Gary Jeffers continues early season purple patch with victory at McCann Cup

Gary Jeffers (left) just gets the better of Conor Murphy at the finish of the McCann Cup (Photo: J Rafferty)

Having already taken victory in the Hewitt & Gilpin Phoenix GP in Crumlin a fortnight ago and put in another good ride with 5th at the Cycleways Cup in Navan last weekend, Gary Jeffers has continued his dream early season run with victory in the McCann Cup.

And it was last week’s winner in Navan – and 2012 Rás Mumhan stage winner – Conor Murphy (Eurocycles) that Jeffers (East Tyrone) found himself up the road with in icy cold conditions in Seskinore, Co Tyrone, yesterday

The duo looked by far the strongest and after an early breakaway was caught, they moved ahead together with two laps remaining and simply powered away from the rest. Jeffers got the verdict in a tight sprint to take Murphy’s considerable scalp in the event promoted by Omagh Wheelers.

Local rider Stevie McKenna took the sprint for third, with Aaron Deane (Foyle CC) in fourth place and Conor McIlwaine (Errigal CC) in fifth.

Matthew Heaney (Clan Eireann) took a lone win in the A3 race while Adam Lyons (Caldwell Cycles) took the A4 race.

McCann Cup

A1s & A2s – 110km

1. Gary Jeffers (East Tyrone CC)
2. Connor Murphy (Eurocycles)
3. Stephen McKenna (Omagh Wheelers)
4. Aaron Deane (Foyle CC)
5. Conor McIlwaine (Errigal CC)
6. Des Woods (Newry Wheelers)
7. Rory Devlin (North Pole CC)
8. Paul Mulligan (Eurocycles)
9. Jason Henry (Unattached)
10. Colm Quinn (Cuchulainn)

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A3 Race – 90km

1. Matthew Heaney (Clann Eireann CC)
2. Cathal Doyle (Carn Wheelers)
3. Mark Shannon (Burren CC)
4. Bobby Kane (Bann Wheelers CC)
5. Gary McDonald (Team DMG)
6. Alex Donald (Phoenix CC)
7. Daniel Stewart (East Antrim Audi)
8. Peter McBride (Errigal CC)
9. Ryan McDermott (West Tyrone Velo)
10. Angus Fyffe (Omagh Wheelers)

A4 Race –60km

1. Adam Lyons (Caldwell Cycles)
2. Damian Foley (Donegal Bay)
3. Mark McClure (Strabane Lifford)
4. Noel Collins (Caldwell Cycles)
5. Niall McEnhill (Omagh Wheelers)
6. Johnny Taylor (Carn Wheelers)
7. John O’Neill (Omagh Wheelers)
8. Dermot Donaghy (Island Wheelers)
9. Ciaran O’Hagan (Omagh Wheelers)
10. Donal Burns (Strabane Lifford)

Time Square Jeweller’s Masters race

1. Jim Doyle (Foyle CC)
2. Michael Tolan (Phoenix CC)
3. Geoff Hewitt (Phoneix CC)
4. Shay Giles (North Pole CC)
5. Seamus Keenan (Omagh Wheelers)
6. Eunan Devenney (Strabane Lifford)
7. Turlough Montague (Phoneix CC)
8. Brendan McAllister (Glens CC)
9. Campbell Armstrong (Apollo CT)
10. Martin Duddy (Ballymena Chain Reaction)

SportActive Women’s RR League

1. Janine McNally (North Down CC)
2. Alison McMullan (North Down CC)
3. Julie Rea (Phoenix CC)
4. Karen Hull (Phoenix CC)
5. Toni Armstrong (Apollo CT)
6. Lorraine Jeffers (East Tyrone CC)
7. Mary Angela Taylor (Carn Wheelers)
8. Louise Togneri (North Down CC)
9. Alwynne Shannon (Dromara CC)
10. Mairead Mc Gurk (Carn Wheelers)

Conor Murphy leads Gary Jeffers in the winning escape on what was a very cold day (Photo: Darren Crawford)

Matthew Heaney (Clann Eireann) takes a very comfortable victory in the A3 race (Photo: Darren Crawford)