Ballymoney Cycling Club in Cyclesport action at the weekend

The Ballymoney Cycling Club Duathlon saw a field of over 100 competitors travel from all over to take part in this annual leg stretcher on the roads around Ballymoney.

Starting at the Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre and featuring the boating lake paths and the Duloy road for the bike section, BCC organisers spared nothing in the detail and everyone was treated to a top quality event with impecable organising, not forgetting a cuppa after to heat the chilled bones.

The overal winner was Gavin Corey (Omagh Tri Club) with Ballymoney athletes, Jason Henry, Kyle Leckey, Stuart Nevin all in the top 10 with Sonia Knox the first woman from Alison Rankin and Katherine Woods.

These events are a great introduction to the sports of running and cycling with the 3km run the 16km bike and again finished off with a 3km rum. These are all distances that are achievable and it then just depends on how hard you decide to push yourself. Well done to other Ballymoney Cycling Club competitors, Eddie Hampton, Chuck Russell, Norma Snelling and Arlene Doherty.

Annaclone and Phoenix GP (Open racing)

The 2016 season kicked off with the racing at Banbridge and Dundrod seeing the open race season for another year getting under way. The Ballymoney Cycling Club Biesty’s Centra Racing team riders Aaron Swan, Ryan Bankhead, Robbie Doherty, Marshall Craig, Aaron Dickie, Jack Owens, Ryan Wallace and George Peden all competed.

This was George’s first ever open road event and he finished in the bunch at the finish. George is a talented young man with a bright future ahead of him.

The senior racing saw last year’s under 16 rider and top schoolboy Robbie Doherty enter the hurly burly world of senior open racing.

Robbie is part of the BCC Tour of the North team and will be getting as much experience before joining teammates Aaron Swan, Ryan Bankhead, Steven McAllister and Ryan Wallace at the start of the first stage around Kirkistown at Easter.

The racing on the Sunday again saw BCC riders travelling to the Phoenix GP where many winter dreams get crushed and the lesser prepared riders find out that the winter months are for hard training in these testosterone fueled free for alls where the old guard like to set out their stall and the rule of law is established.

Swan and Bankhead gave a good account of themselves, with Bankhead puncturing in the last lap and Swan after the finish of the 50 mile event rode home with team mates in preparation for the Ras giving him a 100 mile plus Sunday of training and racing.

Congratulations to local Dunloy rider Vincent Drain in getting runner up in the Masters race.

FIRST AID

A Cycling First Aid training course will take place on Thursday 3 March, from 7pm to 9pm in Ballymoney Rugby Club. This short first aid course has been arranged for members, parents and any other interested parties. All U18s are free and a £10 charge for 18s and older. CPR, use of a defib, recovery position, treatment for blood etc will all be covered. Numbers are limited to call or text 07788233133 to reserve a space.