Darren Rafferty and Linda Kelly have claimed the gold medals at the National Hill Climb Championships promoted today in Dungannon, Co Tyrone, by Island Wheelers CC.
Kelly (Spin the Bean Power by Coffee) today lived up to her favourites tag when she retained the title she won in Moycullen, Co Galway, last year during a breakthrough season for her.
Rafferty, riding for Continental team Hagens Berman Axeon this year but having started out with today's promoting club Island Wheelers, was today claiming his first Irish title at elite level.
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First-year U23 rider Rafferty rode the 2.25km climb, averaging 4.9 per cent, in a time of 4:12. That was 24 seconds faster than silver medal winner Gareth O'Neill (Caldwell Cycles) with Conor Kissane (Killarney CC) winning the bronze, some 21 seconds down on the winner.
In the elite women's title race, Kelly clocked a time of 5:24 on the 2.25km climb, which was 1:12 faster that silver medalist Hazel Smyth (Kinning Cycles) with Lauren Garvey (Armagh Down CC) claiming the bronze medal some 1:39 down on champion Kelly.
Lots more to come.
