Patrick O'Brien, Diarmuid Collins and Michelle Geoghegan all scored top results on Sunday in one of the toughest single day events of the season, the Des Hanlon Memorial Races in Carlow.

O'Brien continued his hugely impressive start to the season with his second open race top six placing in three races as he finished second in the small group sprint for third place in the 60km A4 race.

Coming on the back of his second place finish in Newbridge last weekend and his near miss seventh place finish in the St Patrick's Day event in Dunboyne on Thursday, the former rock climber is now just a single point off his A3 upgrade.

Meanwhile, the tough course seemed ideal for Diarmuid Collins to deliver the placing that he has been threatening since the start of the year as he raced in for sixth place in the 100km A3 race, scoring Orwell's first A3 ranking points of the year in the process.

In the same race Michelle Geoghegan prevailed in the first round of the Centro-Trek Women’s Classic League, the Dutch based pocket rocket securing top points despite front derailleur problems that confined her to the small chainring throughout.

Des Hanlon Memorial, Carlow, 120kms

A1 / A2 Race, 120kms

1, Greg Swinand (Usher/Irish Road Club), 3hrs.46mins.28secs;
2, Peter Hawkins (Team Decock, Belgium); @ 2secs;
3, Sean Lacey (The Edge CC) same time);
4, Mark Dowling Team Dectek), @6secs;
5, Anthony Walsh (UCD) st;
6, Adam Armstrong (EuroCycles), 1.10;
7, Chris Robinson (Stamullen/M.Donnelly), st;
8, Edward Barry (Blarney CC), st.

A3 Race 100kms

1, Stephen Butler (Team DMG);
2, Chris O'Reilly (Bohermeen CC);
3, John Morgan (Blarney CC);
4, Laurent Dumoulin (Cork CC);
5, Stephen Clancy (Limerick CC);
6, Diarmuid Collins (Orwell Wheelers CC).

Centro-Trek Women's Classic League Race,100kms 

1, Michelle Geoghegan (Orwell Wheelers CC);
2, Geraldine Gill (Bohermeen CC);
3, Sarah Piner (Lakeside Wheelers CC).

A4 Race 60kms

1, John McCormack (Stagg Cycles/Lucan CC);
2, Brian Cullen (Barrow Wheelers CC);
3, Patrick O'Brien (Orwell Wheelers CC);
4, Patrick McCaffrey (Wexford Wheelers CC);
5, John Kelly (Dublin Wheelers CC);
6, Trevor Robinson (Comeragh CC).