Patrick O'Loughlin best from eight-man breakaway at 'Collins Christle'

*Patrick O'Loughlin was in Belgium of late for a stint of racing and it has clearly topped off his form, with the Panduit Carrick Wheelers rider winning in Co Meath today (Photo: Martine Verfaillie)*

Irish U23 road and track international Patrick O'Loughlin (Panduit Carrick Wheelers) showed some strong late season form today when he took victory, from a big field, in the main event at the Collins Christle Memorial promoted by Navan Road Club.

The race was the second of the weekend promoted by the Meath club in Kilmessan, with O'Loughlin going head-to-head with some very strong riders in the final, but getting the better of them for victory.

The main event unfolded over six laps of a 13.5km course, through Kilmessan each time. With two laps to go, the decisive eight-man breakaway went clear, though the bunch continued to pursue them hard, meaning their advantage was only ever very small.

That gap stretched out to a maximum of about 30 seconds, though it came right down as the line approached and was back to about 10 seconds with 3km remaining. However, the breakaway men dug in to make it all the way, with O'Loughlin sprinting in to win from Luke Smith, the in form Moynalty CC man who has taken five wins this year.

Ronan Killeen (Lucan CRC), who was 3rd in yesterday's Beechmount Cup, also filled the final spot on the podium today, with John Buller (Team PB Performance) 4th, Cillian Murphy (Galway Bay) 5th and Sean Lenehan (Spellman Dublin Port) rounding out the top six.

Georgina Lancaster of Brother UK-Orientation Marketing Race Team was best woman, winning that category today from team mate Mia Smith, with Aoife Reilly (Orwell Wheelers) in 3rd. David Harrington (Orwell Wheelers) was best junior from Christopher Marshall (Molenspurters Meulebeke) and Jamie Moss (Ballymena RC).