David Watson takes the Wallace Caldwell from Chris McGlinchey at the end of a fantastic 70 miles in Co Antrim. (Picture thanks to David McVeigh - The Belgian Project)
By Brian Canty
David Watson is the new Wallace Caldwell Memorial champion after winning a cracking race on Saturday in Ballymena, Co Antrim.
The North Down CC man had the width of a tyre to spare on Irish U23 international Christopher McGlinchey this afternoon with Craig Rea (Phoenix CC) rounding out the podium.
The race was the second round of the National Road Series which opened at Rás Luimní in Co Limerick last weekend.
The 120-kilometre affair was a cracking contest with a huge field turning out for what is arguably the biggest one-day race of the year in Ulster.
How close is that? Watson edges it by a whisker for one of his best ever wins as McGlinchey has to be content with second (Picture with thanks to Aaron Wallace)
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Team ASEA-Wheelworx came into it with huge ambitions as the defending champions through Bryan McCrystal and after filling five of the six spots on the results 12 months ago they were again hopeful of the win.
They wasted no time in getting down to business and helped contribute to a blistering start.
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Many groups tried to go clear in the early stages but it wasn’t until around the 30-kilometre mark that a move clipped away.
In that escape were James Ambrose (North Down CC), Sean Featherstone (Newry Wheelers), Ryan Reilly (Foyle), Aaron McGrady (VC Norwich), Gareth McKee (Banbridge CC) and Lindsay Watson (Plush MTB).
They managed to pull out a substantial advantage of 2:20 at one point before the chase really ramped up behind.
Following the accents of Cam Forest and the Springwell; Watson, McKee and Reilly pushed on ahead while the other three were absorbed by the bunch behind.
The three in front pressed on and maintained a gap of 1:30 over the top of the climb.
But they were caught with 20 kilometres to go as ASEA-Wheelworx and Caldwell Cycles hunted them down.
A reduced group came to the line to contest the gallop and it was Watson who timed it to perfection, edging McGlinchey.
It was Déjà vu for the North Down CC man as he won the final stage of last year’s Tour of the North on the same stretch of road; take the win narrowly with the yellow jersey on his back.
Sat, Mar 19th: Wallace Caldwell Memorial
Promoted by Ballymena RC
1 David Watson (North Down CC)
2 Christopher McGlinchey (Chainreaction)
3 Craig Rea (Phoenix CC)
4 Fraser Duncan (ASEA-Wheelworx)
5 David Hamilton (North Down CC)
6 Ronan McLaughlin (Foyle CC)
7 Mark Millar (Velo Café Magasin)
8 Adam Armstrong (ASEA Wheelworx)
9 Johnny Taylor (Carn Wheelers)
10 Cameron McIntyre (NRPT-Magnet.ie)
11 Peter Morrison (Velo Café Magasin)
12 Ryan Reilly (Foyle CC)
13 Connor Murphy (Caldwell Cycles)
14 Lindsay Watson (Plush MTB)
15 Mark Buchanan (Caldwell Cycles)
16 Craig McAuley (Caldwell Cycles)
17 Aaron Parks (CCT)
18 Niall Gorman (Phoenix CC)
19 Gareth McCullough (Newry Wheelers)
20 Fergus Rooney (Phoenix CC)
1st A2: Peter Morrison (Velo Café Magasin)
1st A3: Matthew Adair (Banbridge CC)
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