Rás form sees Duncan best Stewart again at 'Red Hand Trophy'

Fraser Duncan has taken a while to really catch fire this year but he proved his class today, winning the Red Hand Trophy from a high-quality field in Ballymena (Photo with thanks to Toby Watson)

By Brian Canty

Fraser Duncan won a four-up sprint to the line to retain the Ballymena Road Club-promoted Red Hand Trophy he won last year.

The Team ASEA man just about edged Daniel Stewart (Phoenix CC) and Craig McAuley (Roe Valley CC), with his teammate Ali Macaulay next best.

Being pipped for the win is a tough one for Stewart to take as he was runner-up to the same man last year.

He also put in a sterling ride out front today in an initial three-man break.

Also in that early move during the 110-kilometre race were Ali Macaulay (Team ASEA) and John Madden (Inspired Cycling).

The route, which took the riders as far as Ballycastle and along the coast road for some of the way, was never easy and on the hill of Carnlough the race really broke up.

But Craig McAuley (Roe Valley CC) and Team ASEA man Duncan, clearly going well after his An Post Rás exploits, bridged across and put the hammer down, dropping veteran rider Madden.

That left it four up ahead and they pressed on for home and were never seen again before the finish.

It was a star-studded field today with some really top riders present and leading in the bunch for fifth around 40 seconds back was Glenn Kinning (Kinning Cycles) – victorious last week at the Tommy Givan Memorial - ahead of David Watson (North Down CC).