Omagh rider claims Criterium title

The Mayor of Derry and Strabane District Council, Elisha McCallion, was present at the start in Foyle Street to wave the riders off onto the closed road circuit which provided a challenging course involving multiple ascents of Shipquay Street. The course then crossed the Diamond onto Ferryquay Street, going against the one-way system past the Millennium Forum and continued on to the Foyleside Roundabout before returning to the start again along a spectator lined Foyle Street.

Foyle’s ‘Sprocket Rockets’ were first up in the warm-up events and showed off some lovely skills in a fun race with delighted spectators and proud parents.

A support race of 20 minutes plus a final lap saw Belfast club, Phoenix C.C., dominate with Dale Walker streaking away from the field to win with something to spare.

Making the best of his recent relocation home, Foyle’s Thomas McLoughlin attacked hard up Shipquay Street and despite staying in contention with the leader for many of the laps, he finally gave way Phoenix duo, Darryl Northrup and Gavin Oakes, who completed a clean sweep on the podium for the Belfast based club.

Gavin O’Neill, the youngest competitor in the race at just 16-years old, rode strongly to finish well up the rankings and will no doubt be a future talent for the Foyle Club.

Riders on the main event faced potentially 15 exhausting laps but along every circuit, the riders were treated to roars of support from the gathered crowds with Fyffe taking command early on but being chased by an in-form Ronan McLaughlin from Muff.

Fresh from a successful showing in the An Post Rás and the Tour of Ulster, the Foyle man was in scintillating form and maintained second position for a number of laps before fading in the latter stages of the race and finishing a very creditable fifth.

Mark Dowling (DID Dunboyne) demoted last year’s winner, Darnell Moore, to third position on this occasion but Moore raced hard, keeping the pressure on the leaders throughout. Glenn Kinning came home fourth followed by Foyle’s McLaughlin.

The local club would like to thank its supporters, marshals and sponsors Claude’s Café, Lunns, Austins, Nandos and our major sponsors; SEAT, Sustran’s, Omega Plumbing, Chain Reaction Cycles, Total Cycling Pennyburn and The Coffee Shop