Manxman Andy Roche, riding for the Monaghan club Emyvale, was the surprise winner of the 25 miles time trial championship promoted by Orwell Wheelers over a new course at Batterstown, Co Meath, on Saturday. Roche (27), winner of the FBD Milk Ras in 1997, was timed at 53 minutes and five seconds. This is over two minutes better than his previous best at the distance, recorded in 1996.

Brian Kenneally of Carrick-Cidona was second fastest in his first 25 TT. He was 37 seconds slower than Roche with John Grant (Banbridge) third in 55:11.

Road race champion Tommy Evans had to settle for fourth place but he led his Clarke's clubmates Ian Chivers and Paul Butler to the team title. David McCann, in his first race since an operation on his right knee in May, was fifth with the 50 miles champion Paddy Moriarty next.

Kenneally went one better yesterday when he won the Tour of Armagh at Lurgan. From the start of the 70 miles, Kenneally went ahead with Ian Chivers, Bill Moore and Colm Bracken and they quickly built up a lead of a minute and 45 seconds.

The advantage went out to three minutes but from Keady mountain and back through Armagh it was gradually whittled down and approaching Lurgan the fast moving main bunch had the leaders in sight. Swinging around the final corner Bracken was overhauled but Kenneally kept going strongly to win from Chivers with Moore third.

David McQuaid was best of the six-man Irish team in the European Under-23 championship yesterday at Lisbon. He was placed 46th. Paul Healion was the first casualty when a puncture ended his chance on the first of 11 laps of just over nine miles. Dermot Nally and Ross Blayney were then left trailing and although David O'Loughlin had set the fastest lap time of 23:18 the first time around, he also failed to recover from a puncture on lap six. Derek Finnegan kept going even though he was lapped near the end. There was a clean sweep of the medals by Italy as Michele Gobbi went clear on the last lap and won by 34 seconds in 4:17:14 from Luca Paolini with Fabio Bulgarelli another two seconds behind third.