Bankhead’s finishing power again proves too strong for competitors

There was a smaller than usual entry for this event, which was the third and final round of the Northstone sponsored “scratch road racing league” as many BRC riders were taking part in the opening round of the inter-club road racing league at Magherafelt.

Nevertheless the 26 who took part enjoyed perfect racing conditions and this helped to keep the group together throughout the 18 miles event.

The race started at Slaght corner and then completed two laps of the Whitesides road, Ahoghill road, Caddy road circuit.

Bankhead won comfortably, by about three lengths, just as he had done in round one at Broughshane, and these two wins, combined with his fourth place at Ahoghill earned him the overall league honours and with it the Tommy Smyth cup. Ryan Shaw’s consistent scoring with eighth place at Broughshane, second at Ahoghill and third at Slaght took him to second in the league.

Result (1) Ryan Bankhead 42 minutes 15 seconds (2) Karl Taylor (3) Ryan Shaw (4) Stephen Dempsey (5) Martin Robb (Bann Valley) (6) Mark Wright (7) Matthew Brennan (8) Quinton McFall (9) (10) Alan Blair (11) Nigel Kernohan (12) John Shaw (13) Gerard McNally (Bann Valley) (14) Clifford Grant (15) Martin Ruddy (16) Colin Scullion (17) Hall Booth (18) Tommy Wilson (19) Conor Crilly (20) Simon Taggart (21) Aaron Swan (N Roche performance team) all same time 42.15 (22) Sean Wright at 18 seconds (23) Breandan McCavana at 5.13

League (1) Bankhead 27 points (2) Ryan Shaw 20 points (3) Connor Young 19 (4) Matthew Brennan 13 (5) Alan Blair 12 (6) Stephen Dempsey 10 points.

INTER-CLUB SERIES

The aforementioned Inter-club series commenced on 14th May with Spires CC hosting the first race.

This year sees Roe Valley replace Bann Valley in the list of participating clubs with the others being Ballymena Road Club, Ballymoney CC, Bann Wheelers and Carn Wheelers.

Wednesday’s race was held on Spires new course which took in the Aughrim Road, Ballynagarve Road and Shore/Ballyronan Road triangle.

It was held over three laps of the 7.8 miles circuit and the entrants went off in four groups with zero three five and six minutes handicaps.

The limit bunch made the most of their, what proved to be generous, starting handicap and they stayed away to the finish where the placings were decided in the uphill sprint on the road alongside Aughrim Chapel.

Carn Wheelers riders took the first two positions with Stephen Halferty finishing just ahead of Nicky Gormley. Stephen Smyth (Ballymena Road Club) took an excellent third place just ahead of Chris Currie (Spires) Jason Burns also finished with this leading group, although just outside the top ten.

Jason’s wife Eileen, however, did do the business as she won the ladies’ race. The women’s race saw five ladies compete in group one along with the men. Eileen Burns from Ballymena Road Club was right in the thick of it at the finish and took the win in front of Mairead McGurk (Carn Wheelers) (3) Jane Millar (Bann Wheelers) (4) Claire Gillespie (5) Laura Blair both Ballymena Road Club. The next round on the 4th June is hosted by Ballymoney.

RESULTS ROUND-UP

Sean McIntyre (Orchard) was fastest in the Phoenix Open 10 on the Templepatrick course on Tuesday night.

He took top spot with a time of 21 minutes 06 seconds. This was 51 seconds faster than Stuart Bennett of the promoting Phoenix. Best for Ballymena RC was Jason Burns in 19th place with 23 minutes 45 seconds. Phoenix Open 10 Results

(1) Sean McIntyre (Orchard) 21.06 (2) Stuart Bennett (Phoenix) 21.57 (3) Derek Ferguson (Kings Moss) 22.09 (19) Jason Burns 23.45 (33) Jim Burns (Ballymena) 25.02 (42) Conor Crilly (Ballymena) 25.51

Nine women lined up on Tuesday night for round two of the Slane Cycles Women’s Time Trial league. Keri Parton of Dromara CC took maximum points with a time of 25.28 but Ballymena’s Eileen Burns was just 2 seconds slower and tied for second place along with Judith Russell (Phoenix) when they both recorded 25 minutes 30 seconds.

TOURING SECTION

Ballymena Road Club’s touring section held their first “away for the day” tour of the season last Sunday.

The ride took place from Mountfield near Omagh and included almost every small hill in West Tyrone.

Many thanks to Pius McKernan for organising the event and to Eamonn and Philomena Sweeney and also Marian McQuillan for their hospitality and excellent catering.

CALENDAR

Wednesday 21st May, Ballymena Road Club will hold their Stan Finlay memorial 10 miles time trial in their Northstone club race series. The event will have a 7pm starting time from Woodgreen.

The observers are Sean Elliott and Francis O’Kane.

The next club road race is the H and M Wilson cup 26 miles handicapped event at Slaght on Wednesday 28th May.

The head marshall is Richard Wilson and he will be assisted by Patsy McGurk, Pius McKernan, Millar Montgomery and Graham Bonner.

West Down Wheelers will promote the West Down GP at Katesbridge this Saturday 24th May.

There will be three races: 56 miles (A) Race for A2/A3 category riders only (limited to 80 riders), the 45 miles (B) race for A4 category riders only (limited to 80 riders) and the 27 miles Masters (over 50’s) and Women.

This will be a counter in the Ulster women’s Road Race League. Race HQ and race start location is at the Katesbridge Hall, post code BT32 5NG.

Sign on from 9.00am, race starts at 11.00am.