Gareth O'Neill continues strong run with double victory weekend

Gareth O'Neill has taken another win today at the Carn Classic. It was his third victory since the season began last month and his second of the weekend (Photo by Toby Watson)

Gareth O’Neill has taken his second win in just two days
after sprinting in from the breakaway today in the Carn Classic main event. His
latest victory, the third of the season, came just 24 hours after he won the
Hilltown GP.

Today O’Neill arrived at the finish as part of a seven-man
breakaway and proved best in the uphill sprint ahead of Nathan Mullan (Dromara
CC) and Peter McLean (Ards CC) at the end of the Carn Wheelers promotion.

Eventual winner O’Neill (Caldwell Cycles) was in the scratch group today that gave two minutes away to the A2 group and two more to the A4s on a day with four laps of the circuit in Maghera to complete.

But the A1s got down to their task and were at the front of the race within two laps, making for an aggressive contest once they had mopped everyone up. O’Neill joined those attacks but was not successful in getting clear as his recent results made him a marked man.

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However, when a group got clear on the final lap he waited until it had built a gap before attacking the bunch again and getting across to the breakaway. As well as O’Neill, that group contained Mullan and McLean, along with Ciaran Dixon (Phoenix CC), Andrew McCullagh (Ards CC), Dean Harvey (VC Glendale) and Gary Cranston (East Antrim).

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While there were some attacks from the breakaway coming in the road they were neutralised, setting up a group sprint on the uphill finish, which O’Neill took from Mullan and McLean.

Gary Cranston (East
Antrim) was next over the line, in 4th,
from Dean Harvey (VC
Glendale), Ciaran Dixon (Phoenix CC) and Andrew McCullagh (Ards
CC).

The A4 event came down to a sprint which was won by
Thomas Warke of Ballymoney Cycling Club from Niall Daly (Square Wheels) and
Andrew Gordon (Ballymoney CC).

Justin Bloomer (Harps
CC) was 4th followed by two riders from
the promoting club, Carn Wheelers, in the shape of PJ McErlean and Johnny
McKaigue.

Darcey Harkness, now riding for VC Glendale, got up in
the sprint for 13th place and she was best woman on the day.

Sun, May 16th: Carn Classic

Maghera, Co Derry

Promoted by Carn Wheelers

A1-A2-A3 Race (58 miles)

  1. Gareth O’Neill Caldwell Cycles
  2. Nathan Mullan Dromara CC
  3. Peter McLean Ards CC
  4. Gary Cranston East Antrim
  5. Dean Harvey VC Glendale
  6. Ciaran Dixon Phoenix CC
  7. Andrew McCullagh Ards CC
  8. Stuart Millar Ards CC
  9. Conor McCann Inspired Cycling
  10. Fergus Callaghan Four Masters
  11. Phil Doyle Ards CC
  12. Rowan Montgomery Ballymoney CC
  13. Shay Donnelly Dan Morrissey-MIG-Pactimo
  14. Edward Kearney Phoenix CC
  15. Robert Kennedy Ballymena CC

A4 Race

  1. Thomas Warke Ballymoney CC
  2. Niall Daly Square Wheels
  3. Andrew Gordon Ballymoney CC
  4. Justin Bloomer Harps CC
  5. PJ McErlean Carn Wheelers
  6. Johnny McKaigue Carn Wheelers
  7. Dermot McCabe Island Wheelers
  8. Scott Lewis VC Glendale
  9. Cliffy Hamilton Newry
  10. Conor Gallagher Ballymena RC
  11. Allen Bell Bann Wheelers
  12. Declan McKenna Carn Wheelers
  13. Darcey Harkness VC Glendale
  14. John McCambridge Clann Eireann
  15. Noel Johnston Carn Wheelers
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