Schoolboy Downey catches and passes A4 bunch & breakaway

Downey, left, leads the U16 breakaway from Taggart and Swan (Photo: Marian Lamb – Cycling Ulster)

Banbridge CC’s youth rider Mark Downey yesterday, Saturday, won the U16 race in Dromore after catching and passing the A4 bunch and breakaway and pressing on to the finish alone.

The impressive teenager was part of a four-rider breakaway that pulled clear of the rest of the field during the three lap event, which was run as part of the wider programme of youth and senior races on that day.

As well as Downey, that four-rider escape also included his Banbridge team mate Matt Taggart, Aaron Swan (TCR Racing) and Declan Mulholland (Clan Eireann). Just as they were about to start the last lap, it became clear the four schoolboys were starting to catch the bunch in the A4 event, which was being held on the same circuit.

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Downey decided to put the foot to the floor and not only caught the A4 bunch but also went in pursuit of the A4 breakaway on his own and caught them, before taking the win in the U16 event. Taggart was second in that with Swan in third – after a two-up sprint. Mulholland hung on for fourth.

In the U12 and U14 races there was similar drama.

The U12s only had 3.5 miles to race and went so fast from the gun that they caught the U14 riders who had set out ahead of them, for a much longer race of two laps of the circuit.

Brother and sister duo PJ and Ciara Doogan of Errigal CC were first and second in the U12 event, with Sheena McKiverigan (Banbridge CC) third. In the U14 race, Ciaran McFadden (Errigal CC) took the win ahead of Conor Boyle (Island Wheelers) and Conor McLaughlin (Newry Wheelers)