Ballymoney CC young guns in Cyclocross action

THE weekend saw Ballymoney Cycling Club riders and members in three types of different biking action.

Young riders Charlie O’Hagan, Rian Dobbin and Annagh O’Hagan were showing off their biking skills at the Ulster Cyclo X series in Larne, on Sunday at the Letterkenny town centre criterium top BCC cyclist Stevie McAllister was in action against professionals Tour of Spain stage winner Philip Deignan, and Sean Kelly Sponsored pro Ronan McLaughlin, while on Saturday Ballymoney CC pro Maurice McAllister was invited onto the 8 man panel of Cycling Ireland’s Road Race Commission, travelling to Abbyleix in Co. Laois for the AGM where McAllister was welcomed onto the Commission by chairman Dan Curtain and Secretary Gary McIlroy.

This was described by Cycling Ulster’s chairman Tommy Lamb, as a great honour for Cycling Ulster and Ballymoney Cycling Club, to have a representative at the top table of Cycling Ireland.

Three TOP Kids at the Cyclo X series in Larne

Ballymoney CC new young riders Charlie O’Hagan, Rian Dobbin and Annagh O’Hagan were in action at this very arduous type of cycling.

All three showed off their abilities in the different age sections, five year old Charlie O’Hagan riding in the U8’s section finished a fantastic 7th out of 15 other young hopefuls. Rian and Annagh were off in the U10’s and both of them completed the tough and energy sapping 4 laps of this tough County Antrim circuit.

This type of event is an excellent way of attracting youth into the sport and Ballymoney CC will be organising a miniseries in the Ballymoney are over the next couple of months, details and venues will be announced in the local press.

Letterkenny Criterium a great success

In what is a rare occurrence of a criterium in October, the fast growing and very successful Errigale Cycling Club decided to host these very public entertaining type of events.

On a closed road circuit in the centre of Letterkenny over 40 riders took part in two 35 minute plus five lap races, leading off the 1st cat race was Tour of Spain stage winner Philip Deignan along with An Post rider Ronan McLaughlin and Ballymoney CC rider Steven McAllister.

With a closed circuit these top cyclists set off at a frantic pace, and after 18 minutes Ronan McLaughlin, took advantage of a gap left open by another rider a set off to win the overall race.

Ballymoney Cycling Club’s race secretary Davy Wallace who was there as a club representative, spoke of the need of more of these types of events in the Ballymoney, Coleraine area, Davy said that he will be speaking to representatives of neighbouring club Bann Wheelers about promoting a few of these type of races.

Ballymoney Cycling Club AGM

On Tuesday 2nd of November at the Joey Dunlop Centre from 7.30pm, Ballymoney CC will hold their AGM. All members and members of the local public are invited along to this event.

All reports including the financial status of the club will be made available for inspection.

There will be a guest speaker coming along to oversee the running and the election of club office bearers for 2011.