May 2016 Sports Star of the Month – Killian Callaghan

Stephen Leonard

THE MONTH of May saw mountainbike racer Killian Callaghan record his maiden World Series Under 21 victory following a tremendous performance in Carrick Mountain, Co Wicklow.

The Vitus Factory rider took the lead for the first time on Stage Three, trading places with Slovakian rider Vid Persak with just one second separating the leading pair.

The short technical Stage Four proved another of Callaghan’s specialties as he clocked a stunning time of 2.42.55 minutes to finish a clear four seconds ahead of current World Series leader Sebastien Claquin.

Callaghan headed into the final stage with a four-second cushion over his close friend Leigh Johnson.

And the Walkinstown lad picked off the most fearsome lines down the rugged rocky lined section in a bid to protect his slender advantage before showing maturity beyond his years with a steady run down the closing stage.

In the end Callaghan secured the win by .081 of a second from Persak with Johnson in third spot- a great achievement considering the fact he had missed the opening two rounds of the championship.