Newry 3 day – final stage – Crory wins another stage but Gray wins overall
Jake Gray (Nicholas Roche Performance Team) is the overall winner of the 2015 Newry 3 Day after finishing third in the final 73 miles stage in Newry today. The 17 year old also won all the other competitions within the race – the points, mountains and young rider jerseys.
This is an exceptional achievement as he competed in the race with no team support. It is the first time in the Newry 3 Day’s 28 year history that the son of a former winner has won as his father Shaun Gray took the title back in 2007.
Gary Crory (VC Glendale) won his second stage of the weekend from Newry veteran Des Woods and Gray with Phoenix CC’s Cathal Smyth forth and David McIntyre (Maryland Wheelers) fifth.
Curtis Gilmore (Team Madigan) won the bunch sprint for Sixth place, 26 seconds down. The race leader, John Heverin, finished in the bunch and dropped to third place, nine seconds behind Gray, in the final classification. Woods was second overall at just 1 second.
Cathal Smyth (Phoenix CC) had crossed to the break late in the stage on the 7 Bends Climb and his efforts moved him up three places to fourth overall at 13 seconds.
Crory did another super race having been in a driving force in the early breakaway and taking a sprint win at the stage finish again. He moved up five places to 5th overall while the 2013 winner Derek Cunningham (Bikeworx) dropped 4 places to 6th in the final standings. Newcomer David McIntyre (Maryland Wheelers) impressed with his strong riding in the time trial and the final stage breakaway to finish in 7th overall at 19 seconds. Banbridge CC junior Cameron McIntyre, Andrew Bye (Newry) and Mark McKinley (Newry) completed the top ten. TVR won the team competition with Heverin, Lindsay Watson (13th overall) and David McKnight (21st). Phoenix CC were second and Maryland Wheelers third.
A notable pair in the race were father and son, William and Patrick Rotheringham (Halesown AT Cycling Club) England. William is a leading author with his books including the Tom Simpson Story “Put Me Back on my Bike”. Patrick finished 46th with William not far behind in 51st.
The talent of young Gray was confirmed at the weekend and the performance of a rejuvenated Crory were equally exciting. Other riders such as Kevin Lynch (Newry Wheelers), Matthew Brennan (Ballymena RC) and Paul Wilkinson (West Down Wheelers) were on the attack a lot and helped to make a great race.
The overall promotion by Drew McKinley and the Newry Club was superb. Commissiares for the event were Aidan Higgins, Gary McIlroy, Jack Watson and trainee Tommy McKeague. They ensured a safe and fair race. Seamus Shortal and Frank Gibson took charge of the results and camera finish. Thanks and appreciation is extended to the PSNI motorbike team for the rolling road closure and to all who made the race possible. The tea at the finish was well appreciated and agreed by all that it was a great ‘spread’.
Report by Brendan Kirk
Photos by Bronagh Kirk
Posted by Martin Grimley (martin@ulsterxc.com)
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