The PJ Logan Memorial Cup 2021
What a great day it was for the organising club Island Wheelers…Local lad Darren Rafferty (TEAM 31 JOLLYCYCLES U19) shows his French team how good he is with beating the best of Northern Irelands Elite riders in a finger-licking sprint, even Sam Bennett would be proud of such performance for sure!! A handicap race that worked out well as in the last laps of a grueling and technical circuit, the usual hitters coming to the front, and a sprint uphill was on the cards. Darren remounting ex-pro Christopher Mc Glinschey (Spectra Wiggle-Vitus GB) and Matthew Teggart ( VC Villefranche Beaujolais) in style to take the prestigious silverware. At one moment during the last lap, he got away but the likes of Matt Teggart, Chris Mc Glinchey, and Craig McAuley (Team Caldwell Cycles) chased him back, also ex winner of the PJ Logan Lindsay Watson (Powerhouse Sport) got to this front-group but young Darren was not to be tamed and won in a style that reminds me of Freddy Maertens, who could dish out a punch in the last 30 meters and with deadly results!! Pat Logan and his sister Bernadette Donnelly had been invited to hand over the PJ Logan Trophy to the winner Darren, this to the joy of his dad, Gary Rafferty (Island Wheelers). Darren is also part of the Belgian Project selection 2020 that has been postponed till 2022 (see an earlier report of last week) and with such performances well on his way to receive a bursary next year.
Result PJ LoganA1-A2-A3 (incl Juniors)
1. Darren Rafferty Team 31 Jollycycles-Villeneuve Cyclists (U19)
2. Chris McGlinchey Spectra Wiggle GB
3. Matthew Teggart VC Villefranche Beaujolais FR
4. Lindsay Watson Powerhouse Sport
5. Fergus Callaghan Four Masters CC
6. Craig McAuley Team Caldwell Cycles
7. Nathan Keown Dan Morrissey-MIG-Pactimo (First A2)
8. James Curry Dan Morrissey-MIG-Pactimo
9. Alan Bingham Newry Wheelers
10. Gary Cranston East Antrim CC (First A3)
1st Unplaced Junior was Rowan Montgomery Ballymoney CC
The Eddie Polin Memorial Cup A4 & Women’s race
The race was scheduled for an early 9 am to avoid traffic and also to avoid a crowded race car park in line with the Covid-19 regulations. Between the finish of the race and the start of the main race, there was a gap so riders didn’t mix with each other. The same at the finish and it worked well that way, so well done Island Wheelers. The race himself had a few attacks but nothing stuck after 4 grueling laps and the bunch stayed together…A bunch sprint was on the menu won by an impressive Ryan Andrews (Unattached Ulster) from Belfast. He only started racing last year and has now already his first victory…I noticed him being very attend during the race up front, Ryan pounced on the right moment close to the finish…no one could get over him anymore and won it with a few bike lengths in the end…Soon be A3 the way he races!! Some of the ladies had no problems with staying in the bunch and young Darcey Harkness (VC Glendale) was the first woman over the line in the same time of the winner!!
Eddie Polin Cup (A4+women)
1. Ryan Andrews Unattached Ulster
2. William McFarland 3 Peaks CC
3. Niall Daly Square Wheelers
4. Conor Grimes Clann Eireann
5. Jonathan Hayes Portadown CC
6. John Ferrity Island Wheelers CC
Ladies Top 3 finishers
1st.Darcey Harkness VC Glendale
2nd. Maia Simmons Canyon Development Team Germany
3rd. Erin Creighton McConvey Cycles
