Powerful Kenneally takes the laurels

Brian Kenneally was out on his own at the finish of the Waterford Crystal-sponsored Shay Elliott memorial race at Bray yesterday…

Brian Kenneally was out on his own at the finish of the Waterford Crystal-sponsored Shay Elliott memorial race at Bray yesterday. After a circuit of 68 miles in Co. Wicklow, Kenneally had almost three minutes to spare over his nearest challenger, David Peelo.

Kenneally got up to a leading group of 15 with Paddy Moriarty with 40 miles covered but then on the Glenmalure climb, at 45 miles, Kenneally showed his power as he forged ahead and although Peelo and Brendan Doherty looked like catching him he pulled away and went out of sight over the last 15 miles.

Derry McVeigh, Colm Bracken, Keith Bannon and Doherty were prominent in early breakaway attempts and eventually they were in a group of seven who went clear. They were joined at 35 miles by eight others, but Kenneally and Moriarty were first of the rest to catch up.

Peelo also bridged the gap across from the main group to the leaders, followed by Ray Clarke, Stephen O'Sullivan, Joe Fenelon and Paul Helion, however it was a whole new race when they reached Glenmalure as the lead group disintegrated.

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Doherty tried to match Kenneally's strength for a while but then dropped back and was joined by Peelo. Kenneally was clear over the top and after the descent to Laragh Peelo and Doherty almost got up to Kenneally but the Carrick-Cidona man, who rides for Wicklow in the Ras next week, piled on the pressure and went stylishly away.

At the finish outside Bray's Town Hall, Peelo was 2:58 in arrears and Doherty's team-mate Brendan Graham went past him near the finish to take third place at 3:57.

Shay Elliott memorial race (68 miles at Bray): 1, B Kenneally (Carrick-Cidona) 2:53:51; 2, D Peelo (Sorrento) at 2:58; 3, B Graham (Glendale) 3:57; 4, B Doherty (Glendale) 3:58; 5, R Clarke (Clarke's) 4:01; 6, T Hogan (Dungarvan) 4:08; 7, J Fenelon (Morrissey's) 4:10; 8, A Heddermman (Morrissey's) 4:12; 9, S O'Sullivan (Bray) 4:13: 10, P Moriarty (Les Jeunes) 4:14.

Ciaran Power was third in the top British event yesterday, the Lincoln Grand Prix. On the cobbled finishing stretch a Latvian, Saulrus Ruskis, riding with French team Okus MBK, sprinted ahead from John Tanner of Britain with Power next. Philip Cassidy finished in the main group, but Tommy Evand and Eddy O'Donoghue were eliminated following crashes and a puncture ended Michael Fitzgerald's bid.