Podium Pete is second in Seskinore

Peter was the sole Banbridge rider to line up for six laps of the nine mile rolling course. Another handicapped event, the largest of the bunches containing A3 riders was set off first with a gap of three minutes over the A2 riders. The small bunch of A1 riders had an additional one minute handicap to contend with.

Working well together the A3 riders not only held their own but increased their advantage over the opening lap. Kick-starting their chase to the front of the race the A2 bunch started to work well together on the second lap and continued to close down the advantage held by the leading bunch of A3’s, while the A1’s did little to make an impression on the hard working groups ahead of them.

Much to the handicappers’ credit the two large bunches came together on the final lap leading to some aggressive riding in a bid for glory. The most successful of these moves belonged to Mark Brown of Phoenix CC who jumped clear approximately four miles from the finish.

Perhaps smelling the imminent danger Banbridge’s Lilley set off on a lone pursuit and managed to hold off the large chasing bunch while coming agonisingly close to catching the Phoenix rider. Paul Mulligan of EuroCycles led in the bunch to claim the third prize.

This fine result and the nature of the gutsy ride will come as welcome mental preparation for Peter as he looks forward to a relative ‘easy’ week ahead of next weekend’s Tour of Ulster where he will take on established riders including Malcolm Elliott (Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta Team); A former Commonwealth Games Road Race Champion in Brisbane, Australia in 1982, third in the 1987 edition of the Amstel Gold Race in Netherlands, stage winner in the 1989 Vuelta a Espana and points jersey winner; Steven Burke (Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta Team), bronze medallist in the 4000m Individual pursuit, in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China; Philip Lavery (Cycling Ulster - Slane Cycles), Winner of the 2010 P&O Tour of the North.

Also competing will be Banbridge CC member Roger Aiken who competes with the Planet X squad for 2010.