Christie claims bronze at National Championships

MARCUS Christie and Adam Ward brought excellent seasons to an end at the weekend at the National Championships in County Wicklow.

Christie, who broke the Irish 25 mile TT record earlier in the year to earn a spot at the World Road Championships, claimed bronze in the time trial on Thursday, finishing one minute and 11 seconds down on winner, Ryan Mullen, with runner-up, Nicolas Roche 16 seconds adrift.

The Bready man then went on to come home 30th in Sunday’s gruelling men’s and under-23 road race, which around half the field failed to finish.

Dunamanagh’s Ward, meanwhile, was also involved in the 160km war of attrition, finishing a superb 18th overall and fifth under-23, just two days after finishing seventh in the time trial.

The 20-year-old has enjoyed a hugely successful but tiring season in Spain and France, where he competed in the 10-day Tour de l’Avenir, and at the European and World Championships.

And while disappointed to have missed out on a medal in either discipline, he was pleased with his performances after such a busy summer, especially over such a testing circuit on Sunday.