The biggest field of the season, 153, lined up for the Jim McQuaid memorial race in the Phoenix Park yesterday morning, and at the end of 25 laps of the two-mile circuit Ray Clarke, in his national champion's jersey, won from Stephen O'Sullivan.
O'Sullivan was in an early breakaway group with Aidan Duff, Simon Whelan, David McQuaid, Mel Sutcliffe, Bill Moore and Ken Conlon, but they were caught, and with 11 laps to go O'Sullivan and Whelan were out in front again with Clarke, Philip Cassidy and Derry McVeigh.
With six laps left Clarke and O'Sullivan went on and quickly gained a lead of 25 seconds, which was increased to 45 seconds. Colm Bracken led a chasing group up to Cassidy, McVeigh and Whelan going out on the last lap, but up at the front Clarke and O'Sullivan pressed on.
O'Sullivan made one good attempt to leave Clarke but the move was quickly countered and they were together for the finish into a strong, cold wind. With O'Sullivan leading out they did not really sprint until inside the final 100 yards and Clarke, winner of a stage in the Tour of Rhodes in Greece three weeks ago, forged ahead and held on by a length.
Bracken was third at 34 seconds with Adrian Hedderman and McVeigh at 46 seconds, then Cassidy another 11 seconds adrift on a soft tyre.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)