Prendergast excels on the Partry Mountains

Having come close to a win only days previous in the hotly contested Westport town centre criterium junior rider Jason Prendergast riding for Cong based Cunga CC managed to come up trumps this time around taking a fine solo win in the Western Lakes CC promoted Tourmakeady Festival race on Wednesday evening. In what proved to be ideal racing conditions the 45 rider field took to the line for the 50km handicapped event. With six minutes covering the field from front to back the last group to start had it all to do. Riding steady they worked well to whittle down the lead of those in front. By the halfway point most of the riders had been swept up by the strong men and the attacking started in earnest, with Ballinrobe man Padraig Marrey the first to fire a bullet from his gun. This move was gradually reeled in and just as it came together it was Jason Prendergast who took the initiative and launched a strong attack. Sensing the danger, it was Marrey who responded first and as the duo gathered momentum up front several more managed to close the gap making it five in the newly established breakaway. With the majority of the clubs present now represented out front this move had every likelihood to succeed, and while those behind mounted a consistent chase the strength of the front group never looked like being overhauled. On to the finish where Prendergast decided to go alone with approximately 2km remaining and managed to hold on for a fine win with Marrey left to settle for second on the night.