Ballymoney Cycling Club are the strongest Youth Team in Ireland

Despite mechanical trouble and crashes, and riders being taken to the hospital, brealing their bikes and getting them cobbled together again. The Ballymoney boys and girl werejust far too strong for the rest of the teams in Ireland and came away with the team prize in the U16 overall. Breandan Flannagan broke away on the last stage on his own and was the easy winner, with team mates Shay Donley the first U15, Andrew Allen last weeks winner in Donegal, Kevin McCambridge crashed heavily on the 3rd stage yet was able along with Allen to break clear of the field and make the panicking other teams to have to ride out of their skin to bring them back. Finn Sands Robinson was the other team mate in the is what has been described by Irish national selectors as a very scary but exciting bunch of talented lads.

In the 14’s Ballymoney CC had the reliable and never gives in Scott Donley who always makes sure the Ballymoney jersey is up for the fight and in the 12’s and new to the sport and getting the hang of the way things are in youth racing is Meabh Flannagan. From all of the BCC members, family and supporters we salute the efforts of the Ballymoney team who travelled to Leinster and came away with the experience and the top prizes.

Balnamore Spring Road Races - Not only were the youth in action but the winner of Wednesday evenings BCC race at Balnamore Aaron Swan, Aaron along with local lad Ryan Jamison broke clear of a 55 rider field and was the easy winner on the line from Jamison 2nd and Stuart Thompson Spires CC 3rd, Robbie Doherty 4th and Shay Donley was 5th. This was the first Ballymoney club race of 2016 as the Lungbuster 5 mile TT was posponed to Monday 18th due to dangerous weather conditions.

Thank you to Bann Wheelers, North West CC, Causeway CC, Dunloy CC, Spires CC and the unattached riders who supported this race, you are always welcome as the better the quality of the field the better the racing.

Coombes Connor 92 mile Road Race at Julienstown - The top race of the weekend was the Coombes Connor race at Julienstown with a 50 man A1 field, and a separate race for the A3’s where BCC had the talented Dalriada junior Robbie Doherty racing. Robbie broke clear of the bunch with 1km to go and was just caught with 25 yards to go and was an excellent 4th.

The senior race with Aaron Swan and Ras team mate Steven McAllister who was 8th in this race last year, an early break of 6 riders formed with McAllister and former Ras winner Ciaran Power opened up a one minute gap and this held for 6 of the 9 laps until it all came together with 3 to go. Break attempts were being launched off the front and with a few miles to go the brave and hard riding Ballymoney rider Aaron Swan broke clear held the lead only to be pipped on the line and was a fantastic 2nd place in one of Ireland’s Classic races.

Result Coombes Connor 92 miles in 3hours:20:57secs (27mph average)

1st Michael Ahern Dungarvan CC

2nd Aaron Swan Ballymoney CC Biesty’s Centra

3rd Mark Riley Team Asea

4th Mark Heaney Nicholas Roche Team

5th Ciaran Power Coomeragh CC

14th Steven McAllister BCC Biesty’s Centra

This Wednesday evening is the Prologue 4.7mile TT from Dunloy to Ballymoney JDLC, sign on in Dunloy from 6pm and racing from 7pm. Everyone is very welcome.