Bann Valley Road Club members celebrate successful year

Bann Valley Road Club held its annual dinner in the Wild Duck, Portglenone, on Friday night.
Bann Valley Road Club Youth Academy prizewinners with main club sponsor Michael Clarke.Bann Valley Road Club Youth Academy prizewinners with main club sponsor Michael Clarke.
Bann Valley Road Club Youth Academy prizewinners with main club sponsor Michael Clarke.

Almost 100 members, family and friends attended, giving a very clear visual indication of how the club has grown over the past few years.

Chairman Lawrence Maguire thanked all those who had helped during the past, very successful year.

His emphasis at this stage was on the valued help given by our sponsors especially main sponsor Michael Clarke and Sons, GMC Electrical Road race sponsor, Bannside Electrics TT sponsor with other sponsors during the year being Sizzlers, Bicycle Shack and Glenview Trophies.

The next topic was the essential help given by marshals,drivers and all those who volunteer their help during the many events run by the Club over the course of the year, finishing with a special mention for the ladies who help with refreshments.

The main recipients of the silverware were Jason Henry who completed a clean sweep of the Visitors sections of the various leagues, winning the road race, ten mile TT and the hill climb.

The Club sections were won by John Dickey in both the GMC Electrical road race league and hill climb while David Strang won the Bannside Electrical TT league.

John Dickey also picked up the BAR while most improved went unusually to two riders - Paul McQuillan and Eunan McGoldrick - as it proved impossible to separate on the results over the year.

Adrian McPeake made the awards to the junior riders in the Youth Academy, noting that in the last year numbers in the youth section had almost doubled.

The prizes were awarded for the winners of the various time trials and hull climb run during the year for the youth riders, Shea McTaggart who won the inaugral 5 mile TT on the 19th June, Thomas McDonnell for the ten mile TT on the 3rd of July, Shea McTaggart again for the ten mile TT on the 10th of July while the hill climb on 17th of July was won by Shaun Byrne. The most improved award was won by Ciaran McIlvarr and reflects his dedication and effort over the last year.

The top award ‘The Conor McAteer Perpetual Trophy’ for the rider who shows the greatest ability and promise went to Shea McTaggart.

Lawrence concluded by presenting bouquets of flowers to Christina Clarke, wife of main sponsor Michael Clarke, and to Marie Byrne and Pauline McGoldrick for their help over the past year.