Juniors dominate as PJ Doogan wins Peter Bidwell Memorial

PJ Doogan Caldwell Cycles wins Peter Bidwell
A member of the Irish national team and winner of the Markievicz Cup already this season, PJ Doogan has taken another victory; this time in the Peter Bidwell Memorial.

Already with one win to his name this season and another international appearance; PJ Doogan had added another victory to his palmares.

The teenager, riding for Caldwell Cycles, was too fast for the rest of the field at the end of the Peter Bidwell Memorial.

On a night when the A1 riders never got back on terms with those ahead in the handicap race, junior Doogan won a tight bunch finish.

Starting in the A3 bunch, Doogan did his best to get clear with fellow junior international Aaron Doherty (NRPT-Chill Insurance).

However, they were well marked. And no breakaway would gain any real time on the eight laps of 6.7km in Donore.

Around halfway through the race the A2 group caught the A3s and the speed ramped up. However, the bunch remained intact as the finish approached.

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Very late in the race Cian Keogh (The Sports Room) and Conor McKenna (UCD-FitzCycles.ie) managed to get clear.

Coming into the final kilometre they were just off the front. Doogan was second wheel in the bunch as the two leaders were reabsorbed.

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When the only rider ahead of him ran out of gas and sat up, Doogan was forced to open the sprint early.

And while Doherty finished very fast and was closing him down as the line got closer, Doogan did enough to win.

He adds that victory to the Markievicz Cup win he claimed last month in Sligo.

PJ Doogan rode on the Irish team at Gent-Wevelgem in Belgium two weeks ago where a crash derailed his race.

But he and Doherty, not to mention Conor Halvey and Aaron Wade - who were 3rd and 4th this evening - should get more chances soon in an Irish jersey.

Sat, April 14: Peter Bidwell Memorial

Donore, Co Meath

Promoted by Drogheda Wheelers

  1. PJ Doogan Caldwell Cycles
  2. Aaron Doherty NRPT-Chill Insurance
  3. Conor Halvey NRPT-Chill Insurance
  4. Aaron Wade Lakeside Wheelers
  5. Cillian Whelan Dunboyne CC
  6. Eoghan McGee NRPT-Chill Insurance
  7. Liam Hanley Lucan CRC
  8. Colm Bracken Murphy Surveys Kilcullen

Unplaced A2

  1. Mícheál Fitzgerald Planet X
  2. Barry Hughes Drogheda Wheelers
  3. Conor McKenna UCD-Fitzcycles.ie

Unplaced A3 

  1. Sean Landers Stamullen RC
  2. John Priest Staggs CRC
  3. Michael Hovern Newry Wheelers

Unplaced Juniors 

  1. Conor Farrell Lakeside Wheelers
  2. Shane Higgins Sports Room Racing

Unplaced A4

  1. Ian Clarke Cuchulainn CC
  2. Andy O'Brien Drogheda Wheelers
  3. Martin Homes Scott Orwell
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