Cycling Ireland's annual awards night takes place next month, with 14 riders nominated for the main prizes.
A total of seven women and seven men are shortlisted in the separate male and female rider of the year categories.
They are the riders who were selected this year as 'rider of the month' award winners.
The annual award winners are being voted for online by Cycling Ireland members, from the shortlists below.
If you’re a Cycling Ireland member you can cast your vote by following this link.
Best female rider 2019
Grace Young - Strata 3-VeloRevolution
Grace was nominated for the award based on her win in the opening round of the women's national series at the Des Hanlon. In a field full of quality riders, she won a bunch sprint to take the win in Carlow. Later in the year she was one of the riders selected to represent Ireland at the Kreiz Breizh Elites road race in France.
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Katharine Smyth - Ballymena Road Club
Katharine has been selected due to her performance at the
National Road Championships where she finished third in the elite race and also
claimed the Master's title. She rounded off an excellent season by becoming the
2019 National Road Series champion.
Lara Gillespie - Scott Orwell Wheelers
Lara had another busy and successful season racing across
a range of disciplines. She won the monthly award based on defending her elite
National Cyclocross Championships title. Lara also won bronze in the Individual
Pursuit at the UCI Junior Track World Championships and three silver medals at
the Junior European Championships.
Leah Maunsell - Team Ballyhoura
Leah has been nominated due to winning her first Enduro
World Series event in Portugal during May. Leah is recognised as one of the
best Enduro riders in the country and has consistently achieved outstanding
results both on the domestic racing scene and abroad.
Máire Claffey - UCD Cycling Club
Máire was selected for winning the women's race at the
Laragh Classic hosted by St. Tiernan’s Cycling Club. The event was part of the
National Series and finished at the top of the Wicklow Gap making it one of the
hardest events on the calendar. She also took two top 10 finishes in Rás na
mBan during September.
Mia Griffin - TC Racing
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Mia was nominated due to her win at the Donal Crowley
Memorial promoted by Blarney Cycling Club which is part of the Cycling Ireland
National Road Series. She is also part of the Irish team pursuit line-up who
set a new national record at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in
Poland earlier in the year.
Niamh McKiverigan - Scott Eurocycles.com
Niamh was nominated as a result of her win at the elite Irish National Cross-Country (XCO) Championships during July. Niamh has also won numerous other titles during the season including the Irish NPS Series, Ulster Series and Ulster Championships
Best male rider 2019
Ben Healy - Team Wiggins
Ben was nominated based on his overall win at the 2019
Kerry Group Rás Mumhan. As part of a five-man Irish team he prevailed in the
event which was held over Easter weekend in Co. Kerry. He has also taken other
strong results during the year most notably winning a stage at the Tour de l’Avenir
and 15th place at the under-23 world time trial championship.
Conor Hennebry - Dan Morrissey-MIG-Pactimo
Conor had an excellent month on the road in March. He won
two races including the first round of the National Series at the Des Hanlon
hosted by Carlow Road Club along with Rás Luimní. His consistent season
eventually led to numerous other wins and he emerged as the overall winner of
the National Road Series.
Darragh O'Mahony - CC Nogent-sur-Oise
Darragh produced a strong performance at the National
Championships in Derry where he won the U23 road race title and finished 5th
overall in the elite race. He was also part of the Cycling Ireland U23 team for
the Under 23 Nations Cup race in the Czech Republic earlier in the year.
Jacob Dickson - Rostrevor Mountain Bike Club
Jacob has been nominated as he won the Irish National
Downhill Championships during July. The event was hosted by Rostrevor MTB Club
at Kilbroney Forest Park. He has also been racing internationally this year in
the likes of Italy and Slovenia.
Mark Dowling - Unattached Leinster
Mark has been nominated as he won the John Beggs Memorial
during August. The event was hosted by Banbridge Cycling Club and is a part of
the National Road Series. Mark has had a consistent season including a very
strong performance at the National Championships in Derry.
Matthew Campbell - Ratoath BMX Club
Matthew was nominated for this award due to his
achievements while racing abroad at the beginning of the year. He took part in
the Winter BMX series in Manchester racing in the 17-19 age group and made the
final 4 out of 5 times, managing third place in two of those finals and taking
the overall title.
Paul Forristal - Scott Orwell Wheelers
Paul has had consistent results throughout the year and
especially during the month of May at the Shay Elliot and Kilmessan GP. He is
also part of the Paracycling squad as he is a tandem pilot with Damien Vereker
representing Ireland at the UCI Paracycling Road World Championship.
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