Bann Wheelers impress at Audi GP

A strong field presented at the start line despite the wet conditions.

Bryan and Gary ride strongly throughout the race and both had been involved in attempted breakaways during the race, Kay also ride strongly throughout the race keeping a close eye on her female rivals. In the last few miles the main field was together Gary and Bryan were both feeling strong so they decided that Bryan would attack in an attempt to go clear and take victory and if Bryan was caught Gary would have a go in the sprint finish.

Bryan subsequently attacked on a short hill about a mile from the finish and the field was unable to respond to the power of the Aghadowey man, Bryan made a solo effort to the line and held off the closing bunch to take a deserved first victory in an open race. However, Bryan’s victory was only the start of the success for the Bann Wheelers, as although Gary kendall did not participate in the frantic chase after Bryan in the last five hundred metres, however, this did not stop him coming to the front in the sprint for second place, in which he was narrowly edged out to take third, In the women’s race Kay Hack rode strongly all day and produced a fast finish to take victory in the women’s event. Certainly the trio had a successful days racing and all at the club would wish them further success.

James leads Road Race League

The Bann Wheelers held their second event of the club Road Race League last Tuesday night on the Drumiel Circuit, Aghadowey in which consisted of five laps of the four mile course.

Conditions were dry, however the 21 riders faced a cold northerly wind.

The race was handicapped in which 3 groups were separated by four and a half minutes.

The second group rode strongly under the direction of the experienced Noel Mc Neill, who was using a fixed wheel, many of the less experienced riders in the group identified Noel’s experience as the key to their success on the night.

The second group caught the first group on the road in the second lap and worked well together to hold the scratch group off to the finish line.

In the sprint finish James Mullan of Roe Valley CC put in an strong sprint and looked to have done enough to take victory, however, Bann Wheelers first year rider James Thompson made an explosive burst in the last twenty metres to overtake the Roe Valley man yards from the line.

James has certainly grasped the basics of road racing as he has only ride two races and been victorious in both.

Big Steven Logan crossed the line together with Noel Mc Neill to take joint third, Steven reported that he was delighted with the result as he was feeling slightly sluggish during the race due to the intensity of Sunday’s training session, Steven reported feeling dizzy when he had returned home after Sunday’s the training run due to riding in the warm weather and not drinking enough.

Bobby Kane of Ballymoney CC was the first of the scratch men home to take fifth place, closely followed by Robert Kennedy who produced a fast finish to take sixth, first year riders Bryan McKinney, Chris McIntyre rode strongly in the scratch group and finished seventh and eighth respectively, Portrush man, Sharman Crawford was also in the scratch group for the first time and rode strongly to finish ninth, Colin Loughery of Roe valley CC was tenth.

Scratch riders Ciaran Mullan and Mark Wilkenson were eleventh and twelfth, Nigel Kerr, thirteenth, Damien Hazlett, put in a strong performance to finish fourteenth in a strong field, Damien’s form is improving steadily at present.

Thirteen year old Blayne Watton put in a typically gutsy performance to finish fifteenth, Blayne lost contact with the second group but hung on to the back of the scratch men until the final lap.

Blayne reported reaching speeds of thirty two miles per hour on the flat course in restricted gears.

Colm McIlfatrick and Peter Bell showed determination to finish the race in sixteenth and seventeenth respectively.

Again the club would like to thank timekeeper Ian Nevin and the marshalls for ensuring a safe night’s racing.