Dowling lands bumper first prize at Noel Teggart Memorial

Mark Dowling has given himself the best possible send-off to international duty next weekend by winning the Noel Teggart Memorial from a really strong field this afternoon (Photo: Toby Watson)

By Brian Canty

Mark Dowling has claimed a win to rival what he did at the Des Hanlon Memorial back in March, soloing clear of a star-studded field in the Noel Teggart Memorial in Banbridge.

The DID Electrical Dunboyne man took the main event - and a cheque for £300 - from Lindsay Watson (Plush MTB), with UCD CC’s Eoin Morton rounding out the podium for third.

Dowling did it the hard way this afternoon after he missed the break and having to bridge across to escape group up the road.

That breakaway included Team ASEA duo Chris Reilly and Roger Aiken, Marcus Christie (Giant-Bissell-ABG), Eoin Morton (UCD CC) and a handful of others.

Dowling bridged by himself on the second last lap but knowing he would not win from a sprint he attacked and soloed clear, hanging out front for the rest of the race.

And when he crossed the finish line he had the guts of a minute on runner-up Watson with the remainder of the break coming in around two and a half minutes back.

The A3 race was won by John Higgins (Ballaghaderreen CC) from Josh Lawrence (North Down CC) and Glenn Dunwoody (Orchard Wheelers - Shelbourne Motors).

The A4 race went to Lorcan Healy (Unattached).