CYCLING DUO FIRST AGAIN!

On Wednesday night Steven McAllister won the BCC Road Race Championship on the Tullaghans from Wayne Stevens 2nd and Jerome McKendry 3rd.

Ulster Youth Champion Aaron Swan

The Ulster Youth Championships were promoted by Roe Valley Cycling Club and over 50 under 12’s, 14’s and 16 year olds lined up at Anaghloo in the morning for a 4 mile TT round an excellent circuit.

Fastest overall was Aaron Swan from Declan Mulholland Clan Eireann and in 3rd was Pierce Aitchison from Harps CC.

With the Road Race in the afternoon it was case for young Aaron to get the feet up and a bite to eat before heading to the circuit near Drumsurn.

Lined up along with his rivals they faced 5 laps of a 3.5 mile circuit and with the stiff uphill finish it was a day for strong hearts. From the gun it was clear the field knew who to watch and every move Aaron made was countered by the rest of the field.

Every move every time he went to the front his rivals countered him. With two laps to go and after some heated words between the riders, at the bell it looked as though it was going to the sprint but a savage attack by Aaron Swan saw no one else able to respond and the young lad from TSC/BCC romped off to a fine win and one that sets him up for the All Ireland National Championships in Castlebar. BCC’s Maurice McAllister who was following the race described Swan’s efforts as those of a young man with a very bright future, he just looks better than all the rest.

Gold, silver and bronze went Aaron Swan TSC/BCC Jake Gray ETCC Cathal Clarke Newry Wheelers.

Steven McAllister wins the BCC Road Race Championships

This is the second year that BCC rider Steven McAllister has won the DW Joinery sponsored Road Race championships.

This year was a well contested event with recently upgraded rider and winner of the A4 race at the West Down GP, Devon McIlwaine being touted by some as the race favourite. But someone must have forgot to tell McAllister this as he was constantly aware of what was going on around. With the field split into two groups, the scratch group that included the eventual winner set about reeling everyone back together again.

In the front group it saw hard riding by Neville Patton, Ollie Bateson, Adrian Madden, Garreth McBride, Martin Carroll, Ryan Fenton and Philip McKeown. But the scratch group was onto them with two laps to go of this tough and relentless Tullaghans circuit.

Going into the last lap it was clear that the group was going to settle this by a sprint finish as there were few attempts to get rid of anyone and the attacks were non existent as the race headed onto the Saint Mary’s climb for the final time.

As the field now shedding the weaker riders it was down to 5 at the crossroads, Jason Taggart, Devon McIlwaine, Wayne Stevens, Jerome McKendry and McAllister.

With 350 metres to the line McAllister as he had previously planned launched an attack that saw him burst clear from the group and cross the line with both hands in the air. He was followed by the delighted Wayne Stevens in 2nd and a close finish between Devon and Jerome saw Jerome get the bronze. Ellen McAree won the Girls Road race championships for the first time.

A great ride and one that gives the club more chances of success in the future was the ride by 15 year old schoolboy Stuart Laverty. This Stuarts first year on a racing bike and he is already showing great promise for the future.

Final Result was,

1st Steven McAllister

2nd Wayne Stevens

3rd Jerome McKendry

4th Devon McIlwaine

5th Jason Taggart

6th Ollie Bateson

Wayne Stevens 4th at the Lakeland GP

On Saturday Ballymoney CC riders Jerome McKendry, Niall O’Hagan, Ollie Bateson, Wayne Stevens and Steven McAllister travelled the 180 mile round trip to the popular and well organised event at Enniskillen, The Lakeland GP.

With the three lads, Jerome, Ollie and Wayne off in the A4 race, it was an opportunity for Jerome to get the final point that he needs to get upgraded to A3, but alas this did not happen as the Loughguile man was plagued by a puncture a few miles into the race.

Leaving club mates Ollie and Wayne to get the results for the day. With strong riding throughout by both lads and Wayne trying to get away it was looking as usual to ending in a sprint. When out of the bunch pounced two figures and eventual winner and runner up Kevin Holian (Errigle CC) and Mark Bleakley from the local club Lakeland CC.

These two opened a gap and were clear at the line.

With 2km to go Ballymoney CC rider Ollie Bateson made a break for the line to secure 3rd but was hauled back by the rest of the field. with 200 to go Wayne led out but was pipped on the line and had to settle for 4th place.

In the A race Niall O’Hagan BCC was off in a group 3 minutes in front of the unsettled A1/A2 rides who were more happy stupidly attacking each other rather than chasing down the group ahead. In this group was Steven McAllister.

The eventual winner was Ryan Sherlock from the Sportactive team based in Donegal. Niall O’Hagan showed he is made of stout stuff as he finished strong after 70 miles along with Ryan Currie from BRC.

With only a couple of races left the 2011 season is fast coming to a close.

Heverin and Madden close at Ulster 10TT Champs.

Ballymoney CC rider Bryan McKinney was in action at Woodgreen outside Ballymena on Sunday morning at the Cycling Ulster 10 mile TT Championships.

In horrible blustery and wet conditions the race was won by John Heverin from Clan Eireann in 20mins 30 seconds, closely followed by John Madden in 20mins 33 seconds. In third place was former Commonwealth games rider Cormac McCann pulling on a race number the first time in 18years and getting the bronze medal with a time of 20mins and 58 seconds.

The Ballymoney rider Bryan McKinney was 19th in a time of 22mins and 03 seconds.

Coming events

This Wednesday night BCC promote the “Race of the Falling Leaves” a 16.75km circuit TT on the Kirkhills, Stanocum, Dervock Circuit.

The record for this is held by John Madden in 2010 when he smashed his own record of a few weeks and set the bar at 22mins and 52seconds.

This race starts at 7pm sharp and all riders are asked to have a rear light fitted for safety. This Tuesday night local club Bann Wheelers are holding an interesting event, “A non Aero 2 up 10 mile TT” starting at 7pm on the Kilrea Road.

A full report next week will cover the All Ireland Youth Championships at Castlebar where Craig Crawford and Aaron Swan are in action.