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Last Updated: Jul 23rd, 2008 - 21:36:20 |
Curran Transport Portaferry 3 Day
By email to IrishCycling.com
Jul 23, 2008,
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This years Portaferry 3 Day Stage race has a new main sponsor, Dickie Curran of Curran Transport. The Bangor based haulage company is sponsoring the overall prize list and their substantial cash injection provides a welcome boost to the race in its eighth year.
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| Jim Gordon 'Active 4 life' Matthew Lappin Sales Assistant Bikeworks of Bangor, Michael Curran TransportManager Curran Transport, Kirk Sloan Ards CC and Bobby Magreechan Senior member of Ards Cycling Club. |
Bangor Cycle shop 'Bike Works', are backing the race again by sponsoring the opening stage in Kirkistown race track. The remaining three stages are covered by new sponsors, Bangor Garden Services (Liam Curran), 'Active 4 Life (Sports Therapy Clinic) Tony Hill and Jim Gordon, also 'A Slice of Heaven' spnsors the deserts for the teas at the prize presentation. The points competition is in memory of Brian Marshall.
The race begins on Friday 25th July with a 30 mile circuit race in Kirkistown. Saturday starts with a fifty mile road race on the Portaferry Lough Doo Road course (10.30 am start). In the afternoon riders face a two mile time trial which finishes at the top of the steep Windmill Hill in Portaferry. Stage four is a short but sharp road race covering six laps of the Mountain road course starting at 10.30am on Sunday morning. New headquarters for the race is the Portaferry Gaelic club (Saturday and Sunday) on the Ballyfounder Road just out of the town.
A full field is entered including visiting riders from England, Scotland and America. Eurocycles enter a strong team headed by Adam Armstrong and Ryan Connor who should feature in the results. Other strong men include Ushers's Peter Hawkins, Scott McDonald from Dublin (Winning Solutions) and Castlereaghs Glen Kinning. My Home.ie are sending Stephen O'Sullivan a former Tour of Ulster winner along with Adrain Hederman. The Ards CC team is lead by in form Kirk Sloan while North Down have entered Paul Ferguson and strong veteran Sam Craig.
Others who could shine include improving Phoenix road men Cathal Smyth and Fergus Rooney, Shaun Gray (Juiced Orchard) and Omaghs Paul Mulligan. David Brennan and Patrick Clarke will make the long journey from Castlebar in Co Mayo. Sarah Cramoysan from (Team Swift) in England is the only lady to take part. Sarah was 14th in the British ladies Road Race Championships this year.
Late news last minute entries from Martyn Irvine, Pezula and Sean Downey, Banbridge CC. Should also shake things up.
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