Creighton comes of age in Belfast, MacManus also impresses

Thomas Creighton caps a commanding performance by popping a victory wheelie (All photos by Toby Watson)

 

Thomas Creighton takes impressive win in Belfast

 

Having won the Irish junior crown last season, Thomas Creighton has since moved up to Espoir level and has now taken his first elite victory.

The McConvey Cycles man came of age at the VC Glendale-promoted fifth round of the Ulster Cyclocross Series in Belfast's Musgrave Park yesterday.

He had a minute to spare on team mate Graham Boyd after almost an hour in the saddle. And Lewis Ferguson was just over one minute further back, taking 3rd some 2:08 off Creighton.

Teenager Creighton proved very good value throughout the seven-lap contest. He rounded the first circuit a couple of seconds quicker than Ferguson, with Boyd right behind those two.

The eventual top three already had a gap on the rest after that opening circuit. And it was on the second loop that Creighton really began to press.

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He rounded the second lap some 14 seconds faster than fellow McConvey Cycles man Boyd.

And while Bike House CC rider Ferguson had started well in holding Creighton on the opening circuit, the daylight began to appear on the second lap.

 

Ciara MacManus wins the women's race and Sean McCourt takes victory in the men's B event.

 

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By the time the riders were going out onto the third lap, some 27 seconds separated Creighton in the lead and Ferguson in 3rd.

And that’s the way it stayed for the rest of the race, Creighton simply powering clear of the others and building his lead on every lap.

The emerging teenager was fastest on every lap and once he had established the early lead he looked very strong.

Christian Nachtigall of Phoenix CC came through to take 4th place while Masters national road race champion Des Woods was 5th for Newry Wheelers.

In the women’s contest Ciara MacManus once again showed her form; claiming a clear victory.

The Summit Mountain Biking rider scorched around each of the five laps to win by almost two minutes.

After the opening lap she had 14 seconds on her nearest challenger, Joanna Bula of Scott-EuroCycles.

And in third place was Rachel Irvine of The Bike House CC, at 24 seconds.

As was the case in the men’s race, the early leader got in front from the outset and she was never challenged.

She was quickest around every lap and built her lead all the way; with 1:58 in hand over Bula by the finish.

Rounding out the podium was Irvine at 2:43. Diane Wilson of Dromara CC was next and Gill Smith (Unattached) was 5th.

In the men’s B race, Sean McCourt took a popular win in the colours of the host club, VC Glendale. He was 15 seconds clear of Marek Pluciniczak of Portadown CC.

And in what was a close-run B race, Martin Harney of Phoenix CC was 3rd, just three seconds behind the runner-up.

 

Sun, Oct 21: Ulster Cyclocross Series

Round 5, Musgrave Park, Belfast

Promoted by VC Glendale

Men’s A Race

  1. Thomas CREIGHTON McConvey Cycles 55:20
  2. Graham BOYD McConvey Cycles 56:19
  3. Lewis FERGUSON The Bike House CC 57:28
  4. Christian NACHTIGALL Phoenix CC 58:04
  5. Des WOODS Newry Wheelers CC 58:19
  6. Barry KELLETT Dromara Cycling Club 58:25
  7. Lee HARVEY Unattached 58:42
  8. Ciaran DIXON McConvey Cycles 58:46
  9. Brendan DOHERTY VC Glendale 58:47
  10. Barry CONVERY Newry Wheelers CC 58:50
  11. Alan BINGHAM Newry Wheelers CC 59:05
  12. Jj CONWAY Harps CC 1:00:04
  13. Pearse O'HAGAN Inspired Cycling 1:00:17
  14. Donal WALSH AAA Cycling 1:00:18
  15. Jack FERGUSON Dromara Cycling Club 1:00:20
  16. Bob TALBOT Harps CC 1:00:25
  17. James MCCOURT Island Wheelers 1:00:49
  18. Paul-Antoine HAGAN Team Vision Racing 1:00:50
  19. Oisin DOHERTY Donegal Bay Cycling Club 1:00:58
  20. Andrew HICKS Newry Wheelers CC 1:01:05

 

Women’s Race

  1. Ciara MACMANUS Summit Mountain Biking 46:09
  2. Joanna BULA Scott Eurocycles.com 48:07
  3. Rachel IRVINE The Bike House CC 48:49
  4. Diane WILSON Dromara Cycling Club 49:27
  5. Gill SMITH Unattached 49:42
  6. Darcey HARKNESS (J) Carn Wheelers 50:42
  7. Julie REA Phoenix CC 51:15
  8. Janice HEPBURN Island Wheelers 51:56
  9. Roisin SKEFFINGTON Square Wheels 52:00
  10. Martina HAWKINS Dromara Cycling Club 53:26
  11. Alison MCMULLAN Unattached 55:09
  12. Ellie MCARDLE Square Wheels -1 lap
  13. Rachel MCBRIDE (J) Omagh Wheelers Cycling Club -1 lap
  14. Ruth MCKEE Banbridge CC -1 lap
  15. Caroline MARTINEZ Inspired Cycling -1 lap
  16. Andra HAMILTON Dromara Cycling Club -1 lap
  17. Fancea MCNALLY Square Wheels -1 lap
  18. Martina DILLON Square Wheels -1 lap

 

Men’s B Race

  1. Sean MCCOURT VC Glendale 53:24
  2. Marek PLUCINICZAK Portadown Cycling Club 53:39
  3. Martin HARNEY Phoenix CC 53:42
  4. Paul FERGUSON The Bike House CC 53:56
  5. Andy LAYHE Trail Demons CC 55:23
  6. William BOYD XMTB 55:34
  7. Matthew SINTON Portadown Cycling Club 55:56
  8. Marty HENDERSON Race WBR 55:59
  9. Sean MAGUIRE VC Glendale 56:00
  10. Edward KEARNEY Phoenix CC 56:14
  11. Lee SOMERVILLE Lakeland 56:19
  12. Colm WATSON VC Glendale 56:23
  13. Michael MCMULLAN Unattached 56:29
  14. Mark JOHNSTON V.C. Iveagh 56:32
  15. Mark MCCANN Harps CC 56:33
  16. Colin DEANE Unattached 56:36
  17. Mark IRVINE The Bike House CC 56:38
  18. Darren MCCANN Dromara Cycling Club 57:25
  19. Mark BARTLEY Unattached 57:36
  20. Neil ERVINE Apollo Cycling Team 57:46
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