Kinning unstoppable in Belfast; brushes off Falls Park challengers

Familiar sight: Glenn Kinning comes home for victory at the end of the massively successful inaugural Falls Park outing in Belfast (Photo: Toby Watson)

Glenn Kinning has concluded the Ulster Cyclocross Series for the year with another victory, this time taking the chequered flag alone in Falls Park, Belfast.

The Kinning Cycles man had a minute to spare over Cuchulainn’s Ray O’Shaughnessy in 2nd place, with breakthrough rider Darnell Moore of Caldwell Cycles in 3rd just 10 seconds further adrift.

It was Kinning and Moore who got the best start, with the eventual winner going around the opening lap of seven quickest in a time of 7mins 25secs.

That put him just two seconds ahead of Moore, with O’Shaughnessy losing a significant 24 seconds to the leader on that opening circuit.

Johnny McCabe on his way to the supervets' prize in the colours of Cuchulainn CC (Photo: Toby Watson)

Moore did well the next time around to regain the time lost on Kinning, with the leading pair going through the start-finish area to go out onto the third loop together.

O’Shaughnessy’s slow start was to continue and he lost another seven seconds to Kinning and nine to the flying Moore on that second lap.

However, Moore was to pay for his early efforts on the third loop, with Kinning powering away from him to take a lead of 21 seconds with three circuits completed.

And O’Shaughnessy would also gain on the U23 rider in 2nd place, pegging back nine of the 31 seconds he had relinquished to Moore on the opening two circuits.

With a healthy lead now intact, Kinning simply consolidated on the fourth lap; putting 28 seconds into Moore and 11 into O’Shaughnessy, who was by now breathing down Moore’s neck just five seconds off his second place.

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Brendan Doherty of host club VC Glendale was just one of a dedicated team to put on a great race and still had enough in the tank for 11th on the day (Photo: Toby Watson)

And while Kinning continued to gain on everyone in the field over the remaining three laps, O’Shaughnessy overtook Moore on lap 5 when he put 14 seconds into him.

And that’s how it would remain to the finish.

In the race for 4th place, Sean O’Tuathail of Bray Wheelers was best, coming home just 19 seconds off Moore.

National U23 champion Matt Adair (XMTB McConvey Cycles) finished in 5th place another 1:27 down.

Aiden McDonald of Cuchulainn would take the vets’ prize when he finished in 8th place while team mate Johnny McCabe was first supervet.

Ray O'Shaughnessy looks happy enough with his 2nd spot after a testing contest (Photo: Toby Watson)

Emerging young gun Darnell Moore takes 3rd place in the colours of Caldwell Cycles; another podium during what has been a breakthrough campaign for him (Photo: Toby Watson)

Sunday, November 23rd: Ulster Cyclocross Series

Round 8: Falls Park, Belfast. Promoted by VC Glendale.

(There were 46 finishers, with 26 completing all seven laps)