Eoin Morton pips Adam Armstrong as Phoenix GP splits to pieces

That was close: Eoin Morton opens his account by just about pipping Adam Armstrong for victory at the Phoenix GP (Photo: Toby Watson)

As he did last year, Eoin Morton has opened his account for the new season by travelling north of the border; this time claiming victory in the hard-fought George Rooney Phoenix GP.

The UCD CC rider, who has recently been unveiled as a member of the Dublin Thunder track team destined to compete as part of the new World Cycling Series franchise in the US, just got the better of Adam Armstrong in a two-up sprint finish.

It was a very impressive riding by both men, with Armstrong clearly having wintered well and come into the new season in the kind of shape we haven't see him in for a couple of years.

The duo, with Armstrong now riding for Wheelworx-ASEA, were just about out on their own from a breakaway group of 10 in the combined A1 and A2 handicapped event.

With six laps of an 8½ mile circuit to complete, the total race distance of 51 miles was not overly taxing though the aggressive nature of the contest and the rain and wind made it a hard day.

The A2s attacked each other from early on and at around the halfway point the A1s had caught them.

Once the juncture was made the strong men pressed ahead in a number of groups, with about 10 riders forming at the head of affairs as the finish approached.

And in the attacking that characterised the end of the race, it was Armstrong and Morton who pulled clear to sprint it out for the win.

Craig Rea of the promoting club, who was 2nd to Roger Aiken (Wheelworx ASEA) at the Annaclone GP yesterday, was only a couple of seconds behind the winner and runner up.

He had Armstrong’s team mate Ali Macaulay for company, though both of the Wheelworx-ASEA men were beaten in the sprint to the line and had to be content with 2nd and 4th.

Sun, Feb 21st: George Rooney Phoenix GP

Promoted by Phoenix CC and Portview Fit-Out Ltd

A1-A2 Race

1st Eoin Morton (UCD CC)
2nd Adam Armstrong (ASEA Wheelworx)
3rd Craig Rea (Phoenix CC)
4th Ali Macauley (ASEA Wheelworx)
5th Christopher McGlinchey (Chain Reaction Cycles)
6th Jody Wright (Phoenix CC)
7th David Hamilton (NDCC)
8th Darnell Moore (Caldwell Cycles)

A3 Race

1st Joash Lawrence (North Down CC)
2nd Christopher Birney (Team Sportactive Racing)
3rd Dave Walker (Phoenix CC)
4th Harvey Barnes (East Tyrone CC)
5th Stephen Barry (Orwell Wheelers)
6th Aaron Parks (CCT)
7th Trevor Campbell (East Antrim Audi)
8th Glen Howe (Bann Wheelers)