That was despite a major surge by Martin Finnegan and Keith Amor, who was third.

"I haven't been to the Cookstown since 2005 when I won," said a sweat-rashed Farquhar.

"Last year I had a disagreement with the promoters and the year before I crashed.

"To be honest, I thought I would have problems today when I didn't get a good start.

"But after two laps I settled down and I knew then that a win was always possible.

"I was worried about Finnegan who came from the second group and who was in the lead for the first part of the race on time.

" I led on the roads but it was hard to judge who was the overall victor.

"I decided to keep my head down and go for the best position possible.

"I was delighted when I got the thumbs up to tell me that I was in the lead on time and after that it was plain sailing.

"Obviously the North-West 200 is uppermost in my mind, but it's really nice to win over my home track."

Gary Johnston, who was riding at Cookstown for the first time, said: " It's a tricky course and there aren't many places where you can pass.

"I was pretty happy to take fourth place and next week I'm going to the Isle of Man to ride round the circuit with my sponsor and get to know the pace better.

"Obviously the North-West 200 is uppermost on my mind but I have to be happy with today's placing.

" I was never going to beat Farquhar, Amor or Finnegan.

"After all, I'm just a newcomer."

Earlier in the day one the great riders in Irish road racing, Robert Dunlop, scored yet another 125cc win.

He came from the back of the group to lead on time and eventually score by 6.7sec.

Dunlop said: "I'm 46 years of age and you can't keep me down!

"I had trouble qualifying for a new bike and Mark Hanna from Antrim came to the rescue.

"I wasn't sure how well I would do but I was really pleased when I settled myself at the front of the field.

" I couldn't have asked for better."

Dunlop finished in front of his son Michael with Nigel Moore third.

Meanwhile, Scottish rider Keith Amor was escorted out of the winner's enclosure by the skirl of the pipes after scoring a record shattering victory in the 600cc class.

Amor led from start to finish to beat Ryan Farquhar.

He said afterwards: "I was smiling all the way.

"I saw at one time that Farquhar was close behind me because I heard the noise of his engine as I battled round the 10 laps.

"But it turned out he wasn't as close as I thought and then afterwards I was told I had smashed the absolute course record.

"That's unbelievable and I still have the race of the day to come.

"Last year I won the opening Super Bike race here, so you can say that Cookstown is a lucky place for me."

Open race: 1, R Farquhar; 2, M Finnegan; 3, K Amor; 4, G Johnson; 5, J Walsh; 6, M Sweeney.

125cc: 1, R Dunlop; 2, M Dunlop; 3, N Moore; 4, M Curtin; 5, A Neill; 6, M Young.

250cc-400: 1, M Dunlop; 2, D Burns; 3, A McFarland; 4, I Morrell; 5, I Linton; 6, B Davidson.