Kilmore mountain biker Drew Armstrong is pushing to get into the top flight of world mountain biking.
Last Sunday Drew Armstrong from Kilmore became the Irish Enduro champion at Ravensdale in County Louth.
The 17-year old is having a great season in the Victus First Tracks Race Division 1 and will now be heading of to Italy and Spain over the next two weekends to further his chances of success.
Drew is a pupil of the Down High School in Lower Sixth and will be studying for BTEC’s in Sport, Engineering and Moving Image Art with an eye on his future in his life’s passion, mountain biking. He added that fortunately the mountain biking doesn’t affect his schooling which is important to him.
These events are part of the Enduro World Series. At the moment I am ranked sixteenth in the world in the U-21 Enduro World Series and I hope to get right up there with the leaders.
“I first started mountain biking when I was just over four years old and when I was six I got into racing cross country and started in the Enduro when I was 14.
“Most of the time I train around Tollymore and Donard but I travel all over Ireland to events and training sessions. I compete in events across Europe. So I’m travelling non-stop especially in the months from March to September which are the busiest months. I’m certainly either competing or raining every weekend in Northern Ireland, the republic of Ireland, in GB or in Europe.
“It would be my dream to get into pro-level but it is a tough sport at this level but I’m up for the challenge. So far I’ve been free from any injuries so I feel great and I’m really looking forward to getting going in these next qualifiers.”
Drew explained that his main sponsor is is Vitus First but added his family also support his a lot with his bike and kit.
“My dad usually comes on trips with me when I’m travelling, but my mum is the backroom manager who gets everything organised. We’re looking forward now to the next two rounds in the world series which is at the pinnacle of the sport and I hope to move up the world rankings again.”
Good luck in the Enduro Drew !
Happy mountain biking !
