McCurley in action at the recent Perth International GP (Photo: Tony Lendrum)
Shannon McCurley, the 19-year-old Australian based rider who has declared for Ireland, has been named on the Irish team for the UCI Track World Championships in Melbourne.
She joins experienced campaigners Martyn Irvine and Caroline Ryan in the three-rider team for the championships in Melbourne from April 4th to 8th.
Irvine is now at the business end of his bid to qualify for the omnium at the London Olympics. He is currently ranked seventh in the European standings and needs to be eight or higher to qualify a place for London.
The Melbourne Worlds, beginning next Wednesday, represent the last opportunity for riders to score points towards Olympic qualification. It means if Irvine holds his place in the EU standings after this meeting, he has booked his berth for London.
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He has won many fans in Ireland and further afield with the determined way he has battled his way up the rankings and stickybottle is among the many who would love to see him booking the coveted slot to London.
Caroline Ryan had been part of the Women’s Team Pursuit squad trying to get to London but they abandoned that effort some months ago. She has since put in the strong World Cup performances needed to qualify for the World Championships and is down to ride the individual pursuit and the points race in Melbourne.
McCurley, who has ridden for Ireland at a World Cup in the past, will ride the scratch race in Melbourne. She won a bronze medal in the scratch race at the U23 European Championships in Poland last July.
Irish team for UCI Track World Championships, Melbourne
- Martyn Irvine, Omnium
- Caroline Ryan, Individual Pursuit & Points Race
- Shannon McCurley, Scratch Race
Manager, Dermot Healy
Coach, Brian Nugent, Andy Sparks
Mechanic, Darren Spiteri
Soigneur, Cameron Walker
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