Ballymoney Cycling Club's support for Stranocum festival - August 21

This is on the anniversary of the tragic death of 14-year-old local schoolboy James Elliott who lost his life in the swollen waters of the River Bush as he tried to rescue a pet Labrador.

In the search for James, the Community Rescue Service, a little-known voluntary organisation, along with locals and other organisations searched day and night until they found James’s body.

Cycling Club representatives Charlie Dickson, Colin Thompson and Maurice McAllister visited Clive and Margaret Elliott at their home and offered to arrange this event to raise funds for the CRS.

Mr and Mrs Elliott along with Community Rescue Service fundraising co-ordinator Debbie McCrellis came along to the BCC meeting last Tuesday night and gave a talk to the members.

Maurice McAllister of the Cycling Club said: “At times this meeting was in heavy silence as Margaret Elliott explained to the stunned audience exactly what they were trying to achieve.

“The magnitude of the commitment of these people is, at times, hard to fathom as they cover the waterways and forests in our local community.

“Reluctant to disclose a great deal of their efforts, it is easy to grasp that each volunteer may at sometime have experienced a tragedy in their own lives and is attempting to put something back into the voluntary organisation. The commitment is astonishing and each of the members present vowed that whatever they could do would be done to help raise funds at this event.”

All cyclist, owners of bicycles and cycling clubs are invited to help at this memorable event that next year is planned to be an annual event with a “Challenge” distance added.

Cyclists from the club are planning to stage three ‘Bridges of Hope Community Cycle’ runs all starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 21. The runs should suit all abilities including a three-and-a-half mile route along with a nine-and-a-half-mile run and a more taxing 22 mile course.

The cyclists follow an earlier ‘Bridges of Hope’ cross country fun run of around 10k as well as a 2.5k. run. Both start at 11 a.m. and an entrance fee of 10 is required for the longer run which is open to both male and female and under 18 male and female. The shorter run costs 3 to enter.

Anyone with any queries on this should contact 077841 81318.

The three-day event is scheduled to begin on Friday, August 20 with a kids disco from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. which will now be held at Gardners Barn on the Kirk Road.

Saturday is clearly the main day with a variety of events. As well as the cycling and running, there will be a horseshoe competition beginning at 11.30 a.m. and the playing field will come alive with face painting, cartoon characters, coconut shy and a host of other attractions including rifle shooting and archery and inter CRS games. An all-day barbecue and disco music by local DJ Barry Thompson are further features.

A disco is planned for Saturday night again at Gardners Barn . Doors are open from 8 p.m. onwards and admission is 5.

Ballymoney Flying Club have indicated an interest in contributing to the day and more details will be released on when and where their members will be on the Saturday.

The aim is to make the day a celebration of the life of young James Elliott whose parents, Clive and Margaret, will form a central part of the day’s proceedings although they are anxious to ensure that it will be an occasion when people from far and near will meet in a spirit of friendship and harmony.

Organised by Stranocum Development Group along with the Community Rescue Service, the highlight of the day will be the unveiling of the Community Rescue service vehicle at 3 p.m. funds for which have been paintsakingly gathered by an army of volunteers.

The vehicle will provide an invaluable base for members of the CRS who will use it as a base for the emergency services during call outs.

Volunteers attached to the Community Rescue Service will be out in force including a contingent from Dundalk where between 20 and 30 members are expected to make the journey to Stranocum.

On Sunday, there will be a church service at the Playing Field starting at 3.30 p.m.

At 1pm on Saturday 21st August there will be three cycle runs, 3.5 mile, 9.5mile and 22 mile, crossing the “Bridges of Hope” over the River Bush at certain memorable points. Everyone is invited to attend and lend their support.

For more details contact Charlie Dickson on 07841560526 or Maurice McAllister on 07707088396 or visit www.ballymoneycyclingclub.com