Teenager Mulholland makes it two wins in a row in main event at Carn Classic, Maghera

Declan Mulholland has taken victory at the Carn Classic in Maghera, his second victory in as many weekends after winning the Clann Eireann Cup last Monday, St Patrick's Day (Photo: Gavin Magowan)

Promising junior rider Declan Mulholland has taken his second victory in as many weeks, claiming the main event at the Carn Classic in Maghera yesterday, Sunday.

The first year junior and Clann Eireann rider was part of the A3 group given a three minute handicap over the A1-A2 scratch men in the 52 mile event promoted by Carn Wheelers.

While the A1 and A2 riders rode strongly after the A3s, the limit group was also organised and aggressive with the action up front characterised by a number of groups going clear but never managing to pull out the kind of gap that looked like it may win the race.

It looked like the scratch men would close down those ahead when after the first 14-mile circuit they had wiped out half off the deficit to those ahead.

But they would fail in their quest to mop up the A3s and as the race hurtled inside the five mile to go marker the front group was intact.

However, just after that and with only four miles remaining Ballymena’s CRC Simon Taggart put in a strong solo attack and began to open up what looked like a winning margin on his own.

Mulholland, who won the Clann Eireann Cup on St Patrick’s Day, sensed the win was riding away into the distance and attacked the A3 group to blast across to the lone leader.

The two riders approached the finish watching each other closely but knowing that the bunch was just back the road. However, they survived to the line, with Mulholland proving the strongest and taking victory from Taggart, with David Donaghy of Caldwell Cycles-Omagh in third on his own.

The contest for 4^th place came down to a bunch sprint, with Mark Millar (Velo Café Magasin) proving fastest ahead of Tommy Rafferty (Slane Cycles). Next was James Mullin (Roe Valley CC) in 6^th, with Gordon Scott (East Antrim Audi) 7^th and Paul Duffy of Northwest CC rounding out the prizes in 8th.

In the A4 race, the bunch was intact coming towards the finish though the head of it fragmented a little, with Gary McCullough (Team Madigan) coming home for a clear win ahead of Peter Morrison (Northern Dave Kane) and David Doherty (Foyle CC) rounding out the podium.

The next placings were much closer, with Padraig Dougan (Carn Wheelers) proving fastest for 4th ahead of Gareth Millar (Square Wheels), Paul Stenson (Team Madigan), Paul Crowe (Phoenix CC) and Phil McCoubrey (Roe Valley) and Dean Lochert (Carn Wheelers) equal 8th.