Hawkins made it look easy (Photo: Maurice McAllister. Homepage photo Marian Lamb Cycling Ulster)
Peter Hawkins has won his first race riding for his new IG Sigma Sport team, taking a fine solo win in the John Moore Memorial at Carryduff, Belfast, this morning, Saturday.
The Belfast man has spent the last few seasons in Belgium and will ride in Britain and Europe with his new UK Continental team this year.
This morning on home roads he was part of the A1 scratch group that caught the A2s and A3s that started ahead of them in the main event; with Hawkins eventually powering clear in the final kilometres of the draggy circuit to take a solo win with plenty of time to spare.
With two-and-a-half minutes separating each of the groups, the A3s put in some attacking riding with a number of groups going clear early on in the hope of holding off their pursuers.
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Junior rider Matthew Doyle (Foyle CC) was first to make any meaningful headway with his attack from the A3 group. He built up a decent lead on his own and was about to be joined by a strong looking Mike Millar until the Phoenix CC rider punctured.
Doyle persisted on his own up front for a while but could not hold off the active A3 group behind and he was eventually caught.
Not long after he was absorbed a very promising escape emerged from the A3s with two laps to go and it looked like these riders were combining well enough to perhaps make it all the way to the finish without being caught.
The group included: Chris Meenan (Phoenix CC), Matthew Blayney (North Down) and Daniel Stewart (East Antrim Audi). Cathal Doyle (Carn Wheelers) then joined them but with the A3 bunch not giving up, the escape was recaptured.
However, the A1s and A2s behind then got on terms and the race split to pieces under the pressure of the bunch gearing up for the final lap. At the head of affairs Hawkins managed to attack and get away from everyone on the last lap and time trialed his way to the finish, in the end making it look easy.
Fraser Duncan (Euro Cycles), who had ridden strongly in the A1 group to catch those ahead, then came in alone to take second place.
There was then a sprint for third a short time later, with junior Daniel Stewart (East Antrim) taking that gallop to round off the podium, adding that third place to his win in the Annaclone GP last weekend.
In the B race – open to A4 riders - Jim Maguire and Peter Stewart (both Phoenix CC) got away in a two-man breakaway and combined very well to hold of the bunch for three laps.
When they were finally caught the counterattacking began, with Ali McAuley (Phoenix CC) and Tommy Rafferty (Slane Cycles) breaking clear, closely followed by Andy Morrison (Maryland Wheelers) and Tony Quinn (Dromara CC).
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In the closing stages, McAuley managed to get away from the others to arrive at the finish alone, with Morrison taking second, Quinn third and Rafferty fourth.
The races were promoted today by Castlereagh CC. See results and photos below.
John Moore Memorial A race
1 Peter Hawkins (Sigma Sport)
2 Frazer Duncan (Euro Cycles)
3 Daniel Stewart (East Antrim Audi)
4 Mark Buchanan (North Pole CC)
5 Matthew Blayney (North Down)
6 Brian Stewart (Phoenix CC)
John Moore Memorial B race
1 Ali McAuley (Phoenix CC)
2 Name unknown ((Maryland Wheelers)
3 Anthony Quinn Dromara CC)
4 Tommy Rafferty (Slane Cycles)
5 James McCusker (Orchard/Shelbourne CC)
6 Robert Kelly ( St Tiernan’s)
Daniel Stewart (far left) took third in the A race after last weekend’s win (Photo: Toby Watson)
‘B’ Race Photos
McAuley was too strong on the closing stages of the ‘B’ race (Photo: Marian Lamb Cycling Ulster)
Jim Maguire and Peter Stewart put in a great effort during their B race escape (Photo: Toby Watson)
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