Ronnie McKeegan of Madigan Cycles presents Team Madigan Race Secretary Davy Ross with a £400 prize fund for the 17th Madigan Cycles Grand Prix at Kilroot on Saturday 6th August 2005.

Ward wins 2005 Madigan Grand Prix.

Crumlin cyclist Matthew Ward (Phoenix CC) just had enough power in a 3-up sprint to pip former Madigan G.P. winner - Lisburn’s Denis Easton (Maryland Whs) on the line to win his first Madigan Grand Prix at Kilroot, Co. Antrim last Saturday.  Glenarm’s Ben Morrow (East Antrim-Audi) faded close to the line and took third place in the Team Madigan Cycling Club promotion that was sponsored generously by Ronnie McKeegan of Madigan Cycles, Carrickfergus.

 The 29 starters mostly made up of 1st and 2^nd category riders were dispatched in one group.  Three laps of 18.5-miles lay ahead which took in three climbs – the Bla-Hole, the Lizard, and the Seven Sisters.  It was local man Chris Roper (Team Madigan) who launched the first attack early on near the Bla-Hole Whitehead.  Willie Hamilton (East Antrim-Audi) responded and the pair soon built up a 30 second lead.  Willie took the first Seven Sisters prime and the pair went onto their second lap at Kilroot with a narrow 9 seconds advantage from a hard chasing second group of 11, the bunch was trailing by almost 5-minutes.  On reaching the Bla-Hole for the second time it was all back together at the front of the race.  Attacks came swiftly and again Roper and Hamilton were involved, this time East Antrim’s Ben Morrow and Jonathan Dempsey got in the move along with Denis Easton, Martin Irvine (Ards CC), Matthew Ward and Fraser Duncan (Northern Dave Kane), however it was short lived and it was all back together again by Ballycarry Cross.

Approaching the second and final Seven Sisters prime it was Glen Kinning (Castlereagh CC) who broke away to take the prime with 9 riders chasing. The pace was high and Newry 3-day winner Stephen McKenna (East Antrim-Audi) was a casualty drooping out of the race along with Mark Greer (Maryland Whs).  Again it was back together at the front as Kinning was caught on the Beltoy decent to Kilroot.  It was not long into the third and final lap that Chris Roper dropped out with dead legs.  The front group then rode steady until they reached the Seven Sisters for the last time when it was Ben Morrow who attacked.  Denis Easton reacted first closing him down quickly, however on the steep section of the climb Matthew Ward powered across the gap and going over the top the three were away.  20 seconds was soon gained on the seven chasers when they reached the Beltoy decent for the last time.  At Kilroot it was to be Matthew Ward’s day, sprinting well he just had enough to edge out hot sprinter Denis Easton on the line to take a deserved win after working hard to cross the gap on the Seven Sisters!  Ben Morrow took a well deserved third place at 2 seconds behind.  Fraser Duncan led in the chasers for fourth spot, with Glen Kinning and Willie Hamilton taking fifth and sixth places respectively at 16 seconds behind.  The remnants of the bunch came in 10-minutes later.

The new Tony Purnell Cup which goes to the first Madigan rider in the Madigan Grand Prix went to Ballycarry's Gary McKeegan.

In promoting their 17^th Madigan Grand Prix, the Madigan Club wish to thank the local Carrickfergus Police and Traffic Wardens for their terrific support throughout the event.  Also thanks goes to Norman Houston and Carrickfergus Borough Council for providing suitable Race HQ facilities at Eden Playing Fields.  Special thanks goes to Ronnie McKeegan of Madigan Cycles for kindly sponsoring the event for the 17th time! and thanks to all those people who marshalled the course and drove lead cars, etc.    

Madigan Grand Prix 55.5-miles.

Result:

1 M Ward (Phoenix CC) 2hrs 13 mins 49 secs; 2 D Easton (Maryland Whs) same time; 3 B Morrow (East Antrim-Audi) at 2secs; 4 F Duncan (Northern Dave Kane); 5 G Kinning (Castlereagh CC); 6 W Hamilton (East Antrim-Audi); 7 M Irvine (Ards CC); 8 K O’Neill (Classic Walls); 9 J Dempsey (East Antrim-Audi); 10 O Jeffries (Northern Dave Kane) all at 10.07 behind.  1^st Unplaced 2^nd cat K O’Neill; 1^st unplaced 3^rd cat T Thompson (Northern Dave Kane); 1^st unplaced 4^th cat G Swann (Team Madigan); 1^st Madigan rider (Tony Purnell Cup) Gary McKeegan (Team Madigan).  Hill-top prime 1 W Hamilton; Hill-top prime 2 G Kinning.