Bryan McCrystal has claimed the opening stage, and first yellow jersey, of the Newry Three Day (Photo: Sean Rowe)
They say if you're good enough, you're old enough. But that adage always works in reverse, with riders like Bryan McCrystal and Paul Kennedy proving that age is just a number.
Both are now 45-years-old and, while they are not exactly old men - indeed far from it - they are enjoying great form this season.
Kennedy (Burren CC) has won an incredible 11 races since the campaign began while McCrystal, a former Leeds United goalkeeper, has now taken his first stage win and yellow jersey of the season.
The duo were among four riders off the front, and gaining 45 seconds on the bunch, on the opening stage at the Newry Three Day on Friday evening.
McCrystal got the verdict over Kennedy this time, after 1 hour and 20 minutes of racing, with Cathir Doyle (Carn Wheelers) and Ronan Killeen (Lucan CRC) in 3rd and 4th at two seconds.
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McCrystal's team mate, Alex Nardone, was 5th at 45 seconds, finishing alongside Neill Delahaye (Bellurgan Wheelers).
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Jamie Clarke (North Down CC) led in the first section of the peloton, for 7th, some 1:14 down on the winner.
McCrystal leads the points classification, as well as the GC, going into Saturday. Doyle has the climbers' jersey, having been first over the top of the cat 1 Greenan Road Climb.
Aaron Parks (Banbridge CC) won the first KOH prime at the end of the first lap on the Newry Circuit while the second KOH, at the end of lap 2, was taken by McCrystal from Doyle and Delahaye.
Aliyah Rafferty (DAS Hutchinson) leads the women's classification from Aine Doherty (Dan Morrissey Pissei). Carn Wheelers are top of the team classification and Gerard Craig (VC Glendale) leads the C3 classification.
July 3rd-5th | Newry Three Day
Newry, Co Down
Promoted by Newry Wheelers CC
- McCrystal, Bryan Bear Cycling 1h19m16s
- Kennedy, Paul Burren Cycling Club 1h19m16s
- Doyle, Cathir Carn Wheelers 1h19m18s @2s
- Killeen, Ronan Lucan Cycling Road Club 1h19m18s @ s/t
- Nardone, Alex Bear Cycling 1h20m01s @45s
- Delahaye, Neill Bellurgan Wheelers 1h20m01s @ s/t
- Clarke, Jamie North Down CC 1h20m30s @1m14s
- Parks, Aaron Banbridge CC 1h20m30s @ s/t
- Murray, Fintan Crossgar Cycling Club 1h20m30s @ s/t
- Craig, Gerard VC Glendale 1h20m30s @ s/t
- Trimble, Shane Newry Wheelers CC 1h20m30s @ s/t
- Leech, Kevin Drogheda Wheelers 1h20m30s @ s/t
- Hendley, Gavin Lucan Cycling Road Club 1h20m30s @ s/t
- Phillips, Jamie Velo Revolution / Speed Queen 1h20m30s @ s/t
- Howlett, Harry Halesowen Academy-Mapei 1h20m30s @ s/t
- Mannings, Luke Halesowen Academy-Mapei 1h20m30s @ s/t
- McEntee, Declan Emyvale CC 1h20m30s @ s/t
- Convery, Barry Newry Wheelers CC 1h20m30s @ s/t
- Taylor, Jonathan Carn Wheelers 1h20m30s @ s/t
- Daly, Niall Armagh City Cyclists 1h20m30s @ s/t
- Stewart, Callum Phoenix CC 1h20m30s @ s/t
- Mackle, Colum Armagh City Cyclists 1h20m30s @ s/t
- Watson, Aaron Powerhouse Sport 1h20m30s @ s/t
- Rafferty, Neil Armagh City Cyclists 1h20m30s @ s/t
- Alderdice, Geoff Dromore CC 1h20m30s @ s/t
- Clarke, Gavin Banbridge CC 1h20m30s @ s/t
- Knapcock, Patrick Inspired Cycling 1h20m30s @ s/t
- Shannon, Mark Burren Cycling Club 1h20m30s @ s/t
- Gribbon, Alastair Carn Wheelers 1h20m30s @ s/t
- O'Loughlin, Martin Panduit Carrick Wheelers 1h20m30s @ s/t
- Carroll, Brian Gaeltacht.cc 1h20m30s @ s/t
- McGrady, Mark Velo Cafe Magasin 1h20m30s @ s/t
- Black, Niall Phoenix CC 1h20m30s @ s/t
- Burke, Ryan Old Bleach Cycle Club 1h20m30s @ s/t
- McKee, Conal Phoenix CC 1h20m30s @ s/t
- Scullion, Michael Carn Wheelers 1h20m30s @ s/t
- Morrison, Peter Velo Cafe Magasin 1h20m30s @ s/t
- McCullagh, Jimjo Carn Wheelers 1h20m30s @ s/t
- McKinley, Drew Newry Wheelers CC 1h20m30s @ s/t
- Loughran, Rory Newry Wheelers CC 1h20m30s @ s/t
- Walsh, Courtney McConvey Cycles 1h20m30s @ s/t
- Ascroft, Dan Halesowen Academy-Mapei 1h20m30s @ s/t
- McKinley, Mark Newry Wheelers CC 1h20m30s @ s/t
- Rafferty, Aliyah Das Hutchinson 1h20m30s @ s/t
- Kelly, Conor VC Glendale 1h20m30s @ s/t
- McCullough, Gareth Un-Attached Ulster #2 1h20m30s @ s/t
- Ireland, Thomas Newry Wheelers CC 1h20m42s @1m26s
- Doherty, Aine Dan Morrissey Pissei Cycling Team 1h21m07s @1m51s
- Torrens-Spence, Simon Crossgar Cycling Club 1h21m07s @ s/t
- Harte, Luke McConvey Cycles 1h21m14s @1m58s
- Halliday, Duncan Un-Attached Ulster #1 1h21m14s @ s/t
- Daly, Daniel Un-Attached Ulster #1 1h21m55s @2m39s
- Franklin, Jamie VC Glendale 1h21m57s @2m41s
- McEntee, Gerard VC Glendale 1h21m57s @ s/t
- Smyth, Ronnie Dromara Cycling Club 1h21m57s @ s/t
- Allen, Elis Phoenix CC 1h21m57s @ s/t
- Shaw, Ryan Ballymena Road Club 1h21m57s @ s/t
- Dowling, Michael Athy Wheelers Cycling Club 1h21m57s @ s/t
- Greig, Will North Down CC 1h21m57s @ s/t
- McKnight, David Dromore CC 1h21m57s @ s/t
- Sharkey, Conor St Tiernans Cycling Club 1h21m57s @ s/t
- Hanna, Stephen Dromara Cycling Club 1h21m57s @ s/t
- Scott, Mark Phoenix CC 1h23m42s @4m26s
- Gordon, James Phoenix CC 1h23m42s @ s/t
- Daly, Caolan Armagh City Cyclists 1h23m42s @ s/t
- Bradley, Nigel Roe Valley CC 1h23m42s @ s/t
- Latimer, Ryan North Down CC 1h23m42s @ s/t
- Wylie, Anthony Dromara Cycling Club 1h23m42s @ s/t
- Ferguson, Paul North Down CC 1h23m52s @4m36s
- Campbell Grogan, Ross Lucan Cycling Road Club 1h25m33s @6m17s
- McKenna, Dara Emyvale CC 1h41m07s @21m51s
