First round of Australian Pursuit held

A large turnout of 28 riders took to the starting line in Loughbrickland. The riders headed to Rathfriland and then onto the Banbridge road and towards the finish line opposite the creamery.

First off went the very young C. Weir, C. Hodgen, E Cantley, W. Lyons, A. Walker, P. Hanna. N. Doyle and J. McGuigan.

Five minutes later went G. Gray, N. Sudlow, M. Alexander, J. Kernaghan, I. Walker. S. Daly, D. Cartmill, S. Welby, B. McGrath, R. Mallon, M. Pyper, J. Adair, M. Cantley and a further four minutes the very strong scratch group left, consisting of M. Adair, P. Wilkinson, R. Smyth, D. Hanna, S. Baines, D. Weir, and D. McKnight.

All the groups started off well with everyone having to work hard in this very hilly course which was beginning to taking its toll on the front group as they arrived just outside Rathfriland with most of the riders finding the pace hard.

One young man in that group holding his own was a rider who impressed, it was young C. Weir who rode a very good race and is surely one for the future.

Group Two and the scratch were wasting no time; on the Banbridge Road the second group caught the leaders from the first group, A. Walker and E Cantly. G. Gray and S. Welby were the men who were driving them on.

The scratch were flying round and doing their utmost to catch them but with attacks coming thick and fast towards the finish it was M. Alexander who was the first Wheeler home with a much improved J. Adair in second.

J. Kernaghan was third, A. Walker fourth and I. Walker fifth.

Club Chairman Billy Maxwell said the groups are getting quicker every year and it’s not hard to know who has been training over the winter months. He added that it was a good turnout and due to work commitments especially as they were missing regulars P. McManus C. Adamson, P. Savage, P. McKinstry, R. Moffett, J. Cromie and K. Dawson. The club looks set for an even better season than last year.

Next week’s race is the first of the road races at Donacloney.

Australian Pursuit results: 1st, M. Alexander; 2nd, J. Adair; 3rd, J. Kernaghan; 4th, A. Walker; 5th, I. Walker. 1st on the night and outright winner was S Welby, Dromara CC.

On Thursday night six members of WDW went to the Dave Kane league on the Airport Road and recorded some fine times.

P. Wilkinson clocked a 22.21 which got him into a top 10 place; D. Cartmill, J. Kernaghan and M. Alexander finished in the 24's with M. Alexander the fastest of the three.

Peter Savage and Paul McManus have got their season off to a good start at the Barefoot Duathlon, Donegal. Peter finished in 15th place and Paul in 35th out of a strong field of 90 other competitors.