Successful weekend for local cyclists

Katie George Dunlevy and Eve McCrystal – winner’s of the female tandem gold medal

Dundalk cyclists had a successful weekend at the national championship held in Mullingar, picking up two gold medals.

First up in the men’s tandem time trial Bryan McCrystal and James Brown went quickest to claim the gold, while in the women’s tandem time trial Eve McCrystal and Katie George Dunleavy claimed the gold. Both of the McCrystal siblings have been involved in the Paralympic programme for some months now and are building towards the Olympics in Rio 2016.

Unfortunately a tragic road accident on Saturday morning saw the cancellation of the Vets and Women’s Road Race Championships on the Saturday. Here Eve would have been amongst the favourites to podium. While in the vets race, Cuchulainn had sent a strong team, spearheaded by the inform Alan Bingham would have hopefully been in the hunt for the team prize.

The men’s road race did go ahead on the Sunday and the field tackled a 171km race, where Ireland’s top professionals including Tour de France stage winner Dan Martin and former world track champion Martyn Irvine, lined up with the best domestic based riders. Early in the race Bryan McCrystal got himself into a break of eight riders that stayed away to the end. With 30km to go 19 year old Ryan Mullen rode away to a solo victory and claimed the national champions jersey. In the sprint for the remaining medals, McCrystal came agonisingly close to claiming a medal, but just missed out finishing in fourth place.

The latest round of the FPM Accountants Summer Cycling League saw the six groups race out to Greenore and back. A fast night of racing saw a small group of scratch riders catch all in front of them, with Alan Bingham taking the win ahead of Niall Clarke in second and Liam Dolan in third.

Katie appeals for support to help her and Dundalk rider Eve reach Paralympic Games

Eve McCrystal and Katie-George Dunlevy

Irish Paralympic cyclist  Katie-George Dunlevy is appealing for financial support to help her achieve her dream of qualifying and being a top medal contender at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio.

The visually impaired cyclists rides on the back of a tandem, with Dundalk woman Eve McCrystal her pilot.

Katie’s father hails from Mountcharles in Donegal and she competed in the London 2012 Paralympic Games, where she gained three fifth places and a seventh.

She is confident that she can get amongst the medals in Ro but admits that funding is tight.

“As a UK-based athlete, my funding from the Irish Sports Council doesn’t go far. I have to pay for flights to and from Ireland, my own bikes, specialist equipment and maintenance. I also have to pay for regular physiotherapy, sports massage, a strength and conditioning coach and yearly gym membership.

“I am looking for sponsorship to enable my pilot Eve McCrystal from Dundalk and myself compete on a level playing field with the other medal contenders. Eve has to continue working full-time to support her family. Because of this she cannot make all training camps, competitions and get the recovery she needs. This is a great concern of mine, as without my pilot I cannot achieve my full potential.”

Katie said that financial support would enable the pair to get together more often to train and race.

The pair are currently ranked second in the world on the Union Cycliste Internationale website and recently returned from the Paracycling World Cup in Italy with two bronze medals in the time trial and the road race.

Eve is the sister of another well-known local cyclist, Bryan McCrystal.

If you would like to support Katie call 0044 7743 027 004 or email kgdcycling@hotmail.com