Aiken sets pace to beat Seymour

Cycling:As expected, the battle for the Irish cyclo cross championship came down to two riders in Tymon Park yesterday. Robin Seymour was aiming for his 16th title but, just as he did three years ago, Banbridge CC rider Roger Aiken vanquished the Wicklow man and took gold.

This time his victory was much more impressive than in 2005. Aiken set a furious pace from the drop of the flag and had already built a 10-second lead over his main rival by the end of the first of nine laps.

He then continued to pull clear as the race went on and, despite easing back on the final lap in order to enjoy his success, hit the line a comfortable 28 seconds ahead.

"The plan was to go from the start," he said. "I wanted to give it everything, not to finish with anything left in the tank.

"The plan this year was to do everything right (in the build-up to the race) - I wanted to win the championships again. Last year I wasn't that fussed, then the time before in Tymon Park (2006) I followed Robin about and it just wasn't a very good tactic."

A disappointed Seymour said he felt he was on an off-day. "It was just one of those days, it took a long time to get into it. It took me three or four laps to get going."

Joe McCall (K Capital Rocky Mountain) got the better of Seymour's Worc team-mate Philip Roche to take the bronze medal. Worc took the team prize.

In the other categories, Tarja Owens beat Sarah Piner (Lakeside) and Heather Boyd (Ravens) to win the women's title, Robert Lamont (XMTB) was best veteran and Liam McGreevey (Banbridge) dominated the junior contest.