Newry 3-Day

[Zako]

Dromara CC will be entering a team into the famous Newry Three Day which takes place this weekend.

The team:
Ronnie Smyth
Gavin Magowan
Anthony Quinn
Chris Magowan

Support crew:
Michael Mullan (driver)
Nathan Mullan (mechanic)
Zak Hanna (Team manager)

This year's race promises to be the toughest in years-here's the routes:

Stage 1 (Friday 28th June) 40 Mile Road Race- 3 full laps of Warrenpoint-Newry dual carriageway, then at Newry rounadabout on the 4th lap head towards Old Warrenpoint Road and then head up Grinan road before dropping back in warrenpoint for the finish at St.Marks.

Stage 2-(Saturday 29th June-morning) 2.3 mile time trial starting at the Hilltown carpark on the Rathriland road, finishing approx. 200 yards before T junction.

Stage 3-(Saturday 29th June-afternoon)-55 mile road race-Starting at Clonduff GAA club, the riders make their way onto the Hilltown circuit that was used in the Eddie Crory cup, completing three laps of the circuit before turning for Rostrevor where KOMs will be contested at the top of Reed Hall and Santas Cottage. The finish in Hilltown Main Street.

Stage 4-(Sunday 30th June)-72 mile road race-Race starts after a neutralised section to Carnbane Industrial Estate, completing the following route:
Newry – Poyntzpass – Gilford – Banbridge – Castlewellan-Kilcoo – Rathfriland –Newry – Mayobridge –Hilltown-Rathfriland- Newry (MOT centre finish)
There will be KOMs at the Horseshoe bend at Castlewellan, one at Rathriland, one at the Seven Bends at Hilltown then another KOM at Rathriland. The finish will be at Newry MOT Centre.

All the best to the lads.

Many thanks to Mourne Cycles in Newcastle for supplying the team with tubes, eneryg drinks/gels etc. Greatly appreciated.

We hope to see a big crowd of Dromara jerseys lined up along the route!

[barryvankellett]

Good luck men!

[colinr]

Looks very tough

Best of luck, guys

[peterbryson]

Good Luck team Dromara

[Zako]

With thanks to Brendan Monaghan, we now have Chain Reaction Cycles on board as sponsors of the team along with Mourne Cycles.

[garyg]

Best of luck to our Warriors ;D

[clydie]

Good luck guys, I'm sure the directeur will keep you in line!

[nathanmullan]

I am now racing thanks to chris getting me in ;D ;D

[clydie]

Good luck Nathan, won't take much rocking come Sunday evening!

[nathanmullan]

After a very fast first stage gavin finished in a good 2nd place. The team rode hard at the front all day closing down all the breaks. Tony was able to get in a break and managed to stay out for a lap and only being caught on the final climb. Great days racing role on tomorrow for another days racing

[michaelmullan]

A great nights riding by the boys gavin second and the team leading overall by 17 seconds lets hope that there's lots of support for them over the weekend

Sent from my GT-I9300 using proboards

[Zako]

Another good day for the team today.

In the time trial this morning all riders put in a brilliant effort but unfortunately Newry Wheelers pipped us to the top of the overall team standings by 6 seconds.

In the 55 mile road race Tony was away witha group for much of the race with the gap stretching to over a minute for a brave while. His group was reeled in and an attack went going up Elm Hall when 2 riders got away.
This break stayed away and Daniel Stewart won the stage.
Ronnie came in with the front group with Gavin and Tony following behind in the 2nd group, and Nathan and Chris came in not far behind.
Not sure how the overall GC is panning out but the team is well posotioned in the team and individual standings after some brilliant riding so far.

Tomorrow is a tough 72 mile stage. There are KOMs on the Horseshoe bend and at Rathriland, so hopefully we can see a big crowd of Dromara jerseys on the route to support the lads.

[michaelmullan]

A great days riding from the boys today gavin in the brake for most of the day before being reeled in a great finish from the team saw dromara take the win a brilliant weekend riding well done

Sent from my GT-I9300 using proboards

[Zako]

Brilliant weekend for the team at the Newry 3-day.
Started off todays final stage with Gavin getting away with a group of riders within the first 8 miles of racing staying away for 50+ miles before being reeled in before climbing into Rathriland for the second time.
The second time into Rathriland saw the bunch split to pieces with Ronnie, Tony and Gavin at the front with Nathan in middle. Chris was caught in a crash at Rathriland hill which sadly ended his race.
At the finish Ronnie sprinted ahead of his group with Tony just behind him. Gavin came in ahead of his group with Nathan not far behind

Dromara won the overall team prize by over a minute from North Down-Ronnie finished 11th 59 seconds off yellow.

Overall great weekend for the team. All the lads rode brilliant and Tony has to be commended for his consistent attacking-something which lead to the team being praised by various crowds.

Thanks to Michael for driving the team car-his ears will get a rest tonight

[nathanmullan]

Great riding all weekend from the boys. Very pleased with the result. Have to say a massive thanks to dad for being the team manager and looking after us with having shakes anol ready for us at the finish.

[barryvankellett]

super stuff guys!

[garybailie]

Great riding by the whole team, well done guys and the managers, you've done the club proud again.!

[kevinmcd]

great result for the team there .well done to all

[conorr]

Well done lads. Great effort. Did the club proud.

[Gavin]

Big thanks to the team for riding so hard all weekend and eventually taking the strongly contested team prize at the Newry 3 Day.....hard week end but we definitely made our mark on the race ...... Big thanks to Michael for driving the team car all weekend providing a great support and post race recovery shakes as soon as soon as we stopped and to our team manager Zak Hanna for keeping us in check all weekend .... all the photos he took ... the tweets ... the bars out of the car window and the constant update on GC and team standing many thanks guys a very strong 7 man team