Sport

Power sprints to Bray victory

CIARAN POWER, of the Comeragh club in Waterford, added the Shay Elliott Memorial Race to his list of successes yesterday

By JIM MCARDLE
Mon May 12 1997 - 01:00

CIARAN POWER, of the Comeragh club in Waterford, added the Shay Elliott Memorial Race to his list of successes yesterday. He rides with the Ireland team in the FBD Milk Ras next weekend.

At the end of the tough 78 mile course at Bray, Power beat Dermot Healy, of Sorrento, with Tommy Evans third, just ahead of David Peelo. Richie McAuley was fifth.

Karl Brannigan started a break away which had a big impact on the race when he forged ahead from the start. The Finglas Ravens' man was joined by 13 others and although he dropped back after Wicklow (17 miles), when the lead was a minute and 45 seconds, he made a significant contribution.

When the advantage came down to 45 seconds after Arklow, the leaders looked likely to be overhauled but they pulled away again after Woodenbridge. On the climb at Glenmalure, the groups disintegrated and several leading contenders were left struggling as Dermot Finnegan set the pace. Paddy Moriarty got past Finnegan to lead him over the top.

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On the drop to Laragh, Moriarty and Finnegan were joined by McAuley, Power, Healy, Evans, Peelo, Michael O'Donnell, David O'Loughlin, Michael Butler, Michael Smyth and Paul Griffin - Moriarty, Finnegan, Griffin, O'Donnell, Smyth and Butler were survivors from the early leading group.

With five miles to go, Power, Peelo, McAuley, Healy, Evans and Griffin went on from O'Donnell, O'Loughlin, Butler, Moriarty and Finnegan but Griffin could not cope with the pressure at the front and dropped back to the second group.

On the fast run down the Long Hill with just two miles remaining, Power and Healy surged away from Peelo and Evans, with another gap to McAuley. In the sprint to the line on the Dargle Road, Power had too much power for Healy.

Evans and Peelo were nine seconds behind, McAuley was 16 seconds down and O'Donnell led in a group at 43 seconds to take sixth place.

Raymond Clarke, Ian Chivers and Anthony Doyle, who were in the top three positions in the Classic League, were among those left trailing but Clarke still leads with 22 points as Peelo goes into second place on 19.