Earlier the scratch race got under way with 38 starters.  It was not long before the first attack came.  Sean Wright (Ballymena Scotts RC) went clear only to be joined by Willie Hamilton, Jonathan Dempsey and Kieran McKenna.  Sean Wright who had his first race in many months felt the pressure and soon dropped back into the chasing bunch before retiring later in the race.  Dempsey, Hamilton and McKenna went on to build a good lead and were well clear for two full laps of the three.  They pushed the gap up to a maximum of 1 minute 4 seconds on the chasers as Jonathan Dempsey took both the KOH Primes on the Seven Sisters.  In the chasing group was Tommy Evans, Gary Crory (both Terry Dolan.com), Frazer Duncan (Northern CC Dave Kane), Maurice Ruddock (Phoenix CC), Shaun Gray (Orchard Whs), Tommy Wilson (Ballymena Scotts RC) and Kieran Downey (Apollo RT).  This group began to put the hammer down soon after the bell on the last 18.5-mile lap.  By Ballycarry Crossroad's the gap was down to 52 seconds and by Glynn a further 5-miles on, it was down to 22 seconds.  Real progress was made on the tough little Lizard climb when Tommy Evans tried to lose the in form Frazer Duncan but could not make it happen.  All the riders were feeling the pace and it was on the Seven Sisters for the last time with 5-mile remaining that things started to change quickly!  Kieran McKenna romped away to take a 20 second advantage on Gary Crory after Crory caught and passed Willie Hamilton, and then Jonathan Dempsey.  However Dempsey dug deep to pass Crory again and then Frazer Duncan charged up past them both in pursuit of McKenna.  All this movement caused major splits with Shaun Gray, Kieran Downy, Maurice Ruddock and Tommy Wilson losing ground.  Tommy Evans caught and passed Whillie Hamilton before reaching the fast decent to Kilroot.  On the decent the order was now McKenna, Duncan, Dempsey, Crory, Evans and Hamilton all in single file with around ten seconds between each one bar McKenna who was 30 seconds clear.

In the end Kieran McKenna had done enough to win the race in fine style with 39 seconds to spare as he crossed the Kilroot finish line.  Frazer Duncan just edged out Jonathan Dempsey for second place after Dempsey closed the gap in the last 200 metres.  Gary Crory soloed in to take 4th place at 1.04 behind.  Tommy Evans took 5th at 1.22 down and Willie Hamilton taking 6th place led in Ruddock 7th, Gray 8th, Wilson 9th and Downey 10th all at 1.32 behind.  Meanwhile Chris Roper from Islandmagee won the Tony Parnell Cup for being the first Madigan rider home. 

Everyone at the event today said they thoroughly enjoyed the racing!  Congratulations to Kieran McKenna and all the riders for a great race!  Many thanks to race sponsor Mr Ronnie McKeegan / Madigan Pro Bike Centre, and to everyone who helped with the event! 

Madigan GP. 55.5-miles scratch, Kilroot, Saturday 5th August 06.  38 Starters.

1 K McKenna (Ards CC) 2hrs 16mins 45secs; 2 F Duncan (Northern CC Dave Kane) @ 39secs; 3 J Dempsey (East Antrim - Audi) st; 4 G Crory (Terry Dolan.com) @ 1.04; 5 T Evans (Terry Dolan.com) @ 1.22; 6 W Hamilton (Terry Dolan.com) @ 1.32; 7 M Ruddock (Phoenix CC) st; 8 S Gray (Orchard Whs) st; 9 T Wilson (Ballymena Scotts RC) st; 10 K Downey (Apollo RT) st; 11 N McKenna (North Down CC); 12 R Bell (Dromara CC); 13 C Roper (Team Madigan) 14 M Graham (Island Whs) all @ 3.34 behind.  15 J McConnell (East Antrim - Audi); 16 D Clarke (Team Madigan); 17 D Wright (Phoenix CC); 18 C Lavery (Apollo RT) all @ 6.23 behind.  19 G Johnston (Team Madigan) @ 12.01; 20 S Williams (Orchard Whs); 21 J McAuley (Apollo RT) @ 12.41; 22 J Kyle (Team Madigan) @ 16.03; 23 G McDermott (Team Madigan) @ 20.11; 24 S Stockton (Team Madigan) @ 25.57; 25 C McCluskey (Team Madigan) @ 28.02

1st unplaced: 2nd Cat M Ruddock.  3rd Cat N McKenna.  4th Cat G Johnston.  Veteran S Gray.  Junior S Williams. 

Tony Purnell Cup C Roper.