John Buller Banbridge Cycling Club Killinchy GP

Danny O'Connor got one hand up at the front of the A4 bunch while John Buller went for the Saturday Night Fever approach; two great wins at the Killinchy GP (All photos by Toby Watson)

John Buller Banbridge Cycling Club wins Killinchy GP

One of the revelations of the junior campaign last year, John Buller has stepped up into the senior ranks with a strong win today.

The Banbridge CC man, who won two stages at the Junior Tour of Ireland 2017, was far too strong for the opposition in the main event today.

The combined A1-A2 race was a handicapped affair. The best of the A2s were never caught by the chasers.

And with the likes of Buller and last year's junior national champion Ethan Downey (Clann Eireann) up front; that was perhaps no major surprise.

Buller, the latest top rider to come off the Banbridge conveyor belt, was among a group of five as the finish approached.

However, while he is very fast in the group sprint scenario he did not wait for the gallop. Instead he got up the road away from his fellow escapees.

Top, Laura Wylie of Maryland Wheelers on her way to winning the women's race. Middle, O'Connor went early, got the gap and held on in the A4 race. Bottom, even though riders like Lindsay Watson - top climber and one of the strongest at the Tour of the North last week - were in the A1 scratch group the best of the A2s were too strong to be caught (Photos: TobyWatson)

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Though John Buller, a junior international last season, only gained a small gap it was plenty on the line. He sailed through the finish with his hands in the air for his first victory since leaving the juniors.

Just a few seconds behind, Downey took the runner-up spot ahead of the others in the A2 breakaway. The winning move had taken flight on the penultimate lap.

Also in that strong man's escape, Donal Shearer (Phoenix CC) was 3rd. Next came Stuart Henry (North Down CC) and Gary Walker (Team Madigan).

The women's race saw Laura Wylie of Maryland Wheelers ride away to a fine solo victory. She beat Clodagh Gallagher (AAA), who is one of the best juniors in the country, into the runner-up slot.

And Julie Rea of Phoenix CC, clearly having carried her strong cyclocross season form into the road campaign, was in 3rd place.

In the A3 race Shay Donley, who is really hitting his stride in recent weeks, emerged victorious.

The NRPT-Chill Insurance man took the win ahead of Jack Ferguson (Dromara CC). And rounding out the podium was Andrew Hicks of Newry Wheelers.

Donley won a stage of Rás Mhaigh Eo last month and was top junior overall. Last weekend he rode well on the Irish junior team in the Tour of the North.

In the A4 race, winner Danny O'Connor took it very well. He was the clear victor in a rapid downhill dash to the finish line; nobody else in the field getting close to him.

The VC Glendale man is only racing two years but has clear been whipped into physical and tactical shape by his more experienced club mates.

And when he got his chance today he grabbed it with both hands. More details, including full results, to follow.