Full Report & Photos: Hooton takes John Drumm Memorial after 30km solo attack

Hooton takes the flag in Currow (Photo: www.irishcyclingphotos.com / Barry Sutton)

By Brian Canty

Richard Hooton (Team DMG-Visit Nenagh) has taken his first win of the season at the John Drumm Memorial race in Currow this afternoon, Sunday.

In his first season for the Nenagh-based team, Hooton came in on his own some 45 seconds ahead of second placed Sean Lacey (Dan Morrissey-Speedy Spokes).

Eddie Barry took a fine third, with the Blarney rider out-sprinting some big names in the shape of Michael Hennessy (Fermoy CC) and Páidi O'Brien (Dan Morrissey-Speedy Spokes).

Hooton had recently come very close to his first win of the season, with a number of top 10 finishes including fourth last Sunday in his home race in Nenagh. But today’s ride will no doubt give the Mallow man confidence for the year ahead.
"I'm thrilled," he said after the finish.

"It's been a while coming and I'm just so relieved. I made a balls of a few races over the last year but not today."
Impressively, he rode the last 30km on his own after putting in a ferocious dig from the breakaway.

"I attacked as hard as I could and no one followed so thank God it paid off. The wind was savage strong out there all day; really difficult and I suffered badly. But the season so far has been quite frustrating with the Dan Morrissey-Speedy Spokes lads being so dominant.”

The 22-year-old has ridden the An Post Rás twice already but is expected to skip this year's event as he is due to travel to Holland for some Continental racing.

He got clear today when he followed team-mate Denis Dunworth, who attacked and got a gap inside the first kilometre.

Together with Dave Kenneally (Cork County CC), they rode hard for two laps. But a quintet comprising Lacey, O'Brien, Martin O'Loughlin (Iverk Produce-Carrick Wheelers) and Hennessy soon came across to form the day’s breakaway.

But with two men in there, the numerically advantaged DMG team were determined to have their day today.

"I lay under the whip for long enough but not today,” the winner said afterwards.

“Things will be different from here on in. I just want to thank my team-mates for making this happen today, especially Denis Dunworth. He has a massive amount of experience and is a great help to me when he is there by my side. He just reassured me and kept me calm and made sure I didn't give too much too soon."

Of team manager Rene Van Dam, he had this to say: "He deserves huge credit, we're all in this together and though he doesn't be on the road during the race, he is great to have in the background. He gives his heart and soul to running the team and this is as much for him as anyone."

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In the A4 race, Cork County CC rider Ger Moore stormed to a remarkable victory when he attacked on the second of four laps and soloed his way to the finish - coming in over two minutes ahead of the next placed rider.

Moore, who only started racing this year, had instigated an early break inside the first lap and was joined by three more riders. But when the pace was "too pedestrian" he took off on his own and no one could stay with him.

"It was brilliant," he said.

"It’s great to get the win. I felt the group (break) weren't working well enough; a lot of fellas weren't willing to work with the wind being so strong. So I thought I might be better on my own. So I attacked on the second lap and rode the remaining two and a half laps by myself."

See more photos below the full set of results.

A1 + A2

A3

A4

Under 16

Under 14

First Unplaced U13

U12

All photos below – and the homepage image – are by Pat Doherty