Blayney wheels away with West Down GP win

This was held on the Katesbridge course and 61 riders from all over the country signed up for the start.

They started at Katesbridge Park via The Diamond, Co-op, Ballyroney and back to Katesbridge. A race of six laps, this is an up and down rolling course but as we near the end of the season all the riders should be fit enough to ride it.

The big bunch set off at 11 o’clock. The hilly part of the road from Katesbridge to the Diamond was always going to be the hardest as the race went on but most riders made it to the finish.

Attacks from Mark Kavanagh (Lakeland CC) and Mark Brown (Phoenix CC) were quickly reeled in and several riders tried to get away but to no avail.

West Down’s Mervyn Cantley tried his luck with a few other riders - they too were reeled back in.

The big group remained together throughout the race. On the last lap at Ballyroney West Down’s John Kernaghan and Ian Walker, along with one other rider, had pulled away from the big group but only gaining a lead of about 10 seconds which they held for a mile or two.

But coming down unto the Katesbridge straight they were all together and in the sprint to the line North Down’s Matt Blayney took the win from Anthony Doyle and Ballymena’s Mark McCullough third.

This was a very good race with warm sunshine and, thankfully, no accidents. Some riders who deserve a mention are West Down’s John Kernaghan who finished 10th, Dromara’s Gavin Magowan who was sixth, all the West Down, Dromara, and Banbridge riders who finished in the bunch, and not forgetting a good friend of the Wheelers’, Stevie Baines of East Antrin CC.

A big thank-you to everyone who acted as a marshall, Club President Derek for his role in the lead car, Mark for being the motorbike outrider, the St John’s Ambulance, the two Barbaras for serving the food, to club Chairman and open race secretary Billy Maxwell for the super job he did in organising the race and to the Brethern for use of the hall.

The West Down Wheelers would also like to thank the commissionaire for the day, Aarron Wallace of Banbridge CC for the very good job he did.

RESULT: Katesbridge GP: 1st, Matt Blayney, North Down CC; 2nd, Anthony Doyle; 3rd, Mark McCullough, Ballymena CC; 4th, Andrew Hedley, Bikeworks; 5th, Gavin Magowan, Dromara CC; 6th, Stephen McCallister, Ballymena. First West Down Wheeler, John Kernaghan. First A4, Dave Clarke, Madagan.