Banbridge Cycling Club and Banbridge CC rider Gareth McKee have both been nominated in this year’s Cycling Ireland Awards.
Following a fantastic year for the club Banbridge CC has been nominated for Club of Year. Both on and off road it’s riders have performed at the very highest level, and perhaps the highlight of the year for the club was having 2 riders represent Ireland at this this year’s World Mountain Bike Championships in Andora following a season competing and winning at both the British and Irish National Points Series races. That team was also managed by Banbridge CC member Simon Curry.
At the Irish National MTB Championships there were no less than 5 Banbridge CC riders standing on the top step and being awarded gold medals and named National Champions. This is believed the most National Champions awarded by any one club in a single event.
On the road Banbridge CC riders have regularly stepped up and claimed victories but with a strong focus on developing young riders it has been encouraging to see it’s riders develop and progress to International and National teams – in 2015 alone these including Mark Downey, Matthew Teggart, James Curry, Cameron McIntyre, John Buller and Shenna McKiverigan
Gareth McKee started his season off on the road, claiming victory on the opening stage of the Tour of the North at Easter where he would claim the first leader’s jersey of the race from Dutchman Thijs Nijvelct. He would go on to dominate the Irish MTB scene, claiming numerous wins at the Irish MTB National Points Series and becoming Irish Elite Champion in both the XC Olympic and Marathon National Championships. He would also compete at every round of the British NPS series where would finish on the podium at Cathkin Braes in Glasgow – the first Irish rider to podium on at a round of a British NPS.
The points collected at both the Britsh NPS Series and his National Championship victories would earn the Banbridge rider a place at the World Elite MTB XC Championships in Vallnord, Andora.
Please cast your vote in the awards by visiting the Cycling Ireland website HERE
