Emerging junior rider Curry triumphs against seniors in Down

A national champion off road, James Curry has demonstrated his all-round ability once again with victory in Co Down against senior opposition. Above, winning the Bobby Crilly Memorial atop Divis Mountain in June (Photo: Marian Lamb – Cycling Ulster)

Already the winner of a series of road races this season and the junior XC MTB title, James Curry was once again on the top step of the podium in Katesbridge at the end of the West Down GP on Saturday.

The Banbridge CC man showed once again that he is one of the best young climbers in the country when he rode away from the near race-long breakaway on Rathfriland Hill.

With just 4 miles remaining to the finish, Curry put his head down and put 33 seconds into the breakaway by the time he crossed the line for his latest victory.

The breakaway had gone clear on the first of six nine-mile circuits, with Rathfriland Hill only tackled once on the run in to the finish.

While the bunch came to within 20 seconds of the leaders on the penultimate lap, the gap shot out again on the final lap with the escape surviving to the finish.

Kevin Lynch of Newry Wheelers was next best of the breakaway men behind Curry, taking 2nd place just ahead of fellow escapees James Ambrose of North Down CC and Paul Wilkinson of West Down Wheelers.

Sat Aug 22nd: West Down GP

A2-A3 Race

1. James Curry - Banbridge CC
2 Kevin Lynch - Newry Wheelers
3 James Ambrose - North Down CC
4 Paul Wilkinson - West Down Wheelers
5 Matthew Brennan - Ballymena RC
6 Darren Lynas - West Down Wheelers
7 Shaun Carey - North Down CC
8 Adam Piper - Maryland Wheelers
9 Seán Anthony McCorry - VC Glendale
10 Alan Cambell - North West CC

A4 Race

1 Les Brown - Phoenix cc
2 Chris Birney - Sportactive
3 Graham Beckett - Dromara cc
4 Martin Bradley - North West cc
5 Nigel Bradley - North West cc
6 Davy Wright - Phoenix cc
7 Mark Kendal - Banbridge cc
8 Conor McGrane - VC Ballrothery
9 Adam Callaghan - Phoenix cc
10 Ian Weir - TVR

Women’s Race

1 Joanne Reegan - Termoneeny CC
2 Jane Millar - Bann Wheelers
3 Karen Hull - Phoenix CC
4 Alywnne Shannon – Newry Wheelers
6 Sandra Denne – Four Masters
7 Ashley Patterson – Lucan RC
8 Trudy Brown – VC Glendale
9 Lorraine Mulancey - Emyvale

Masters' Race

1 Brian Doherty - Bann Wheelers cc
2 Neil McCartan - Powerhouse Sport
3 Brian Reynolds - Lucan RC
4 Paul Kirk - North Down CC
5 Mike Barton - Dromara CC
6 Brendan McAllister - Glens CC
7 Martin Ruddy - Ballymena RC