Motorcycling starlet chosen as sports star winner

A hugely promising Athlone motorcycle racer has been selected as the Westmeath Independent Sports Star of the month for December. Cody Nally, 17, from Clonbonny, receives the award after clinching a coveted deal to compete in the prestigious British Superstock Motorcycle Championships for 2009. Nally, who finished second in the Clubmans Championship earlier this year, will represent the Raceways Yamaha UK team during the 2006 season.

The British Superstock Championships begin in April and Cody's work with the Lancashire-based team will begin later this month when the team commences training in the Welsh Mountains, followed by a pre-season motorcycle testing period in Spain. The son of Noel and Noreen Nally, Cody attended Clonbonny National School and Athlone Community College, and has two sisters, Kayleigh and Alanna.

Cody is understandably delighted with the opportunity to ride for Raceways UK and is eagerly looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead. He is thankful to sponsors Des Nally Developments, Doyle's Motorcycles of Athlone and Kenny Galway for all their support. Due to the high cost of competing at this level of racing, Cody is on the look-out for further sponsorship and is appealing to the local business community to assist his bid to compete successfully in the British Superstock Championships this year.

Cody's father, Noel, is also a well known motorcyclist having tasted national success a few years ago. Along with twelve other monthly winners (see full list below), Cody goes forward to the Westmeath Independent Sports Star of the Year Awards at a gala function in the Hodson Bay Hotel on Friday, February 6.

The overall Westmeath Independent Sports Star of the Year will be revealed during the gala awards night on February 6, as will the Public Choice winner, who will be selected from votes cast by readers of the 'Westmeath Independent'.