Dowling wraps up Leinster Three-Day with stage win in Batterstown

Dowling’s Dunboyne DID leading the field last night in Batterstown (Photo: David Ryan)

National Hill Climb Champion and newly crowned Leinster Road Race Champion, Mark Dowling (DID Dunboyne) has taken overall victory in the Leinster Three Day after winning the final stage in Batterstown last night, Wednesday.

Dowling was among a breakaway of around ten riders that went clear of the main group when the scratch riders closed the gap to the limit men at the halfway point last night.

With Dowling and team mate Tim O’Regan both equal second on the overall standings behind yellow jersey Jonathan Gibson (Unattached) going into the final stage, it was left to the men from DID Dunboyne to do most of the riding in the scratch group.

O’Regan and Dowling were aided by some very strong riding by Javan Nulty and Fiachra O’Muire in both the early portion of the race and in setting up Dowling for the win in the latter stages.

O’Muire in particular is enjoying some very good form and when the winning breakaway went clear it was he who rode hardest on the front to establish the lead for the group. He then rode hard in the closing miles to deter any attacks for Dowling and O’Regan.

In the gallop at the finish, Dowling picked the wheel of a strong sprinter in the shape of Orwell’s Brian Ahern. He then had the legs to come around Ahern to take the stage and wrap up the overall win.

National vets champion Joe Fenlon (Dan Morrissey-Speedy Spokes) was third, with Newry Three-Day winner Art MacManusa in fourth and taking third on GC. O’Regan was fifth, enough to take second in the overall standings for a good 1-2 by DID Dunboyne.

We’ll have an interesting interview with Mark Dowling a bit later.

Results: Leinster Three Day Stage 3 Batterstown

1st Mark Dowling - DID Dunboyne
2nd Brian Ahern - Orwell Dundrum
3rd Joe Fenlon - Dan Morrissey Speedy Spokes
4th Art Mac Manus - SDCC
5th Tim O'Regan - DID Dunboyne
6th Ciaran McKenna - Emerald
7th Geoff Sheehan - SDCC
8th Colm Robinson - Stamullen RC

1st Unplaced A2 - Neil O'Leary - Garda CC
2nd Unplaced A2 - Declan Brazil - Navan Road Club
1st Unplaced A3 - Ger Dunne - Clonard
2nd Unplaced A3 - Julies Dormer - Stagg Lucan
1st Unplaced A4 - Donal Daly - Garda CC
2nd Unplaced A4 - Lsking Or - Henry J Lyons
1st Unplaced Junior - Ciaran Campbell - Drogheda Wheelers
2nd Unplaced Junior - Paul Dargle - Stamullen RC

Final GC

1st Mark Dowling - DID Dunboyne
2nd Tim O'Regan - DID Dunboyne
3rd Art MacManus - South Dublin CC
3rd Ciaran McKenna - Emerald CC
5th Jonathan Gibson - Unattached
6th Will McCabe - Eurocycles

Any prizes that where not collected last night, can be collect from
Jimmy Stagg at Stagg Cycles Lucan.

All Photos are by David Ryan www.davidryanphotography.ie