Bann riders lead the way in season-opening tournament

Banbridge CC’s Mountain Bikers finished the Ulster XC Spring League exactly as they started – at the front.

The Spring League is seen as the prequel to the Ulster XC League which is due to commence this Sunday in Kilbroney Park, Rostrevor.

If the performances from the Spring League are anything to go by, Banbridge riders look set to dominate across the categories once again. In the Junior ladies event, Shannon Buller won the final race of three to win the league with a total of 80 points. James Curry, who has been showing some fantastic form both on and off road, won two of the three Junior men events to win the league with a total of 115 point.

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Finally, Banbridge CC’s man from Moneyslane, Gareth McKee, won the Elite Men’s category in similar fashion, claiming both the final round and overall Spring League title with 111 points.

Also in the mix were Simon Curry, who finished just outside the top five of the Elite Men, along with Nathan Sturrock and Joe Penny. Ruth Aiken also had a great ride, finishing on the podium in the final round and in fourth place overall in the league.

Banbridge were also represented in the youth races by Charley Dunlop, Stuart Dunlop and John Buller.

Promising Start to the Road Season

Banbridge CC’s road men have once again been in the thick of the action on only the second weekend of the Irish road racing season.

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Junior riders Cameron McIntyre and James Curry made it into an exclusive breakaway of a dozen riders at the John Moore Memorial, hosted by Castlereagh CC in Carryduff.

Mixing it with the in-form Elite category riders who have claimed victories in the opening races of the season both McIntyre and Curry were keen to show that their own form was worth note.

After a testing 88km, it was Curry who would narrowly miss out on a podium spot after once again showing his sprinting skills are hard to match – leading home what was left of a diminished chase group after three riders clipped clear in the closing miles.

McIntyre would hang on to finish just outside the top 10 and should be delighted with this performance in only his second weekend at this level.

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Banbridge CC was also represented by Dan Purdy and Nathan Sturrock who had the misfortune to come down in a collision, he was fit enough to bounce back the next day for the closing round of the MTB Spring League, however, so can add it to his growing bank of experience.