Junior McCann seizes his chance to emerge victorious in Richhill

A delighted Conor McCann gets the better of the opposition on the testing finish in Richhill (Photo: Jerry Rafferty)

Having been knocking on the door all season and generally shown great promise the past couple of years, Conor McCann seized his chance in the Groucho GP this afternoon in Richhill.

The NRPT-Magnet.ie rider was best on the drag race up the finishing incline to emerge a clear winner from Andrew Reid of Cookstown and Derek Finnegan of Keevan CC.

McCann profited from the race regrouping after a three man group had broken clear on the eight mile hilly circuit that was negotiated seven times in the A2-A3 event.

In that move were Josh Lawrence of North Down CC, Philip Hoey of East Antrim Audi and Kevin Lynch from Newry Wheelers.

Eileen Burns (Ballymena RC) beats Katrina Pollack of Steady CC into 2nd place in the women's event (Photo: Jerry Rafferty)

While they were the first of many escape groups to surge properly clear and maintain a lead during what was very aggressive racing, they would perhaps have needed a few more bodies with them to make it all the way.

While they were away for over 20 miles, their gap was never much above 30 seconds.

And with the final ascent into Richhill always going to separate the men from the boys, they would have needed a bigger advantage to survive and fight it out for the spoils.

As the field got closer to the finish, the gap between peloton and escape began to reduce until the breakaway men were swept up.

North Down CC newcomer Stephen Watty takes the A4 race, and looks pretty happy with his day's work (Photo: Jerry Rafferty)

And in the uphill sprint to the line, it was McCann who proved by far the strongest.

He came home to claim the victory well clear of Reid and Finnegan.

The A4 race followed a similar pattern, with many attempts off the front coming to nothing and the race decided in a bunch sprint.

North Down CC newcomer Stephen Watty proved too quick for the rest.

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Paul Kirk of North Down CC just about gets the better of Michael Tolan of Phoenix CC in the masters' race (Photo: Jerry Rafferty)

He took victory from Lester Fiddes of promoting club Orchard Shelbourne CC and Glenn McKendry (Team Madigan).

The women’s race and separate masters’ events also came down to sprints.

In the women’s race Eileen Burns (Ballymena RC) beat Katrina Pollack of Steady CC into 2nd place, with Catherine Sands of Newry Wheelers rounding out the podium.

Paul Kirk of North Down CC took a very close sprint for victory in the masters’ event from Michael Tolan of Phoenix CC with Banbridge’s Brian Hannan in 3rd.

Sat, May 9th: Groucho GP

Richhill, Co Armagh

Promoted by Shelbourne Orchard CC

A2-A3 Race

1 Conor McCann (NRPT-Magnet.ie)
2 Andrew Reid (Cookstown)
3 Derek Finnegan (Keevan CC)
4 Darren Lynas (West Down Wheelers)
5 Dave McFall (Omagh Wheelers)
6 Chris Richardson (Castlereagh CC)
7 Paul Wilkinson (West Down Wheelers)
8 Aaron Parks (CCT)

A4 Race

1 Stephen Watty (North Down CC)
2 Lester Fiddes (Shelbourne-Orchard CC)
3 Glenn McKendry (Team Madigan)
4 David Dickson (Dromara CC)
5 Dave Smyth (Square Wheels)
6 Daniel Brown (North Down)
7 Gary McClure (Team Madigan)
8 Stephen Madden (East Antrim Audi)

Women’s Race

1 Eileen Burns (Ballymena RC)
2 Katrina Pollack (Steady CC)
3 Catherine Sands (Newry Wheelers)
4 Rachel Mitchell (North Down)
5 Trudy Brown (VC Glendale)