Lavery takes inaugural Ultimate Clothing GP at Corkagh Park

A1/A2 winner Lavery with Mick Lawless of promoting club South Dublin CC (Photo: Rebecca McGuinness)

Philip Lavery (Giordana-NODE4) has continued his winning run by taking the Ultimate Clothing GP at the first full race meeting in the purpose built Corkagh Park track in west Dublin today, Saturday.

The Dubliner won the Peter Bidwell Memorial in fine style near Drogheda last Saturday evening and captured victory much in the same way today; taking flight on his own early in the race and simply having too much speed for those behind to close him down.

Even by the midway point in the 45 minutes +3 laps event, he had enough of a lead to put the outcome beyond doubt. He probably could have lapped the field if he had put his foot to the floor in the closing stages.

Behind him Gary Gorman (Stamullen M Donnelly) beat Brian Aherne (Orwell Wheelers) for second place.

In the A3/A4 race Shane O’Donoghue (Waterford RC) pulled clear with Barry Griffin (Comeragh CC) and John Caffrey (Lucan CRC).

Caffrey had the misfortune to suffer a slow puncture late on, leaving the other two to battle it out for the win with O’Donoghue taking the two-up sprint.

In the underage racing – also promoted by South Dublin CC- there were wins for: U11 Emmet Gorman (Stamullen M Donnelly); U12 Ryan Whelan (U/A); U14 Adam Stanson (Lucan CRC); U16 Harry Brooks (Newbridge CC).

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James Lawless of Ultimate Clothing and South Dublin CC said the club was delighted with how the racing had gone, although he was disappointed that the turn out was low.

There were around 50 seniors for the two races today and less than 15 underage riders. The track is rumoured to be too tight to allow for fast flowing racing and that perhaps will mean it takes a while to become a popular venue.

However, Lawless said the riders he had spoken to today reported a very smooth and fast track on which there is little, if any, need for braking on corners.

“Everyone I spoke to seemed to think it was great. We have more races planned on it that are already in the calendar and we may also look at putting some on midweek, maybe Tuesday nights,” he said.

A1-A2

1st Philip Lavery (Giordana NODE4)
2nd Gary Gorman (Stamullen M Donnelly)
3rd Brian Ahern (Orwell Wheelers)
4th Fiacha O’Muire (DID Dunboyne)
5th Mark Gill (South Dublin CC)
Unplaced A2 Art McManus (South Dublin CC)

A3-A4

1st Shane O’Donoghue (Waterford RC)
2nd Barry Griffin (Comeragh CC)
3rd John Caffrey (Lucan CRC)
4th Graham Thomas (Lucan CRC)
5th Gareth Gormley (Rocky Mountain)
Unplaced A4 Brian McArdle (Orwell Wheelers)