Carrick Wheelers and Martin O’Loughlin recorded their second Senior 1 victory of the year when the Carrickbeg man won The Emyvale GP in Monaghan last weekend. This was O’Loughlin’s second impressive success this season as last month he won the Coombes Connor Memorial in Drogheda, which indicates the former National Veteran Champion is in top condition once again before next month’s Championships.
Early on the 100km event a group of seven riders broke away from the main field and quickly established a secure advantage. These included O’Loughlin (Carrick Wheelers), Mickey Murray (Clann Eireann), Desi Foley (Team Basso), Gary Cranston (East Antrim Audi), Conor McAllister (Slane Cycles),and Damian Shaw of Mullingar, who recently demolished all opposition to win the 2011 Kanturk 3 Day.
This group rode strongly for the next hour or so of racing, with the engine of Damien Shaw a strong driving force within the break-away.
Heading out on the last lap it was the winner of this year’s Des Hanlon Greg Swinand, who made his move in a bid to solo to victory. However, O’Loughlin immediately realised Swinand’s threat and jumped across the gap to the Usher rider, before the duo were joined by Mick Murray of Clann Eireann.
This trio came into the final kilometre together and the tactics of the uphill sprint were going to prove crucial.
In the final 150m it appeared to be between Swinand and Murray as both came into view of the finishing line first. But, it was the clever O’Loughlin who timed his final effort to perfection, sprinting past his break-away companions with a late charge to win the 2011 Emyvale GP with both arms raised!
2011 Emyvale Grand Prix
1. Martin O’Loughlin (Carrick Wheelers)
2. Micky Murray (Clann Eireann)
3. Greg Swinand (Usher IRC)
4. Gary Cranston (East Antrim)
5. Conor McAllister (Slane Cycles)
6. Damien Shaw (Mullingar)
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