McCarter best after three-man fight in Fintona as Russell wins from front

Darragh McCarter is absolutely motoring on the cyclocross scene this year; the Spellman Dublin Port rider hoovering up the wins (Photo: Michael Buckley-VeloRevolution)

Darragh McCarter has continued his winning run on the cyclocross scene while Judith Russell also took another win today at the Ulster Cyclocross Series.

McCarter (Spellman Dublin Port) took two wins last weekend in Portadown and Bellurgan and was best again today in Ecclesville, Fintona. He was pressed all the way by both Darnell Moore (Caldwell Cycles) and Chris McGlinchey (Spectra Wiggle p/b Vitus).

In the end McCarter and Moore finished together; the winner getting the verdict over Moore by just one second. And while McGlinchey was a little further back, at 25 seconds, he lost most of that time on the final lap.

Moore got the better start, though only marginally, on the opening lap of seven. However, both McCarter and McGlinchey pegged him back and overtook Moore on the second lap.

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On the third circuit it was McGlinchey who was fastest; lapping in 7:27, some three seconds up on McCarter and 10 seconds faster than Moore. That left McGlinchey just one second ahead of McCarter going out onto the fourth lap, with Moore just over 10 seconds behind.

Judith Russell has won round 4 of the Ulster Cyclocross Series (File photo by Bryan Keane - Inpho)

Over the following three laps, MCarter and McGlinchey couldn't be separated, with Moore catching them making for a three-up battle over the final circuit of the course.

In the end it was McCarter who just got ahead, taking victory by one second from Moore, with McGlinchey rounding out the podium some 25 seconds down on the winner.

Alan Bingham (Newry Wheelers) was the first Masters rider home in 4th place, at 1:47; the first of nine Masters men in the top 15. Best junior was Oisin Ferrity; the Island Wheelers rider putting in a great ride to place 6th of the 38-rider field.

The women's race was a much straighter affair; eventual winner Judith Russell (Phoenix CC) getting ahead from the gun and not looking back.

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She put 13 seconds into very promising Orwell Wheeler Katie Reilly on the opening lap; the teenager impressing in her first weeks at junior level having raced at U16 on the road this year.

Helen McParland (Phoenix CC) was in 3rd place, some 51 seconds down on the lone leader, and her team mate, after the opening lap.

From that point on, Russell continued to build her lead over young Reilly, who began to be pegged back a little by McParland as the race progressed.

On the line, after five laps and 48 minutes of racing, Russell won by 2:40 from Reilly.

And while McParland closed up on Reilly a little, her early losses to the younger rider proved too much. Reilly finished 40 seconds ahead of McParland in the battle to settled 2nd and 3rd.

Sun, Nov 7th: Ulster Cyclocross Series

Round 4: Ecclesville, Fintona

Promoted by Omagh Wheelers

Elite Men’s Race

  1. Darragh MCCARTER Spellman-Dublin Port 52:53
  2. Darnell MOORE Team Caldwell Cycles 52:54
  3. Christopher MCGLINCHEY Spectra Wiggle p/b Vitus 53:18
  4. Alan BINGHAM Newry Wheelers CC 54:40
  5. Glenn KINNING Kinning Cycles Cycling Club 57:08
  6. Oisin FERRITY Island Wheelers 57:34
  7. Barry KELLETT Dromara Cycling Club 57:54
  8. Barry CONVERY Newry Wheelers CC 58:11
  9. Des WOODS Newry Wheelers CC 58:21
  10. Graham BOYD McConvey Cycles 58:23
  11. Jason HENRY Inspired Cycling 59:22
  12. Drew MCKINLEY Newry Wheelers CC 1:00:37
  13. David O'NEILL Inspired Cycling 1:01:06
  14. Colm O'BYRNE IVCA Cycling Club 1:01:49
  15. John BOGUES Phoenix CC -1 lap

Elite Women’s Race

  1. Judith RUSSELL Phoenix CC 48:12
  2. Katie REILLY Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club 50:52
  3. Helen MCPARLAND Phoenix CC 51:12
  4. Heather FOLEY Yeats Country Cycling Club 51:51
  5. Martina HAWKINS Dromara Cycling Club 52:49
  6. Sasha GANNON Breffni Wheelers 53:20
  7. Caroline MARTINEZ Chain Reaction Cycles 55:48
  8. Elizabeth QUIGLEY Foyle CC -1 lap

Men’s B Race

  1. Ivan REID Team Caldwell Cycles 45:58
  2. Mark MCCLURE Team Caldwell Cycles 46:26
  3. Edward KEARNEY Phoenix CC 46:31
  4. Christopher MCCANN Banbridge CC 46:33
  5. Daire NULTY Breffni Wheelers 46:39
  6. James WILSON Apollo Cycling Team 47:04
  7. Peter CAMPBELL Unattached 47:09
  8. Gavin THOMPSON Un-Attached Ulster 47:12
  9. Darren MCCANN Dromara Cycling Club 47:49
  10. Sean SCULLION Island Wheelers 47:54

U16 Boys Race

  1. Seth DUNWOODY Shelbourne/Orchard CC 31:23
  2. Conor MURPHY Rostrevor Mountain Bike Club 31:28
  3. Samuel COLEMAN Shelbourne/Orchard CC 32:11
  4. Daniel SCOTT Shelbourne/Orchard CC 33:34
  5. Harry HOBBS VC Glendale 34:33
  6. Cameron HENRY Inspired Cycling 35:05
  7. Peter QUIGLEY Foyle CC 35:14
  8. Eoghan MCKENNA Omagh Wheelers Cycling Club 37:45

U16 Girls Race

  1. Aine DOHERTY VC Glendale 37:05
  2. Lucy BROWN Phoenix CC -1 lap

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