Ian Richardson is clearly in great form against the watch, having taken a very clear victory in the Naas Open TT (Photo: Sean Rowe)

Ian Richardson flies to Naas TT victory

Less than two weeks before he will go head-to-head with the very best Irish TT riders, Ian Richardson has taken a welcome confidence-boosting result.

The UCD CC-Fitzcycles.ie man was best of the field at the Naas Open TT in Co Kildare today.

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That time was good enough to carry him to victory by over one minute.

In the runner-up slot was one of the men of the season, Conn McDunphy. The Lucan CRC rider was 1:20 down.

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Eve McCrystal was fastest woman today and will be looking to repeat that the week after next (Photo: J Rafferty)

And in 3rd place came Cian Delaney, a rider ever-present in the results for Stamullen Road Club.

He was 1:46 down Richardson, who was retaining the crown he took in this event last year.

And while Ian Richardson will now look to the championships in Wexford with confidence, so too will Eve McCrystal.

The Irish Paralympic team rider, and gold medallist tandem pilot at the Rio Paralympics, was first woman home today.

She clocked a time of 56:28; fastest woman and 12th of the combined men's and women's field.

McCrystal, of Garda CC-Richies Bikes, took silver in both the TT and road title races at the championships last year.

And she will face reigning champion Anna Turvey and the in-form Eileen Burns (Ballymena RC), among others, in the race for TT gold in Wexford next Thursday week.

Sat, June 10th: Naas Open TT (46.96km)

Promoted by Naas Cycling Club

Sponsored by McCormacks Bar, Naas

1. Ian Richardson UCD-Fitzcycles.ie A1 48:56
2. Con McDunphy Lucan CRC A1 50:16
3. Cian Delaney Stamullen RC A1 50:42
4. Eoin Whelan Seven Springs CC A1 51:00
5. Kieran Regan St Tiernans A2 53:27
6. Cian Sutcliffe Aqua Blue Academy A1 54:14
7. William McCormack St Tiernans A2 54:25 (A2)
8. Brian McNally Scott-Orwell A1 54:38
9. Cillian Moffatt Unattached A3 54:48 (A3)
10. Chris Troy Castlebar CC A2 55:19
11. Michael Reilly CKR CC A4 55:45 (A4)
12. Eve McCrystal Garda CC W 56:28 (W)
13. Freddie Stevens Scott-Orwell A1 57:11
14. Ken O’Neill Scott-Orwell A3 57:23
15. Alan Connolly Lakeside Wheelers A3 58:35
16. Cathal Johnston South Dublin CC A3 59:25
17. Bernard English Scott-Orwell A2 59:35
18. Shane Walsh Clonard RC LC 59: 58 (LC)
19. Paul Noble Wexford Wheelers A4 60:17
20. Robert Roche Wexford Wheelers LC 60:18
21. Keith Hughes Unattached A1 60:22
22. David Mullin Sundrive Track Team A3 60:35
23. Donal Gleeson Blanch Wheelies A3 61:31
24. Killian Doyle Scott-Orwell A4 62:16
25. John Fox Athy Wheelers A4 62:37
26. Martin Deevy Naas CC A4 62:40
27. John O’Loughlin Kildare CC LC 62:46
28. Brian Greene Scott-Orwell A4 64:09
29. Emily-Anne Doyle Naas CC W 64:40
30. Alan Downey Naas CC LC 65:11
31. Charlotte Stevens Scott-Orwell W 65:49
32. Shaun Maher Athy Wheelers A4 66:18
33. Barry Mooney Scott-Orwell LC 67:31
34. J Jaskowiak Pulse Tri-Club W 68:22
35. Mark Reilly Lucan A1 DNF