Ballymoney riders 1st and 2nd

Cloughmills lad Phil Smith was involved in the action at Annaclone, Banbridge on Saturday and secured a top 10 placing for the strong BCC Racing Team in his first outing this season.

On Sunday the Phoenix Grand Prix at Dundrod was where the action would be centred and the BCC Racing Team riders were involved in 3 races at this annual pressure release valve of a rbike ace.

In the A4 Race, riders Wayne Stevens, Martin Carroll and Garreth McBride faced the opposition.

Garreth was involved in a mass pile up of up to 25 riders in the final few miles but was checked by the club doctor and was given a the all clear.

Despite strong riding by Wayne and Martin they both had to settle for a finish in the bunch and keep their powder dry for another day.

The race was won by Peter Kennedy of East Antrim CC.

Phil Smith in his second day of racing was a finisher in the bunch in the A3 race, bringing to an end a successful weekends racing.

Phil is getting himself into form for the upcoming Spring Classic races.

In the A race the pace was an average of 27.7mph for the 50 miles, as attack after attack was launched and the winter frustration was released.

After two laps of the five Ballymoney’s Steven McAllister was in a break of five with the eventual winner Liam Curran and a couple of others.

But hard riding by CRC rider Conor McAllister, Fraser Duncan and Thomas Martin from Eurocycles the Dublin based semi pro out fit had them reeled back in again.

Going into the last lap Liam Curran of Curran racing had moved clear and had established a small gap, but out of the Long Rig Road end Steven McAllister and Ryan Connor BRC jumped clear and set off in pursuit of the strong riding Curran.

With three miles to the finish the duo of McAllister and Connor were joined by Donegal hard man Sean McFadden. With the clear win going to Liam Curran the runner up spot went to BCC Racing Team’s Stevie McAllister and in third place was two times Tour of the North winner Ryan Connor.

Ryan and Stevie will be team mates in the 2012 Tour of the North as they will be joining up for this International event at Easter.

A full report will be coming soon.

Phoenix GP - A race results.

1st Liam Curran (Curran Racing)

2nd Steven McAllister (Ballymoney CC Racing Team)

3rd Ryan Connor (Ballymena Road Club)

4th Sean McFadden (Errigle CC)

5th Mark Buchanan (North Pole CC)

Ryan Orr makes two wins in two weeks!

Ballymoney CC schoolboy Ryan Orr was the clear winner at the McConvey Spring League MTB races in Ormeau Park.

In the under 16 race the lad romped clear of his opposition for the second week running and puts him in pole position to win the series outright.

Results for the Under 16 race.

1st Ryan Orr (Ballymoney CC Racing Team)

2nd Aaron Donnelly (Newry Wheelers)

3rd Alex Bell (McConvey Cycles)

Coming Events

This Saturday the weekly Health and Leisure run will leave the Joey Dunlop Centre at 10.15am and on Sunday from the Rugby Club from the same time.

For the Racing Team riders will compete at the John Moore Memorial at Carryduff and on Sunday in Newry at the John Haldane Memorial, a good group of riders are going to both these races and the results will be in next week’s newspapers.

Ballymoney Cycling Club meeting and membership registration will have a guest speaker at Sketchers Coffee Shop next Tuesday 6th March from 7.30pm.

Everyone is invited along to hear Sports Psychologist and local sportsman Robert Bones give a short talk on mental preparation for sport.

IMPORTANT NOTICE from Cycling Ireland.

Riders Registering/registered for Cycling Ireland Licences.

As it is NO longer a VOLUNTARY OPTION to grade yourself, riders/members are asked to make sure that they apply for the licence to suit their grade from last year 2011.

An A4 rider with fewer than 10 points (Needed for upgrade to A3) is an A4 rider in 2012 and the same as A3 to A2 (15 points required)

Riders who have done this will be downgraded to their proper category and any results or points accumulated will be deducted accordingly.