulainn @04'31"
48 Hamilton,David A2 Curran @04'40"
49 Lynch,Kevin A2 Newry Wheelers @05'21"
50 O'Hagan,Martin A3 Cuchulainn @05'52"
51 Keelan,Dermot A3 Cuchulainn @06'03"
52 Hanthorn,Aaron A3 Orchard @06'06"
53 Coogan,Ray A3 Stamullen @06'30"
54 Kelly,Paddy A3 Carn Wheelers @07'04"
55 McAuley,Junior A3 Apollo @07'27"
56 Convery,Barry A3 Newry Haldane @08'00"
57 Loughrey,Colin A3 Carn Wheelers @08'42"
58 Neill,John A2 Phoenix CC @09'14"
59 Murphy,Richard A3 Cuchulainn @09'21"
60 Mullan,Nathan A3 Dromara @09'23"
61 Purcell,Billy A3 Irish Road Club @09'38"
62 Farrell,Rory A2 Newry Haldane @10'33"
63 McGibbon,Andy A3 Apollo @11'06"
64 Ennis,John A3 Lucan @11'45"
65 Hare,Tony A3 Apollo @12'15"
66 Sullivan,Kenny A3 Cuchulainn @13'32"
67 Weir,Darren A2 TVR @14'18"
68 Donaghy,Seamus A3 Omagh Wheelers @15'04"
69 McIntyre,Sean A3 Orchard @16'37"
70 Lyons,John A2 South Dublin @16'44"
71 Warriner,Paul A3 Omagh Wheelers @17'29"
72 Maloney,Brendan A2 South Dublin @20'13"
73 McCann,Sean A3 Island Wheelers @20'47"
74 Priest,John A2 Lucan @23'06"
75 Irvine,Bryce A3 Madigan @25'46"
76 Prenderville,Philip A3 Swords CC @29'42"
77 McCrystal,Eve A3 Garda @42'40"
Sprints Classification
1 Ferguson,P 16
2 McKee,G 13
3 Inglis,I 12
4 Rigley,S 11
5 Magowan,G 10
6 Stewart,D 9
7 Cunningham,D 9
8 Neill,J 8
9 Hamilton,D 6
10 Quigley,N 6
11 Davenport,J 5
12 McGrady,A 4
13 Morgan,K 4
14 Lynch,K 4
15 Reid,I 3
16 McArdle,B 2
17 Featherstone,S 1
18 Simmons,T 1
19 Weir,D 1
King of the Mountains
1 McArdle,B 17
2 Lynch,K 11
3 Davenport,J 8
4 Kane,B 8
5 Ferguson,P 8
6 Inglis,I 7
7 Rigley,S 7
8 Cunningham,D 6
9 Stewart,D 6
10 McKee,G 3
11 Belshaw,P 3
12 Magowan,G 3
13 Laverty,C 1
14 Quinn,A 1
15 Reid,I 1
Team General Classification
1 Dromara 19h36'32"
2 North Down @ 01'06"
3 Phoenix CC @ 01'32"
4 Newry Wheelers @ 01'38"
5 Omagh Wheelers @ 03'38"
6 Orchard @ 06'05"
7 South Dublin @ 07'09"
8 Cuchulainn @ 07'38"
9 Lucan @ 09'07"
10 Carn Wheelers @ 12'40"
11 TVR @ 14'07"
12 Apollo @ 15'16"
13 Newry Haldane @ 16'59"
14 Madigan @ 28'12"
