Seth Dunwoody (16) wins main event at Annaclone GP, Banbridge | Sticky Bottle

*Seth Dunwoody has just moved up from the U16 ranks into the juniors by winning his first A1 race today at the Annaclone GP promoted by Banbridge CC (Photo: Toby Watson)*

Just a week after his impressive start to his junior career, with 11th at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne Juniors (1.1) in Belgium, Seth Dunwoody has won his first race of 2023 on the domestic scene. He lined out in the A1-A2-A3-Junior event at the Annaclone GP, promoted today by Bandbridge CC, and came away with a really impressive win.

The first-year junior took the verdict from fellow junior rider Travis Harkness (Scott Bright Motor Group) in the handicapped event. Mitchell McLaughlin (All human-VeloRevolution) took 3rd, from the scratch group, and is clearly hitting the new season in good form after riding for EvoPro Racing last year.

Indeed, McLaughlin rode a notable race today; the first of the A1s to get across to the A2 group and then doing the same to catch the A3-Juniors. However, the race some came together, with most of the A1s getting to the front.

Dunwoody, and eventual runner-up Harkness, were off in the limit group today in what was a six-lap main event. Not long after it began, Dunwoody attacked solo and spent most of the opening lap - some 12.7km - away on his own.

However, after failing to gain the kind of gap he hoped for, he then dropped back into the A3-Junior group, which cooperated very well. Riding strongly, with good juniors combining with the top A3s, they held off the chasing A2 and A1 groups for most of the race. On the final lap the A2 riders caught the leaders and a group of about twenty A1s soon followed.

After that regrouping, the final section of the race was characterised by all-out attacking, with riders like Gareth O'Neill (Unattached Ulster) and Matthew Teggart (AT85 Pro Cycling) active off the front. Also in the thick of the action on the run-in were Dunwoody, Paul Wilkinson (Banbridge CC), Chris Richardson (Killinchy Cycling Club), Jamie Moss (Ballymena Road Club) and others.

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However, those moves initially came to nothing and though Teggart tried again on a climb as the finish neared, he was very heavily marked. He then punctured with about 5km to go, ending his efforts for the day.

As the finale unfolded, a group of four riders got clear and had a small gap with about 1km to go. Dunwoody then took the initiative and opted not to wait for a sprint. He attacked deep inside the final kilometre and got across to the four leaders with about 250m to go.

Once the catch was made he went again; this time in a final sprint to the line. He then held off the big bunch behind him to take victory from Harkness and McLaughlin.

Junior rider Darragh Doherty (Flanders Color Defever Team) was 4th with Christopher Donald (Spellman-Dublin Port) in 5th, junior Curtis Neill (Team Caldwell Cycles) 6th, Gareth O'Neill (PB Performance) 7th and Aaron Quinn (Four Masters C) in 8th. Junior national road race champion Oisin Ferrity (Caldwell Cycles) was 9th and Paul Wilkinson rounded out the top 10 for host club, Banbridge CC.

In the A4 race, JP Rice took a victory for Banbridge CC from Jonathan McManus (Dromore Cycling Club) and Paul Keary (Crossgar Cycling Club). Cameron McFarland (Team Caldwell) was 4th with Chris Wheeler (Team Madigan) 5th and Richard McCammon (Shelbourne-Orchard CC) rounding out the top six.