Who is Jerry Towey ??

A new member to the WLCC in 2015 Jerry Towey is one of those guys that doesn't take no for an answer, he might be maimed with only one leg but the man from Kilmovee  is made of tough stuff. Jerry lost his left leg in a Motorbike crash nearly 20 years ago, he was a descent footballer and liked sport but back then cycling was not even a thought, a few years back he did take up cycling and has found a new spring in his step.. here is synopsis of his cycling career to date.

Alot of us out there have many excuses why we cannot do this or that, what if you were left with no choice what would life be like then !!, Take every chance you get to make it count for something, regardless if you fail you are still making progress and most of the time its not about the result or performance but the journey you go through in trying is what life is all about.

Jerry's dream is to represent Ireland at the next years Olympic Para games in Rio Brazil, the past few months has seen Jerry's progress steadily increase and now he has a real chance of been selected.

So as the 2015 season draws to a close & thoughts go towards the dreaded turbo, long miles & even longer coffee stops, think of Jerry slogging away in his fight to be at his best so he can achieve his life long personal goal.... Rio 2016.

When we adopted the Para Cyclist from Kilmovee,  WLCC member and Ras finisher Donal Harrington took him under his wing at his spinning classes in Charlestown that was back in 2011, this is when Jerry’s found out about all the rigors of  competitive Cycling.

Jerry has pulled some big results this season.  A string of 4^th place results at a variety of events is not what he wanted and  probably killing him to why he did but nonetheless  with 4^th in our WLCC  Championships, 4^th in Connacht TT Championships (M40) 4^th in GC in the Cologne Para Cycling Classic, Germany with a puncture (luckily inside 3k to finish) & 4^th in GC in the Bira Bizakov Para Cycling Cup in Spain getting squeezed out on the third stage. These are all great results

Jerry eventually  jumped onto the third step of the podium in the National TT Championships held in Omagh in July his first ever National medal. He also won the yellow Jersey in the National Para Cycling TT League with six stages held by Tipperary Wheelers, Shannonside CC, Lakeside Wheelers, Cuchullain CC, Sorrento CC & Blarney/Rebel Wheelers

Jerry has returned home from the European Cup held in Prague with an 8^th result and  is now turning his focus to the track.  After being accredited last weekend by Hugh Byrne in Sundrive Jerry is preparing for a week training on the velodrome in Majorca, his first time on the indoor boards.  The UCI have also picked him together with Chris Burns from Banbridge CC for two weeks intensive track training in the World Cycling Centre in Agile Switzerland (Padraig Marrey spent 4 months there back in 2004) in preparation for a Track event in Manchester track in November with all expenses paid apart from flights.

People can have a watered down opinion on disabled sport but with a below knee prosthetic limb coupled with massive muscle loss in his quad Jerry has punched out a 57.32  for 40k Individual TT also hitting sub 23 minute for 16k and admits himself he has a lot more to do if he is to walk into the Olympic Stadium next Summer in RIO.

Not many people ever really pursue their dreams fully so lets get behind a member who is leaving it all on the road and track for a chance to realize his.