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Noel Taggert Memorial & Tommy Given Memorial

June 5-6, 2004

McCann dominates up north

By Shane Stokes

FBD Milk Rás winner David McCann continued his vein of excellent form when he dominated both yesterday's Noel Taggert Memorial Classic League event and Saturday's Tommy Given Memorial Road Race up North. McCann was two minutes behind a breakaway group with 22 miles remaining of yesterday's event, yet managed to bridge across and then forge clear alone. He reached the line eighteen seconds clear of Cycleways Lee Strand's Philip Finegan, with Denis Easton (Maryland Wheelers) and Conor Murphy (Crannog Ireland) third and fourth. His display in the previous day's event was equally impressive, McCann finishing one and a half minutes clear of Tommy Evans (Totalcycling.com).

McCann started Saturday's Tommy Given Memorial in the scratch group which was conceding three minutes to the 25 man limit squad. However, the firepower in the 40-strong scratch group was too much, this gap being closed after just nine miles.

Following the merge, a group of 13 went clear before the halfway point and opened up a minute's gap over the rest of the field. Evans attacked on the Comber Road on the fifth of seven laps but was reeled back in; Philip Cassidy (Cycleways Lee Strand) countered but was also hauled back, the Meathman sitting up and going back to the main field.

The pressure up front left just five riders, namely McCann, Evans, Easton, Murphy and Davy Gardiner (Apollo). Evans opened up a thirty second gap on the penultimate lap but was then closed up to by McCann, who stormed past and went on to finish 1 minute and 30 seconds clear.

Evans was reeled in by the other four but was still strong enough to take second place, with Easton, Gardiner and Murphy completing the top five. The bunch gallop for sixth went to Andy Flannery (Phoenix) from Jim McConnell (East Antrim-Audi).

The following day McCann completed a fine weekend double when he made a late charge to overhaul a dangerous break. He was two minutes down in the main bunch with 2 laps of the 11 mile circuit remaining but went clear, closed the gap and then forged clear of those up front.

Cycleways Lee Strand rider Philip Finnegan continued his good season by taking second place, proving quicker than Easton and Murphy in the gallop. This trio were eighteen seconds down on McCann, with fifth- placed Mark Quigley (Mayo Wheelers) a further nine seconds back. Brendan Graham (Total Cycling) and Willie Hamilton (East Antrim - Audi) finished almost four minutes back while Brian Stewart (Usher Irish Road Club) and Aaron Deane (Total Cycling) were nearly seven minutes down. Shaun Gray (Harps CC) took the bunch sprint for tenth 7 minutes and 35 seconds after McCann crossed the line.

Results

Noel Taggert Memorial
 
1 David McCann (Phoenix CC)                    
2 Philip Finegan (Cycleways Lee Strand)    0.18
3 Denis Easton (Maryland Wheelers)             
4 Conor Murphy (Crannog Ireland) both          
5 Mark Quigley (Mayo Wheelers)             0.27
6 Brendan Graham (Totalcycling.com)        3.50
7 Willie Hamilton (East Antrim - Audi)         
8 Brian Stewart (Usher IRC)                6.40
9 Aaron Deane (Totalcycling.com)               
10 Shaun Gray (Harps CC)
 
Tommy Givan Memorial Race
 
1 David McCann (Phoenix CC)                    
2 Tommy Evans (TotalCycling.com)               
3 Denis Easton (Maryland Wheelers)             
4 Davy Gardiner (Apollo CC)                    
5 Conor Murphy (Crannog Ireland)               
6 Andy Flannery (Phoenix CC)                   
 
1st Unplaced Vet: J. McConnell (East Antrim)
1st Unplaced 2nd cat: T. Walsh (Phoenix)
1st Unplaced 3rd cat: T. Boyle	(Slane Cycles)
1st woman: C. Harte (Bann Valley)
1st junior: W. Barr (Ballymena) 

Local results 2004

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