Glenn Kinning may be the reigning Masters 40 national cyclocross champion, but he can still move on the tarmac, with clinical tactics to match (Photo: Eric Blayney)
Glenn Kinning, a former top A1 road rider who represented Ireland at the World Cyclocross Championships, took victory in the latest round of Kirkistown Series on the Kirkistown Race Circuit in Newtownards, Co Down.
The Masters 40 rider, now competing under his own colours of Kinning Cycles, took the initiative late in the contest and won the race after a text book finish while up the road but with a small group chasing his two-man group.
He left himself with a lot to do, only getting to the front of the handicapped race on the final lap, but making the most of his chance and keeping calm to make sure he went home with the victory.
Kinning and Marc Allen (AHC) went clear of a handful of chasers from an early breakaway deep into that final lap and looked set to battle it out for 1st and 2nd place, though it didn’t quite go that way.
Kinning forced Allen to take the front, and then attacked him on the finishing straight at the North Down CC promotion. And though Allen looked like he was good for the runner-up spot, Keith Hooks of North Down CC had other ideas.
He was in that group just a few seconds down and put in a really impressive finishing sprint to pass Allen and take 2nd place from him. Several riders Hooks was with in the chasing group almost caught Allen on the line but ran out of road.
After the top three – Kinning, Hooks and Allen – Stephan Hanna (Dublin Spellman Port) was best of the rest in 4th, with Chris Richardson (Killinchy CC); the top five all effectively finishing together.
The Northern CC duo of Ryan Kane and Paul Kane with 6th and 7th, with Lee Harvey (VC Glendale) 8th. Alex Bell (North Down CC) was 9th and James Alexander (Mc Convey Cycles) rounded out the top 10.
Thurs, June 14th | Kirkistown Series Round 2
By North Down CC-Fit Studio NI
Kirkistown Race Circuit in Newtownards
- Glenn Kinning Kinning Cycles
- Keith Hooks North Down CC
- Marc Allen AHC
- Stephan Hanna Dublin Spellman Port
- Chris Richardson Killinchy CC
- Ryan Kane Northern CC
- Paul Kane Northern CC
- Lee Harvey VC Glendale
- Alex Bell North Down CC
- James Alexander Mc Convey Cycles