With Video: An Post’s McLaughlin takes victory at John Beggs Memorial

Ronan McLaughlin took a great win in Dromore after another strong ride in Drogheda last weekend (Photo: Marian Lamb/Cycling Ulster)

Ronan McLaughlin of the Belgian-based An Post-Sean Kelly team put in a strong ride yesterday, Saturday, to emerge as the winner of the John Beggs Memorial in Dromore, Co Down.

The Donegal man was one of three riders from the Continental team to line out at the Banbridge CC event, with Sean Downey – a son of the promoting club – and Connor McConvey also home from Belgium for a period.

Teenager Matt Adair was the first to attack in the handicapped event, getting out of his group and staying away for the opening two laps of the 116km event.

However, while he opened a substantial gap and looked strong up front, when the A1/A2 riders had caught the A3s the pace increased hugely and Adair (Banbridge CC) was caught not long afterwards.

From that point the race took real shape, with the winning escape moving clear of the bunch after some splits in the main field.

It featured: McLaughlin and Downey as well as Roger Aiken (Banbridge CC), Chris Reilly (Bohermeen) and Leo McAllister (ChainReactionCycles-Vitus).

They powered on and opened a substantial gap on a group of around ten chasers that formed behind.

In the latter stages some aggressive riding by the two An Post riders up front paid off, with McLaughlin escaping to take a solo win.

His team mate Downey got the better of Aiken for second, leaving him on the closing drag.

Connor McConvey missed the day’s escape because of a mechanical but chased very hard after it and was fourth after riding everyone else off his wheel.

In the A4 event – the Sean McGreevy Memorial RR – Peter Stewart (Phoenix CC) proved the strongest of the small breakaway at the finish. He took the win ahead of team mate Paul Maguire, with Aaron McGrady (Dromara CC) in third.

Find video, results and more photos below.

Video of John Beggs Memorial (10 mins 27 secs in length)