Bann Valley's competitive race season now underway

Following on from the huge numbers at Bann Valley events last year, 35 riders turned up to test themselves, and the Club organisation.

The winner was East Tyrone's Stephen Hutchinson who came home 13 seconds clear of his club colleague Robert Stewart in second place with Bann Valley's Martin Robb taking a well earned third place.

Results: Stephen Hutchinson (ETCC) 11.42, Robert Stewart (ETCC) 11.55, Martin Robb (BVRC)11.58, Martin Tohill (Spires CC) 12.03, Matthew Brennan (BRC) 12.03, Jason Henry (UA) 12.15, Dean McElfatrick (BVRC) 12.22, Rodney Young (Carn Wh) 12.26, Jim Burns (BRC) 12.35, Alan Somerville (ETCC) 12.42, Gary Jeffers (ETCC) 12.47, John McElderry (BVRC) 12.48, Michael Carroll (BVRC) 12.53, Neil Seffen (Harps) 12.54, Adrian McPeake (BVRC) 12.56, Steven Caldwell (ETCC) 13.09, Steven McAllister (B'money CC) 13.19, Ryan Currie (BRC) 13.22, David Strang (BVRC) 13.25, Craig Crawford (TSC) 13.29, Aidan Donnelly (BVRC) 13.40, Aaron Swann, (TSC) 13.40, Shane Elder (Carn Wh) 14.09, Eunan McGoldrick (BVRC) 14.16, Ewan Strang (BVRC) 14.18, Sean McNicholl (BVRC) 14.20, Declan McTaggart (BVRC) 14.30, Sean Kelly (BVRC) 14.33, Gerry Scullion (BVRC) 14.37, Leslie Mitchel (ETCC)14.38 , Sean Boardman (BVRC) 14.44, Alan Donegan (BVRC) 14.50, Adrian Moody (BRC) 15.09, Damien Convery (BVRC) 15.13, Charlie O'Neill (BVRC) 16.10.

The Club would like to thank those who helped to marshal or assist on the night, this was invaluable due to the numbers who took part.

Meanwhile the 10 mile time trial league has a new sponsor in AWT Refrigeration.

Run by club member Trevor Reid, AWT Refrigeration specialises in transport refrigeration and Bann Valley Road Club are proud to be associated with the company.

Our thanks at this time are extended to last seasons sponsor Elite Sports for their support and are pleased to announce the continued involvement of the firm this year by means of sponsorship of individual time trials.

As the Bann Valley Classic is on next Sunday 18th April, full details be published this week on the club’s website www.bannvalley.co.uk, however the course and distance remain the same as last year.

The popular Ballynease circuit will be used and the race will start at the Downings Road/Ballymacombes Road junction at 2pm with sign on at Clady Hall from 12noon. Sign on will close 15 minutes before the race is due to start.The race fee will be 10.00.

The race will be neutralised for the 2 mile transfer to the start.

This years event will be for A2,A3,and A4 categories with juniors and ladies being catered for in the A4 race. The 'A' race will be for A2 and A3's and will be over 8 laps of the course while the 'B' race will cater for the A4's including women and juniors and will consist of 6 laps of the course.