Richardson, Ortiz and Francis prevail at Mickey Palmer TT in Westport

UCD rider Ian Richardson put his testing skills to good use today, Saturday, in Co Mayo by coming home fastest by well over two minutes in the Mickey Palmer TT Challenge in Westport.

Richardson clocked a very decent 48:44 for the 25 mile TT, taking 2:34 out of second placed rider Chris Troy (Castlebar CC), with David Brennan (Castlebar CC) a further 13 seconds in arrears.

It was a good ride by Richardson who has been to the fore in launching the recently concluded ‘Cycleways Inter Varsity League’ in Dublin.

Former Spanish pro rider Sara Ortiz (Black Rose Racing) was fastest woman today. She takes that win hot on the heels of her victory in Bohermeen on the road last Sunday in the first round of the “Stickybottle.com National Women’s League”.

In the U16 event today Joshua Francis (Kanturk) was fastest, a welcome confidence boost for the teenager ahead of his imminent departure with a team of schoolboys from Kanturk to ride the TRAC Tour stage race in South Africa.

There were 52 riders in today’s event run by Covey Wheelers