Ballymena RC’s Eileen Burns has taken the victory in the Irish National Elite Women’s time-trial ahead of Kelly Murphy (Team Ford Ecoboost) and Eve McCrystal (Garda CC).
Burns finished the 34-kilometre test which took the riders south from Johnstown Castle Estate to Kilmore Quay on the south Wexford coast in a time of 49’16” edging out Murphy by 13″ with last year’s silver medallist McCrystal a further 30″ down.
After finishing just outside the medals last year, the time trial specialist enjoyed stepping on the top step of the podium.
“It was quite an enjoyable course, with a bit of everything. This year it was polar opposite to how I felt after last year’s race” said Burns in reference to last year’s race where she missed out on bronze by twenty six seconds.
“I hit rock bottom last year as it was a mechanical, so I’m overwhelmed with the win tonight. I had a plan with my coach and I tried to stick to it. It worked, so I’m happy.”
Elite Women
1 – Eileen Burns (Ballymena RC) 49:16.46
2 – Kelly Murphy (Team Ford Ecoboost) 49:29.59
3 – Eve McCrystal (Garda CC) 49:59.76
