Joe Christian of Bray Wheelers has followed up on some very good form in his comeback year last year with victory in today’s A3 race in Clonard, Co Meath.
The race very much followed the same pattern as the main A1/A2 event, with several riders trying and succeeding in getting up the road in periods of aggressive riding but ultimately being brought back by strong chasing in the bunch behind.
The field eventually arrived at the finish in Clonard, Co Meath, together where Christian got a good early jump in the charge to the line and had enough power in his legs to hold on.
After having returned to the sport last year, he took some good results including a win in the A4 race at the Lucan GP last March.
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He switched to Bray Wheelers from South East CC over the winter and appears to be going well and was one of the aggressors today. With around 5km remaining he put in a strong attack from the bunch, pulling clear on his own before being joined by Ian Tobin from St Tiernans CC.
The duo battled on together for around 3km but only ever managed to pull out a gap of 15 seconds. And in a repeat of the pattern seen throughout the race, the leading pair were caught.
After the escape was closed down with around 1km remaining, Christian managed to hold his place near the head of the group. Just before the bunch sprint was about to start, he jumped from around 10 riders back and got a gap on the others that was to prove big enough to take him to the line for a great win.
He beat Ciaran Campbell (Drogheda) into second place with Ciarán O’Connell (Stamullen M Donnelly) in third.
The talking point after the A3 race unfortunately centred around several crashes that littered the event. At this point it’s unclear how many riders came down and how severe the injuries are, but we understand at least one rider has a suspected broken collarbone.
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In the women’s category for the A3 race Ann Dalton took the prize, finishing well up in the group.
The last race off today was the A4 category event – with another large turnout. Again the group stayed together for the whole race, ending in a mass sprint for the line. Stephen Kerr from Deenside took the gallop edging out Derek Stenson (Lucan) with third place going to local rider Jacob Baldwin.
Race 2: (A3) 70km, in 1hr45m
1.Joe Christian - Bray Wheelers
2.Ciaran Campbell - Drogheda
3. Ciaran O'Connell - Stamullen
4. Ciaran Farrell - DID Dunboyne
5. Michael Devins - Eire Og
6. Lloyd Scott - DID Dunboyne
KOH: Alan Brosnan - Dublin wheelers
Unplaced Junior: Greg Arrigan (South Dublin CC)
Unplaced Vet: Leonard Carrigan (Dublin Wheelers)
Unplaced Woman: Ann Dalton (Orwell)
Race 3: (A4)
1. Stephen Kerr - Deenside Wheelers
2. Derek Stenson - Stagg Lucan
3. Jacob Baldwin - Clonard Road Club
4.Mick Finn - Barrow Wheelers
5.John Towhy - Orwell Wheelers
6.Melvin Bridgewater - Barrow Wheelers
KOH: Val Gargan (Cuchulainn)
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