Junior rider Ward targeting selection for 'Commonwealth' team
Adam Ward celebrates his win at the Des Hanlon Memorial in Carlow; the young Powerhouse Sport mad profiting from a selfless effort by his teammates at the end of the 120km race (Photo: Sean Rowe)
By Brian Canty
Adam Ward took the best win of his career on Sunday with a gun to tape victory in the Des Hanlon Memorial A3-Junior race.
He is now taking aim at the Gorey Three-Day over Easter as well as the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas later in the season.
Riding for Powerhouse Sport he was on Sunday in the early breakaway. It escaped in the opening kilometres and wasn’t seen again.
Three riders comprised that first break before more came up from behind to add firepower.
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The escape was given fresh impetus and, crucially, the right mix of riders who were all willing to cooperate.
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“I don't think anyone expected the move to stick,” said Ward.
“We realised we had a gap when the team cars came up and told us another group was coming across.
“Aaron Doherty was in that move and not long after Dillon Corkery came across bringing a few more bodies. And those two definitely put the pace into the break,” he added.
The three-lap, 120-kilometre event heated up on the third of those circuits when Ward’s teammates PJ Doogan and Liam Wilson as well as Luke Smith (NRPT) joined.
“Coming into the final lap I was starting to get it tight but I managed to hold onto the group over the climb and stay in on the descent.
“Luke Smith, PJ and Liam then joined with about 20k to go and the attacks started. But funnily enough, I could feel my legs coming back.
“I knew Luke was really strong so I made sure not to give him any ground and to just watch him like a hawk.
“Coming into the last kilometre there was a bit of cat and mouse. PJ was leading it into the last corner with me on his wheel and Luke sitting last wheel.
“I kicked super hard out of the corner and just held on for as long as I could.
"It was such a long sprint and I thought I went too early but thankfully I had managed to hold him off and get the hands in the air.
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