Audi GP winner joins Ballymoney Cycling Club!

Bryan was formerly with the Bann Wheelers and is a recent winner of the Audi GP at Ballynure.

This is a tough event and this year was run in torrential rain.

Accompanied by his now team mates, Niall O’Hagan, Jerome McKendry and Jason Taggart, Bryan was in a lively mood from the start. In a field of over 50 riders the Aghadowey lad was in the thick of the action at the front and going into the final few miles, McKinney took his chance and jumped clear of the field. With under a mile to go Bryan put his head down and rode as hard as he could.

Winning easily from J. Smyth (Phoenix CC) and his club mates Jason Taggart 8th and Niall O’Hagan 9th and Jerome McKendry 13th.

As Bryan only one point short of being upgraded to A3 he set off the next day and got the one point he needed by finishing 6th at the Bobby Crilly Road Race. This race finished on the top of the steep and testing Divis mountain overlooking Belfast.

Brian and his new team mate visited the Bann Wheelers RR at Dervock on Tuesday night with Nigel finishing 4th and Bryan 5th using this eventas preparation or the weekend’s racing.

Stevie McAllister 4th at Noel Teggart Memorial Road Race

This weekend had the Ballymoney CC riders Stevie McAllister, new team mate Bryan McKinney, Nigel Elder and Niall O’Hagan all at Banbridge.

To ride the Banbridge CC classic road race the Noel Teggart Memorial, on the famous and tough Gilford/Scarva circuit. Bryan and Stevie were off in the A3 event along with Ballycastle cyclist John Madden.

In their new kit it was easy to spot both BCC lads at the front driving and at times controlling the field of 62 riders.

Madden was aggressive and active as he tried to break away in the early stages and again at the finish, but the field including the two Ballymoney CC riders was having none of it and each time he was reeled back in.

On the 3 mile climb out of Scarva in the final stages of this 50 mile event, two riders broke clear and held out to the finish.

Bryan McKinney with his fast finishing team mate on his wheel hammered at the front in an attempt to bring the two escapees back. With 350 metres to go McAllister came out of the heaving bunch and in a hectic and fast moving sprint the Ballymoney man got 4th place closely followed by McKinney.

In the A4 race Ballymoney CC had Niall O’Hagan and Nigel Elder were in the action, on the same course as their other two team mates, Niall and Nigel set about the job of trying to win this prestigious race, as breaks went off in the usual frenetic way.

Niall was in them hoping that they could hold out to the end. But as it came together for the final time, at the bottom of the long climb back to Banbridge, Niall got his team mate Nigel Elder to tow him up to the front one last time.

Without thought for himself Elder using the final ounces of energy he had to his friend in a position to get a good result, the big lad from Seacon pushed his way to the head of the field and with his job done getting O’Hagan into a good position he was blasted out the back of the hurtling bunch.

Niall was in the bunch sprint and was ousted from a top 5 finish in the final metres of the race.

All 4 Ballymoney CC riders finished off a successful day’s racing.

Bobby Kane wins Stroan Road Race II

Such is the competition and eagerness to race at Ballymoney CC and to represent the club at every opportunity!

Even a broken wrist and a plaster cast could not stop Bobby Kane riding , and not only riding but winning this road race in a bunch sprint from Jason Taggart.

On a Wednesday evening that saw high winds and blustery rain, Ballymoney CC promoted their weekly club race at Stranocum. This week it was the 25 mile CPRR.

With a good field of 25 riders set off in 5 groups, the front group containing schoolboys Aaron Swan and Craig Crawford, Craig was with the Bobby Kane group at the last and finished 6th.

With the riders in groups and separated by a 4 minute handicap it was clear that, Jason Taggart, Bobby Kane and Niall O’Hagan were not out for a leisurely Wednesday run.

Coming round at the end of the 2nd of 4 laps these three were hammering at the front and all the groups in front were altogether, the three man scratch group of Chris Beattie (BRC).

Jason Henry (U/A) and Stevie McAllister (BCC) were undermanned and at times were losing time to the fast moving group of the eventual winner Bobby Kane. In this group and holding his own was U14 schoolboy Craig Crawford. As this race is designed not for the faint hearted but for clever and strong riders, it was being lined up for a sprint finish.

Over the bridge at the River Bush and onto the uphill gallop, Jason Taggart hit the front and with every ounce his body pumped upwards of 1200watts of power.

This was a long sprint and the wily Phoenix GP Bobby Kane winner held Taggart’s wheel as long as he had too.

Unable to grip the handlebars with maximum force due to the fractured wrist he had to time his final effort exactly.

In a fantastic sprint to watch Kane swept past and took the valiant Taggart on the line.

Final result was:

1st Bobby Kane (BCC)

2nd Jason Taggart (BCC)

3rd Simon Taggart (BRC)

4th David Laverty (U/A)

5th Nigel Elder (BCC)

6th Craig Crawford (TSC U14 schoolboy)

7th Niall O’Hagan (BCC)

8th Jerome McKendry (BCC)

9th Brian Bonner (BVCC)

10th Colin Brennan (BCC)

11th Steven McAllister (BCC)

12th Jason Henry (U/A)

13th Chris Beattie (BRC)

14th Oliver Bateson (BCC)

15th Aaron Swan (TSC under14 schoolboy)

16th Ryan Fenton (BCC)

17th Robbie McIlderry (BVCC)

18th John Patton (BCC)

Special notice

The members of Ballymoney CC wish club mate Philip McKeown a speedy recovery from a broken collar bone. Philip received this untimely injury whilst sprinting for the honour of first rider back into Ballymoney on a weekend club run.

Get well soon Philip from all of us at BCC.

Coming events

This Tuesday night Ballymoney CC are holding a meeting at the Joey Dunlop Centre at 7.30pm, this is to discuss club matters, order new kit and finalise plans for the Ras Loughguille in July. Everyone is invited along.

Then on Wednesday night at 7.00pm on the Portrush line, the club holds round 6 of the McComb Steel TT league. This is the Ballymoney CC 10 mile club Championship.

All neighbouring cyclists are invited to come along to take part on this fast drag strip type course.