Third national title for McCann

Road race champion David McCann added a third national title to his CV when he won the national mile time trial championships in Castlebar on Saturday.

The CCC Mat professional stormed around the tough 25. 8 mile course in a time of 55 minutes 28 seconds, catching many of his rivals and beating silver and bronze medallists Paul Kane and Paul Healion by 3 minutes, 13 seconds and 3 minutes, 25 seconds respectively. McCann has now won a dozen championship medals on road and track.

'It was a hilly course, not a pure time trial course', said the Belfast man afterwards. 'I started one minute behind Paul Griffin and knew I was on good form when I caught him after 5 miles. It is great to win another title - I had nothing but seconds and thirds for years, but when I won the road race championship last year that got things going.'

McCann leaves today to meet up with his CCC Mat team in Italy, where he will dispute three days of racing before making his World Cup debut in the Grand Prix of Zurich next Sunday. After that, he plans to ride the Tour of Hokkaido and the Sun Tour with the Irish team and is also hoping to get the green light to compete in the world time trial championships in Portugal in October.

Meanwhile, Susan O'Mara followed up her second place in the women's road race in July by winning the time trial title in style.

The Team Letchworth rider was 38 seconds clear of Debbie Booth over the 21 mile course, with Sheila Rafferty a further 2 seconds back.

John O'Shea beat Nicolas Roche by half a minute to take the junior title, one week ahead of their national road championships, while Jim Cassidy also showed he was in promising form by winning the veterans event in 50 minutes 30 seconds.