Paddy Clarke takes Connacht Champs from Charles Prendergast after strong ride

Paddy Clarke took the Connacht Championships in Co Sligo today to make it three wins in two weeks (Photo: www.blackumbrellaphotography.com)

By Brian Canty

Paddy Clarke’s superb form shows no sign of abating as the Castlebar CC rider totally blitzed the field in yesterday’s Connacht Cycling Championships in Collooney, Co Sligo.

Clarke finished a whopping eight minutes ahead of the chase group of Charlie Prendergast (Polygon Sweet Nice) and David Brennan (Castlebar CC), with the bunch a further seven minutes behind.

The win adds to the former Belgian-based rider’s impressive palmares this season where he has taken wins in the Claremorris Crit and the Markievicz Cup as well as fifth in Rás Clár, ninth in the Nationals last weekend and second in the Donomon GP.

Yesterday the 25-year-old was untouchable and from the drop of the flag he got away with former Irish international and Western Lakes CC rider Mark Quigley.

Quigley recently rode the An Post Rás but was no match for his compatriot yesterday and was soon dropped, as Clarke struck out on his own for the win.

The race was held over a 100 kilometre course and each lap of five had a nasty two-kilometre drag, where Clarke increased his lead every time.

The weather did little to motivate those behind into a chase and on such a tough circuit Clarke’s early move proved the winning of the race.

The A2 race- incorporated in the feature event of the day was won by Clarke’s brother Ciarán who beat Sean McInerney and Donal Kelly, both from Galway Bay. The A3 race was won by John Clery of Seven Springs.

Interestingly, the bronze medallist from that race was Enda Scanlon, a brother of former Tour de France rider Mark, who was there to support his younger sibling.