Success for Bankhead and Brennan

Monday, August 24, 2015
James Curry (Banbridge) won Saturday’s West Down Grand Prix at Katesbridge after an impressive late attack to leave the race long break on Rathfriland Hill with four miles left to race. 
He won by 33 seconds from Kevin Lynch (Newry) with James Ambrose (North Down) third.
Ballymena Road Club – Chain Reaction Cycles – rider Matthew Brennan finished fifth. Matthew had been included in this breakaway group, which had gone clear on the first, of 6 laps, of the rolling 9 mile circuit. BRC’s Martin Ruddy finished seventh in the masters race.

A2 and A3 Race.
(1) James Curry (Banbridge) 
(2) Kevin Lynch (Newry Wheelers) 
(3) James Ambrose (North Down) 
(4) Paul Wilkinson (West Down Wheelers) 
(5) Matthew Brennan (Ballymena RC)

MASTERS 
(1) Brian Doherty (Bann Wheelers) 
(2) Neil McCartan (Powerhouse Sport) 
(3) Brian Reynolds (Lucan) 
(7) Martin Ruddy (Ballymena RC)

Bankhead wins at Lurgan
The Billy Stewart Cup and support races were hosted last Sunday by Apollo CT, Lurgan. The 60 miles race was held on a very flat circuit which was to favour the best sprinters.
The A2 group was unable to close their 3 minutes starting handicap as the A3 group at times reached speeds of 35mph on the very fast course and their well organised group riding kept the average speed high as well.

There were several breaks during the race but all were reeled in by the last lap and in the end it was down to the sprinters. Nathan Weir of Harps CC led out the uphill sprint and then Glen Dunwoody of Orchard came round the Harps junior rider only to have Ballymena Road Club’s Ryan Bankhead sprint past both of them to take the honours!

Former Ballymena RC member Sean Carey, who now rides for North Down, finished fourth.

A Race 
(1) Ryan Bankhead (Ballymena RC) 
(2) Glen Dunwoody (Orchard) 
(3) Nathan Weir (Harps) 
(4) Sean Carey (North Down) 
(5) Ed Boyle (Phoenix) 
(6) Chris McCann (Dig Deep)