Kay leads GB clean-sweep as Lally best of Irish in Clonmel

Anna Kay wins the combined senior and junior women's race at Verge Cross Clonmel (Photo: Toby Watson)

A silver medal winner in the U23 European Cyclocross Championships, Anna Kay (777) showed her class at Verga Cross Clonmel, where she led a British clean sweep of the podium in the combined senior-junior women's race, Kay claimed the victory by 1:39 from Xan Crees (Spectra Wiggle) and Libby Belly (Garden Shed-Ribble-Verge), who was 1:52 down.

Roisin Lally was best of the Irish; the Scott Bright Motor Group rider taking 4th at 4:22, with compatriot Hannah McClorey (RFDA) in 5th just two seconds behind Lally. Young Aine Doherty, just 16 years old and in her first weeks in the junior ranks, placed 7th and was challenging for 4th on the day but for some bad luck.

Doherty (VC Glendale) got a piece of wire stuck in her gears, which cost her time. And having finished the race just 19 seconds off 4th place, she would have been a lot closer to the podium but for her misfortune.

Advertisement
Roisin Lally takes 4th place - and best of the Irish riders - with another of the Irish, Hannah McClorey just behind her in 5th (Photo: Sean Rowe)

But there was no doubting the winner today, from a field of 21 starters and five laps of race at Powerstown Park; Kay getting in front early and then continuing to press home her advantage to run out the very clear victor.

Related News

By the end of the opening lap she had already put 19 seconds into her nearest challenger today, Crees, with Bell another 10 seconds back as those at the front of the field went out onto the second lap. And once Kay got ahead on her own, she assuredly added to her advantage on the remaining four laps.

Kay put a further 33 seconds of daylight between herself and Crees on the second lap, with that pattern continuing through the race.

By the chequered flag, and having been faster than her rivals on every lap, she took a very strong win in the UCI C2-ranked race. As well as Lally, McClorey and Doherty flying the flag for Ireland close to the front, Grace Young and Darcey Harkness also made the top 10.

Young (All human-VeloRevolution) placed 9th at 4:47 while Harkness (VC Glendale) was 10th at 4:55.

Sun, Oct 16th: Verge Cross Clonmel

Senior-Junior Women's Race

  1. KAY Anna GBR 777 10:02 48:36
  2. CREES Xan GBR SPECTRA WIGGLE at 1:39
  3. BELL Libby GBR GARDEN SHED - RIBBLE- VERGE SPORT 1:52
  4. LALLY Roisin IRL Scott Bright Motor Group 4:22
  5. MCCLOREY Hannah IRL RFDA 4:24
  6. COLEMAN Kimberly USA GREEN MOUNTAIN CX TEAM 4:25
  7. DOHERTY Aine IRL VC Glendale 4:41
  8. GROGAN Joanne USA BMB RACING TEAM 4:42
  9. YOUNG Grace IRL All human/VeloRevolution Racing Team 4:47
  10. HARKNESS Darcey IRL VC Glendale 4:55
  11. ROCHE Stephanie IRL Scott Bright Motor Group 6:45
  12. KILLEEN Doireann IRL Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club 8:13
  13. ROCHE Annie IRL Scott Bright Motor Group 8:55
  14. MAY Caoimhe IRL Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club 9:41
  15. SALVADOR Márcia POR TC Racing -1 lap
  16. STEPHENS Niamh IRL Team Giant Dublin -1 lap
  17. KENT Elizabeth IRL Arcane Cycling Team -1 lap
  18. WHITE Helen IRL Stamullen RC -1 lap
  19. HAYES Hannah IRL TC Racing -1 lap
  20. O'CONNOR Aishling IRL Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club -1 lap
  21. REILLY Katie IRL Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club -1 lap

Related News