Let us start with the silver queen of the boards Lara Gillespie (Scott-Orwell & Team Ireland)
This girl amazes me each time she gets on a bicycle, doesn’t matter if it is an off-road bike, a track bike or a road racing bike…she will each time go “full gas” and produce some stunning results…This time in Gent at the Eddy Merckx velodrome competing with the Ireland Track Team in the Europian Junior and Under 23 Champs 2019. Lara Gillespie took 3 silver medals!!
Next is Kevin Mc Cambridge ( NRPT-CHill) who was on National Duty in the Eurocycles Junior Tour of Ireland and showed why he was chosen for our summer racing in Belgium as a graduate
Kevin got second overall and could not have done it with the help of his teammates who battled with the strong American teams for overall victory…Kevin was 6 seconds down on the overall winner in the end of the 140+ entries in County Clare. fHe is now getting ready to travel to Belgium for a 4-week stint in the Flanders…Seeing his progress this year AND HIS HUNGER for more, this young Antrim lad could amaze us further in the future…have a safe and successful time in my homeland Kevin
Next is Nathan Keown (NDCC) who is a reserve graduate, and we managed to get him a 4-week guest riding adventure in Belgium, managed an 8th in the GC of the Junior Tour and holder of the Yellow in stage 5
Nathan has done very well over the 6 days, being in winning breaks at most of the stages and taking the yellow for a brief day, when he lost it on Saturday he switched his efforts to help his Irish national teammate Kevin who lay second trying to get the overall on the final day…He also is off to Belgium this week and will stay in the town of Tielt in West Flanders and guest riding for the schooling team http://www.wielerploeg-molenspurters.be our guest team for many years now in the Flanders
Next is Yeats Country nr 1 junior rider Matthew Devins who act as a domestique for the Irish National Junior team in the Eurocycles Junior Tour
One to watch next year, a very successful season and twice a call up for the national team, Matthew is doing more than fine, and will represent his beloved Yeats Country team in Belgium joining Kevin Mc Cambridge in Moorslede (Beitem) and staying with longtime guest parents Sabien and Rik for a 4 week kermesse attack
Not forgetting Aaron Wade (NRPT-Chill) and bursary holder who was active in Gent
Aaron Wade made the other reserve spot for 4 weeks Belgium but had to decline due to a National Training Camp in Spain later on this month with the track team..he got a lot of valuable experience gained in Gent at the Europeans and will take this on board knowing the lad… (Photo Philip Wade)
Another success story in the making with James Curry (Dan Morrissey-Mig-Pactimo)
James showed us why he was chosen this year…his consistency in our Elite racing and national series racing with many podiums and now leading the National Irish Series with a few more rounds to go. He was 4th yesterday in Mullingar and goes to the next round in his hometown Banbridge as the favourite in the Classic John Beggs…he is travelling to Belgium and joining Donal Shearer in Moorslede and staying with Martine Verfaillie our loyal guest mum of the project..so you can expect lots of photo’s and hopefully some top places in the next few weeks!! Photo courtesy of Toby Watson
Already in Belgium is Donal Shearer ( Phoenix CC- VZW De Molenspurters Meulenbeke)
Donal seeing here leading a group of chasers…he has already 3 races in his legs within 4 days and is getting the hang of it…I bet soon at the top end of the results, and also a graduate of the project in 2019
The last one to mention is our protected rider and bursary holder Marc Heaney (Asfra-Flanders)
Marc got the 13th place in the GP St-Niklaas an interclub UCI1.12 with many neo under 23 pro’s in a 140+ field!! The bronze medal holder of the Under 23 Nationals is just doing more than fine!
Photo Fotozone Armagh during the Nationals