McKenna triumphs in Donore as juniors shine and Lavery returns

Sean McKenna has taken another win, this time at the Peter Bidwell Memorial. But two junior riders put in a storming finish and the race saw the return of Philip Lavery (Photo: Joe Duffy)

Sean McKenna has stormed home again for yet another win, this time at the Peter Bidwell Memorial in Donore near Drogheda, Co Louth.

The Aquablue man and winner of Rás Mumhan over the Easter Bank Holiday Weekend was in action for the Irish U23 team at the Nations Cup in France midweek.

He finished 65th in La Cote Picarde exactly one minute off the winner; a very respectable result for a man with very limited international experience.

But any thoughts that he may use this evening's 51km handicapped race as a loosener for tomorrow's VisitNenagh.ie Classic in Co Tipperary were put to bed when he took off from the bunch on the final lap.

He broke clear solo and quickly pulled out a gap of around 30 seconds and impressively had the legs to keep it going to the line.

Aside for McKenna continuing his winning run, one welcome feature of this evening's contest was the presence of two junior riders rounding out the podium.

Philip Lavery, then riding for Node4-Giordana, winning the Peter Bidwell Memorial in 2012. He returned to competing this evening after a layoff and went on the attack (Photo: Gary McIlroy)

Declan Mulholland (DCM) won the bunch sprint for 2nd place with Dion McCarthy in 3rd, riding in the colours of Belgian team Zannate Lotto.

Not on the podium today but a man who has won this race solo from the front in the past, Philip Lavery made a welcome return to racing and put in a characteristically aggressive display.

Riding in the colours of South Dublin CC, he spent a lap off the front of the bunch with strongman Colm Cassidy (Aquablue).

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And while they were overhauled, it was a very good showing by Lavery, who was riding his first race of the season and who has not raced much for the last 12 months.

This evening’s contest saw the A4 riders off first, with a three minute advantage on the A3s. Then came the A1 and A2 group, a further 1:30 back.

All of the groups knuckled down to the task well, but it was all together around the halfway point.

And while Lavery and Cassidy took off with two circuits remaining and looked threatening, it was McKenna who delivered the decisive blow as he has done so many times this year.