UCD's Richardson out front on his own and on his way to victory today (Photo: Amy Norah Farrell)
Ian Richardson (UCD CC) has put in something of a stunning performance in Stamullen in Co Meath this afternoon, Saturday; going clear on his own after just 2km in the Pat & Monie Nolan Memorial and staying out front for the whole race to take a memorable win.
“I went hard at the front of the A3 group in the first kilometre or two just to try and get it going, but when I looked back I had a lead of around 50 metres so I just went for it,” he told stickybottle.
Today’s win capped something of a life-changing period for the 24-year-old who only took up the bike three years ago to lose weight.
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He has since trimmed down from 17stone to his current 11stone 7lbs, having first taken up triathlon and only switched exclusively to cycling during last winter.
“I’ve always tried to work on my time trialling so I think that paid off for me today,” he said of his lone win on an undulating circuit with a climb on each lap.
“I caught the A4 bunch ahead of me after around two of the six laps and then I went through them. A few of them stayed with me for a while. When I was on my own again I think the biggest gap I had was just over a minute and then on the last few laps it was down to 40 seconds after the groups behind all caught each other.”
At the finish the UCD man still had around 30 seconds in hand before last weekend’s ‘An Post Gorey Three Day’ winner Daniel Kirwan (Lucan CRC) took second. Paddy Deegan (Eurocycles) was next home followed by yesterday’s Brendan Carroll Memorial winner Mark Dowling (DID Dunboyne) and Craig Sweetman (Stamullen M Donnelly).
The race was a handicapped event open to A1, A2, A3 and A4 riders; with each category off in their own separate groups
Richardson was off with the A3s and while the groups merged behind him and a breakaway got clear in the final two laps, his gap of 30 to 40 seconds during those final laps was enough to see him safely home for a memorable win.
The chase after him was very stop-start, with apparently only a small number of the stronger A1 and A2 riders willing to ride hard to close down the groups ahead of them.
When the groups all came together and a breakaway then got clear on the second last lap in pursuit of Richardson, that group did not work well together. All of that disorganisation played nicely into the hands of the leader, who used his power and TT skills to great effect.
Richardson’s win was a popular one among the local crowd, with his girlfriend Katie Nolan the granddaughter of Pat and Monie Nolan, in whose memory the race is held every year.
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Richardson receives the silverware from Paul Nolan; son of Pat & Monie Nolan
Pat & Monie Nolan Memorial, Stamullen
Senior Race
1 Ian Richardson, UCD
2 Daniel Kirwan, Lucan CC
3 Paddy Deegan, EuroCycles
4 Mark Dowling, DID Dunboyne
5 Craig Sweetman, Stamullen M Donnelly
6 Chris Reilly, Bohermeen CC
7 Danny Bruton, DID Dunboyne
8 Will McCabe, EuroCycles
Unplaced A2
1 Art McManus, Sth Dublin CC
2 John Kelly, Dublin Wheelers CC
3 Raymond Dunlop, Lakelands CC
Unplaced A3
1 Eoin Deegan, EuroCycles
2 Mike Millar, Phoenix CC
3 Rory Farrell, Lucan CC
Unplaced A4
1 David Dargle, Stamullen M Donnelly RC
2 Dermot Treleaven, Swords CC
3 Brian McArdle, Orwell CC
Junior
1 Sean Rigley, Sth Dublin CC
2 Robert Deegan, Murphy Surveys CC
3 Paul Dargle, Stamullen M Donnelly RC
Under 16
1 Fintan Ryan, Sorrento CC
2 Joshua Francis, Kanturk CC
3 James Mulligan, Newry CC
4 Robert Murphy, Newbridge CC
5 Aaron Donnelly, Newry Whlrs CC
6 Ryan Orr, Ballymena CC
Under 14
1 Dion McCarthy, Fermoy CC
2 Adam Stenson, Lucan CC
3 Timothy Kaye Mellor, Orwell CC
4 Conor McLoughlin, Newry Whlrs
5 Rachel Kaye Mellor, Orwell CC
6 Conor Hehir, Lucan CC
Under 12
1 P.S. Doogan, Errigal CC Donegal
2 Ciara Doogan, Errigal CC
3 Luke Coll, Stamullen M Donnelly
4 Liam Hanley, Navan RC
5 Jennifer Neenan, Usher IRC
6 Emmett Gorman, Stamullen M Donnelly
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