2002 Tour Of Fermanagh - Evans Almighty!
TOF Stage 1 on Friday 16th August 2002
The Tour of Fermanagh which took place last weekend has rightly established itself as one of the premier 3-day club races in Ireland and much praise must go to the Lakeland Cycle Club and their sponsors, Enniskillen Credit Union, for staging another highly successful event.
Almost 50 riders from all over the province and neighbouring border counties assembled in Fermanagh to enjoy an excellent and exciting weekend's racing with the hosting Lakeland club featuring prominently.
Banbridge's Derek Evans overhauled local rider Kenny Boylan from Lakeland after stage 3 in a race that had seen 3 changes of leader in as many stages. He was to hold that lead to the end and Evans as overall winner congratulated the club and sponsorsas he accepted a richly deserved trophy from the race committee for the event.
Commending the club he particularly commented on the unique organisationalskills pertaining to the Lakeland club.
::: STAGE 1 :::
Fresh legs and bags of enthusiasm saw the field head off on a mad dash across the Lisbellaw and Derrylin countryside. Each club knew that an early lead was important in the opening stage and as such attacks came thick and fast but amazingly the entire field, but to a few men, stayed together until the finish line. As the race entered the final kilometre, riders jostled for positions near the front and some riders found themselves caught in bad positions. One rider's chain came off causing disruptions but Damien Donohoe broke clear and thrust himself over the line first with last year's winnerVincie McCarron from Omagh in second place.
Lakeland's Kenny Boylan took 3rd despite pulling his foot from his pedal yards from the line. David Dunlop and Eddie Carson followed split seconds later in 7th place as the field finished together with everyone getting the same time. Lakeland's David Flynn had an unfortunate time enduring problems with his machine and finishing after the main field.
Results
| Pos | Cyclist | Club | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Damien Donohoe | Unattached | 1:08:35 |
| 2 | Vincent McCarron | Omagh Wheelers | 1:08:36 |
| 3 | Kenny Boylan | LCC | 1:08:37 |
| ? | Michael Holland | N.Monaghan/Crannog Ireland | |
| ? | Henry Lynn | Bann Valley RC | |
| ? | Richard Jones | Fintona CC | |
| ? | Cahill McGreavy | Unattached | |
| ? | David Dunlop | LCC | |
| ? | Derek Evans | Banbridge | |
| ? | Kenny Dunlop | LCC | |
| ? | Patrick Withers | Fintona CC | |
| ? | Michael Clarke | Bann Valley RC | |
| ? | Paul Nugent | Bann Valley RC | |
| ? | Peter Jones | LCC | |
| ? | Michael Gallen | Omagh Wheelers | |
| ? | Wesley Foster | LCC | |
| ? | Declan McKenna | Emyvale CC |