McKeown and Toland make light of downpour to take Dunloy spoils

Local knowledge and a strong late surge in the rain saw Chris McKeown of promoting club Dunloy CC take victory in the main event (Photo: Marian Lamb - Cycling Ulster)

The main event at the inaugural Dunloy races has been won by Chris McKeown of promoting club Dunloy CC in a sprint from a breakaway.

McKeown was among a six-man group that broken clear on the first lap of three 18-mile circuits in Co Antrim.

With the eventual winner pulling clear before the first passage of the climb at Millbrae on the opening circuit were juniors Cathal Clarke (Newry Wheelers), Aaron Swan (NRPT), Marc Heaney (Carn Wheelers).

Keith Philips (North Down) and Gerard McNally of Bann Valley Road Club joined them to make it six up front in the A3 and they were to stay away until the finish.

On the run in McKeown put his local knowledge, not to mention strong legs, to good use when he pulled clear of the others to take victory in the rain just ahead of the rest of the breakaway me.

The A3 race starts to splinter in the early stages before the weather closed in (Photo: Marian Lamb - Cycling Ulster)

And in the drag up to the line with was Heaney who proved too strong for the others, taking 2nd place from Clarke.

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Swan was 4th followed by Philips and McNally. Best of the non breakaway me in 7th place was Stephen Geary of Phoenix CC.

He came in just ahead of a depleted peloton with Damien Lagan of Inishowen Wheelers rounding out the placings on the day in 8th.

The A4 race came down to a group sprint after two laps of the same course, with Michael Toland of Phoenix CC winning from Jeff Baines of Castlereagh CC and the promoting club’s James Dempsey.