Glenn Kinning wins battle with Alan Bingham for Masters 40 crown at National Champs | Sticky Bottle

*Glenn Kinning has won the Masters 40 men's title at the National Cyclocross Championships in Co Louth today (Photo: Toby Watson)*

Glenn Kinning is the new Irish Masters 40 cyclocross champion after a fantastic battle with rival, and defending champion, Alan Bingham in Co Louth today. At the McCrystal Track in Jenkinstown, Kinning (Kinning Cycles) fought off a comeback from Bingham (Newry Wheelers) to take the title.

The gold and silver medal men, who went into the race as favourities, were chased by a trio of riders all battling hard for the bronze; Ronan O'Flynn (Orwell Wheelers), Mark Pinfield (Blarney Wheelers) and Barry Convery (Newry Wheelers)

It was a great race. Kinning set his stall out early, surging into an early lead on the opening lap of five. He established a gap of 13 seconds on that fist lap, though Bingham dismantled half that gap on the second lap, before catching Kinning on the third lap.

That set up a great contest over the remaining two laps; one that Kinnning won. On lap four he once again began to edge ahead of Bingham. And by the time Kinning took the bell for the final lap, there was 11 seconds of daylight between him and the defending champion, who was still powering away in pursuit.

While it was still too close to call, it looked like it was going to be Kinning's day, as proved to be the case. Behind him, Bingham - a great campaigner in the mud and on the road - did not throw in the towel. However, his efforts through that final lap only managed to control the gap, rather than close it. On that final passage of the circuit Kinning took another couple of seconds.

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On the line, the margin of victory was just 13 seconds; Kinning thrilled with his win and Bingham making sure of the silver in what is his last year in the Masters 40 category, which he has often made his own in recent seasons.

Behind the duo up front, it was Orwell's O'Flynn who prevailed in the battle for the bronze medal. He finished 2:20 down on new champion Kinning but was 30 seconds up on Pinfield, who claimed 4th.

Pinfield put up a good fight, especially on the penultimate lap when a closed a little on O'Flynn. But the Orwell man was too far ahead, and still had too much in the tank, to relinquish the bronze.

Convery was 5th, at 3:35, with Stephen McKenna (Omagh Wheelers) gaining ground as the race progressed and taking 6th place on the day, some 4:19 down on the winner.

More to come.