Callaghan shares lead in U21World Series

AFTER two rounds of the Enduro World Series in New Zealand and Tasmania, Walkinstown Mountain Bike racer Killian Callaghan has gone joint top of the Under 21 division while his older cousin Greg Callaghan is currently second in the Pro Men’s division.

The former made a decent start to the 2017 series finishing sixth in the opening stage on his new privately-sponsored Santa Cruz bike.

Another sixth place finish in the Under 21 class in Stage Two was followed by a stunning victory in Stage Three in which he came home fourth ahead of some of the world’s best fully-supported factory riders.

Fourth and seventh place finishes in the next two stages propelled him to third overall heading into the final phase of this round.

Here he posted the seventh fastest time to take second place on the podium in what was seen by many as the toughest Enduro the World’s best ever had to contest.

Delighted with his own finish, Callaghan said “I spent a good bit of time on the deck during the day, so I was really surprised to come down and find out I finished up in second.”

“Yeah I’ll take that, the brutal weather reminded me of racing back at home so it really suited me ” he added.

Meanwhile his cousin Greg emerged from this round fifth overall for his Cube Factory team, with Killian 31st and compatriot Dan Wolfe 41st.

The going proved a lot tougher for Killian in Tasmania despite an encouraging start in which he finished third behind Vojtech Blaha and New Zealander Daniel Self.

A big crash on the second stage was to result in extensive damage to his bike and injury to his shoulder and ankle.

Due to the rear gear mechanism been ripped from the frame of his bike when he remounted he had to make his way to the end of the stage to carry out repairs.

“I had a big fall in Stage Two and snapped my gear hanger. Then on the way to Stage Three another part came off the gears which had broken in the crash but I didn’t notice it.

“The main jockey wheel had come off the gears. I couldn’t find the bolt to put it back on. So I jammed a stick in the jockey wheel bolt hole and it somehow worked.

“So I managed to make my cut off time at Stage Three in time and stay in the race.

“Unfortunately the repairs didn’t last but I did get to the finish of the stage and I repaired it again to help me get to the finish of the event “

The remaining stages of the day were to see Callaghan claw his way from 19th position to seventh place, and his efforts paid off as went joint top of the Under 21 leaderboard.

Greg, meanwhile, managed to haul himself into the leading position heading into the final stage, only to crash almost within sight of the finish.

The 25-year-old quickly remounted and scored a monumental second place, which served to propel the Cube rider into second position in the overall World Series.

Wolfe battled through injury to claim 42nd overall with Killian sitting in 53rd position.

The World Series takes a break until May when riders will travel to the Island of Maderia.

Back home, Killian’s younger brothers, Emmet and Ross scored second place and 11th placed finishes respectively when they lined out in the Under 18 Category of a mountain bike contest in Killaloe  Co. Clare.