Kiernan (47) uses smarts & speed for popular win at Mondello

Masters rider Mark Kiernan showed he can still do plenty of damage with victory at Mondello Park. Above, racing on the Co Kildare track last year (Photo: Sean Rowe)

On a very wet night for bike racing, masters rider Mark Kiernan showed he still has what it takes to win races when he rode to victory at Mondello Park, Co Kildare, last evening.

Kiernan turned 47 years old just last week but having several times in recent years been part of the team sprint winning line-up at the National Track Championships, the Mondello course is one that suits him.

He also took the elite scratch title at the championships two years ago and when he got his chance last night he took it with both hands.

Kiernan only overcame the handicapping to get to the front of the race on the penultimate lap.

And on the last lap one of the Lucan CRC riders had a ging off the front but came unstuck in the wet conditions.

He hit the tarmac, putting an end to any chance he had of holding on for a lone win.

Kiernan used his track and road smarts built up during the course of his long racing career to position himself at the very front of a group of around 20 rounding the last bend.

And when he hit the afterburners on the long straight to the finish he had the power to hold off the rest for a very popular win on the night.

He beat Darragh Mortimer of the Bikeworx team, which sponsors the Mondello series, in 2nd place with David Farrell of Planet X rounding out the podium.