The day a local Banbridge CC lad steals the headlines in the Sean Mc Greevy memorial race (A3) at the "John Beggs Memorial Races 2019"...the story

Feature photo and some others as indicated of Sharon Mc Farland, with thanks, as I was stuck to the podium as MC

The Elite men’s race (A1-A2)

The Irish National Road series visit Dromore yesterday and was incorporated in the “Classic John Beggs” a race held since 1972 and now 2 short of the 50th edition in 2021. The A1-A2 race had a very strong field, only the lads on National duty in Alkmaar missing and already in the first lap some serious players got in the break wich 4 survived in the end.

**The first break of the Day….eventually winner Mark Dowling (Unattached Leinster) joined the break in the final laps and not been seen here in the photo**

A very demanding circuit with some serious climbs thrown in for good measure, and while a chase group was about 1minute 30 seconds away, the early leaders worked well together and fully controlled by the Dan Morrissey-Mig-Pactimo to keep the Caldwell boys at an arm’s length.

Cian May (Lucan RC) was very lively all day and nearly managed to reach the front group as at one moment he was only 35 seconds away, with Sean Moore of the Bioracer-DHL-Fr also having a go later in the race.

**Mark Dowling managed to get in the gap and win with an inch of Conor Hennebry while Darnell Moore take 3rd ahead of David Montgomery who took to the road this year in fashion** (Photo Sharon)

**The Men’s A1-A2 race**
1 Mark Dowling U/A Leinster
2 Conor Hennebry Team Dan Morrissey – McCarthy Insurance Group – Pactimo
3 Darnell Moore – Team Caldwell Cycles
4 Angus Fyffe Team – Caldwell Cycles
5 David Montgomery – U/A Ulster
6 James Curry Team Dan Morrissey – McCarthy Insurance Group – Pactimo
7 Jody Wright Phoenix CC
8 Darragh McCarter Donegal Bay CC
9 John Buller Team BioRacer DHL FR Services
10 Donal Shearer Phoenix CC
11 Cian May Lucan Cycling RC
12 Ronan McLaughlin Team Dan Morrissey – McCarthy Insurance Group – Pactimo
13 Craig McAuley Team Caldwell Cycles
14 Mark Potts U/A Ulster
15 Mark McGinley Four Masters CC
16 Michael McGlynn Omagh Wheelers CC
17 Edvins Silovs North Tipperary Wh
18 Conor Gallagher Team BioRacer DHL FR Services
19 Bryan Geary Panduit Carrick Wh
20 Drew McKinley Newry Wh
21 Henry O’Neill Newry Wh

The Women’s Race

**Para pilot world champ and ex Irish Champ Eve Mc Crystal driving the break in the second lap**

The girl’s race was very similar to the men’s as 8 girls went up the road in the first lap of 30 km and 3 dropped back in the final laps to leave 5 upfront, they worked well together, the finish hill made the results as Eve Mc Crystal saw her chance at the bottom of the hill with 500 meters to go, driven by a tailwind, winning in convincing style, a trademark Eve has shown at many occasions in the past, with Moira Claffey second and Katharine Smyth rounding off the podium, followed closely by the series leading woman Grace Young in 4th and keeping her jersey for another day. Yvonne Doran was a brilliant 5th and one of her best results so far

**Result women’s race**
1 Eve McCrystal Strata3 VeloRevolution
2 Moira Claffey UCD
3 Katharine Smyth Ballymena RC
4 Grace Young Strata3 VeloRevolution
5 Yvonne Doran Scott Orwell
6 Agnieszka Wozniak Strata3 VeloRevolution
7 Nessa Rochford DeRonde Van Cork
8 Eileen Burns Ballymena RC
(Photo Sharon)

The Pedro mc Bride story >> His last A3 race is a fact!! << The Sean Mc Greevy Memorial Cup

**Pedro Mc Bride (Banbridge CC) here seen upfront at the start and probably already a man with a plan**

**Early escapee’s been hauled back mid-race**

**The hero of the day …winning in front of his home crowd.**..Pedroooooo!! Mc Bride
I know Peter for a few years now, mostly from the CX races and the last few years racing on the road…Was beginning this year still an A4 rider and getting a few points here and there, till a few months ago he reached his goal and became an A3 rider…he worked on his weight and grafted in the bunches to get comfortable in this cat, and today he took his chance, went on the attack and realised nobody followed and he sort of “Time Trialled” to the finish, this to the delight of the crowd…Every dog has his day is a saying here…sure is Pedro…your hard work this year has paid off and so pleased for this gentleman.
(Photo Sharon)

**Results A3**
1 Peter McBride Banbridge CC
2 Kyle Wethers Dromore CC
3 Keith Larkin Navan Road Club
4 Gareth McFarland Square Wheels CC
5 Ciaran O’Sullivan Comeragh CC
6 Conor Farrell Lakeside Wheelers CC
7 Dermot O’Kane Bann Valley RC
8 Ronan Kennedy Banbridge CC
9 Brian McMorrow Yeats Country CC
10 Kevin Doherty Four Masters CC
11 Christopher Donald Team Madigan
12 Mark Kendall Banbridge CC
13 Michael Stack St Tiernans CC
14 Calum Orr North Down CC
15 Aidan Cunningham Cuchulainn CC
16 Ian McClure Northern CC
17 Colin Murtagh Island Wheelers
18 David Wright Phoenix CC
19 Barry Greer Kinning Cycles CC
20 Mark Johnston VC Iveagh
(Photo Sharon)

The A4 race support race

The winner Alan Heron all the way from Yeats Country CC Sligo got a solo win, something rare in the A4 section of the sport.
Results:
1 Alan Horan Yates Country CC
2 Ryan Crossey Dromore CC
3 Martin Early Island Wheelers CC
4 Nick Kennedy Dromore CC
5 Nial Murtagh Armagh Down CC
6 Ryan Henderson Clann Eireann
7 Darragh Smeaton McNally Swords CC
8 Andrew Porter Shimna Wheelers
9 James Dane VC Iveagh
10 Mark Stewart Banbridge CC
11 Robert Bowen St Tiernans CC
12 Paul McKeown Island Wheelers CC
13 Adam Woods St Tiernans CC
14 Chris Wheeler Team Madigan
15 Michael Clarke Shimna Wheelers
16 Eddie Molloy Big Ridge CC
17 Stephen Weir Square Wheels CC
18 John Irwin Cornerstone CC
(Photo Sharon)

And finally a well done to the promoter of the races Banbridge CC and Cycling Ireland with thanks to all the volunteers, the sponsors Turner Grain Engineering LTD & Boyles of Dromore and the support of Galibier and Environmental Fabrications LTD not forgetting the families Beggs & Mc Greevy. Also a big thank you to Banbridge for the donation towards the Belgian Project…it keeps us going and it was a pleasure to do the announcing of the race