Seymour and Owens supreme

CYCLING: As expected, Robin Seymour and Tarja Owens yesterday added to their impressive list of national titles when they won the Elite men and women's races at the cross country mountainbike championships in Bray.

Italy-based Seymour was in dominant form on the Kilruddery circuit, taking his ninth consecutive title with ease and finishing over seven minutes clear of the next rider, Phil Cooper of the Britain.

Cooper, who had travelled to Ireland hoping to land some world-ranking points, started fast and briefly led on the first of six laps before being overhauled and quickly distanced by Seymour.

Twenty-six seconds clear by the end of the second lap, the gap had jumped to over four minutes by the start of lap five and continued to grow, with Glen Kinning closing up on a fatiguing Cooper.

The young XMTB rider looked set for second place but he then blew, tumbling down to an eventual sixth place and leaving team-mate Simon Loughlin to take the silver medal as second Irishman home.

Don Travers was fourth overall and landed bronze, while Kinning had the consolation prize of first under-23 rider. Lewis Ferguson was dominant in the junior race, finishing 12 minutes clear.

In the women's event, Owens' path to her eighth consecutive title was straightforward, but the Switzerland-based cyclist ended the race disappointed with the lack of opposition. Chief rival Beth McCluskey was a non-starter due to a sprained wrist, leaving Jenny McAuley as Owens' sole competitor and one destined to drop out shortly after the start due to mechanical problems.

"I was going well out there," said a frustrated Owens afterwards, "but it is very disheartening not to have any competition in the race. Hopefully things will improve next season.

"The plan for me now is to build up towards the Europeans and the World Championships. I am aiming for the worlds in particular and hope to do a good ride."