Teenagers Rafferty and Harkness power to elite Ulster Champs wins

*Darren Rafferty takes victory in the senior race at the Ulster Cyclocross Championships, though Chris McGlinchey made him work hard all the way to the line (Photo: Toby Watson)*

Darren Rafferty and Darcy Harkness and won the elite men's and women's titles at the Ulster Cyclocross Championships in Portadown today.

Rafferty (18) has just come out of the junior ranks on the road this year, having enjoyed an incredible season and secure a place with Hagens Berman Axeon for 2022.

However, despite his youth and the fact he has only just returned to the cyclocross scene after enjoying a break following the road season, he still came out on top in the elite men's race today, promoted by VeloCity RC.

Rafferty went ahead in the first half of the seven-lap race and survived a strong challenge from Chris McGlinchey; the Spectra Wiggle p/b Vitus rider fighting back hard in the second half of the race.

While that effort from McGlinchey saw him close the gap somewhat on Rafferty, shaving 10 seconds off the teenager's lead on the final lap alone, Rafferty (Villeneuve Cycliste) ran out the winner by three seconds after a very strong performance.

Just 30 seconds after McGlinchey crossed the line for the silver medal came the Harvey brothers; Dean and Lee of VC Glendale. It was Dean, another stand-out junior on the road this year, who just about took the bronze, by a single second from Lee.

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In the women's race, Irish international cyclocross rider Darcy Harkness (VC Glendale) claimed the gold medal by 36 seconds from Judith Russell of Phoenix CC. Helen McParland, also Phoenix CC, took the bronze some 2:10 down on the 19-year-old winner.

In the five-lap event, Harkness threw down an early marker when she rounded the first lap just over a minute faster than Russell. And while Russell then dug in and pulled back some time on the third and fourth laps, Harkness ran out a comfortable winner in the end.

Russell, a Masters rider who has been on a prolific run of late, took the Masters gold medal today and the rider 3rd across the line, McParland, claimed the silver in the seniors race.

Caroline Martinez of ChainReaction, a winner in Connacht last weekend and enjoying her strongest season on the mud to date, was 4th across the line and she took the silver medal in the Masters category.
More to come.