Mark Scanlon from Sligo, riding with the Ireland junior team, won the first three stages in the Eagle club's three-day race at Dunboyne. He has a lead of two minutes and 57 seconds going into today's final stage.

Scanlon was involved in all the breakaway attempts on Saturday's opening stage of 68 miles and eventually he went ahead on his own with 25 miles left and won by two minutes and 37 seconds with Len Corrigan (Dublin Wheelers) second and Greg McCambridge (Leinster) third.

In the time-trial over 2.6 miles yesterday morning, Scanlon was fastest in 5:37 with veteran David Woods next, 17 seconds slower and McCambridge clocked 5:57. This stretched Scanlon's lead to 2:57 over McCambridge with Woods third.

Then on the afternoon third stage over 63 miles, Scanlon proved best in the bunch sprint with Garrett McCullough (Newry) second and Oliver McQuaid (Emerald) third.