Cyclist Bankhead wins inter-club league

Hall Booth, who has been the BRC team co-ordinator for the series gives his account of the race. “Going into the race Michael Kelly, from Carn Wheelers, held a slender one point advantage over Ballymena’s Chris Beattie with Ryan Bankhead a further point behind.

“It was all to play for and a tactical plan was drawn up before the race which resulted in one of the best BRC team performances I’ve seen in years.”

Scratch had to get up or the league was over. As a result some second group BRC riders opted to drop back into scratch and give Chris and Ryan their help.

The race was four laps of a 5.5 mile circuit, cut by a lap due to light constraints, which proved a wise decision by the organisers. At the end of lap one the deficit had been reduced by one minute with Connor Young and Ryan Currie driving hard on the front.

First group riders Peter and Steven Smyth as well as Richard Reid had a tumble halfway through lap two with Reid being taken to hospital for a laceration on his chin. The Smyth brothers had some cuts and bruises but were largely unscathed.

The BRC riders in scratch continued to drive on laps 2 and 3 and had caught the front group by lap 4.

Coming to the line the sprint was taken by Ryan Bankhead with Chris Beattie taking a superb second. Quinton McFall proved his strength in his comeback year to take 5th with promising junior Ryan Shaw 7th.

The remaining BRC riders finished in the bunch after having given their all. Ryan’s win ensured he won the league with Chris second. The BRC team also won the team contest in the league overall.

“In what has been a sad week for Ballymena road club Billy would have been proud,” added Hall.

Ryan Bankhead too was quick to acknowledge the help of his club mates. “We agreed before the start that we were doing this race for Billy. The club rode brilliantly. I just had a great ride round and I am delighted to have won. Billy really inspired everyone on the night. It would be great if we could ride like this all the time,” added Ryan.

DUO SECOND AND THIRD

The Bann Valley club had also been in action on Tuesday night with their club road race at Ballynease.

There was success here for BRC’s Peter Smyth and Alan Blair who finished second and third. The race was won by John O’Neill of Spires CC.

COMBAT CANCER CUP

Ballymena Road Club held two events in their Northstone backed series of club races last week.

The earlier postponed Combat Cancer cup 25 miles time trial took place on Monday night at Woodgreen.

Thirteen club members took part and Ryan Currie recorded a personal best time of 54 minutes 06 seconds to top the result. Ryan Shaw beat his previous best by over two minutes and he won the handicap section and with it the Combat Cancer cup.

Results (1) Ryan Currie 54.06 (2) Connor Young 55.34 (3) Tommy Wilson 55.58 (4) Ryan Shaw 60.54 (5) Peter Smyth 62.02 (6) Martin Ruddy 62.46 (7) Bobby Currie 65.51 (8) Emma Smyth 66.53 (9) Stephen Smyth 67.08 (10) Maeve Savage 67.36 (11) John Maxwell 68.41 (12) Beresford Millar 71.09 (13) Claire Gillespie 73.45

Visitors (1) Craig Crawford (TSC) 58.35 (2) Darrell Erwin (Hand cycle) 81.11

Handicap (1) Ryan Shaw 57.54 (2) Wilson 5.09 (3) Young 59.18 (4) Ryan Currie 59.41 (5) Bobby Currie 59.44 (6) Maxwell 60.02

The youth race on Monday night was the Tully hill climb at Portglenone. Emma Gordon won in 12 minutes 10 seconds.

FIVE MILE TT

Only four riders took part in Wednesday’s 5 miles time trial on the Woodgreen to Ballee course. Junior rider Connor Young was fastest in 10 minutes 38 seconds with Peter Smyth second on 11 minutes 35 seconds. Visitor Craig Crawford recorded 11.58 and Stephen Smyth was next with 12.30. Handicap result (1) Peter Smyth 11.19 (2) C Young 11.56 (3) S Smyth 12.11

CONGRATULATIONS

There was some good news, on what had been a very sad week for Ballymena Road Club, with the wedding of club member Ryan Connor. Ryan and his fiancé Julie Allen.

Ryan and Julie were married in Central Park in New York on Tuesday 14th August. The club congratulates the happy couple and wishes them a long and happy married life together.

CALENDAR

Wednesday 22nd August - Ballymena Road Club cyclists will hold their final road race of the season when the Will Henry cup 20 miles road race takes place from Glarryford. Youth section riders also have an event on Wednesday night when their Sandy Spence cup RR takes place at the same venue.

Ryan Currie leads the club’s road racing league series with a total of 45 points. Chris Beattie is second on 39 and Connor Young third on 38. Next its double race winner Nigel Kernohan on 34. Clifford Grant has 31 and Tommy Wilson is sixth on 30 points.

Thursday 23rd August - Newly formed Ballycastle cycling club have sent an email to all the local clubs in the area inviting them to take part in their first ever time trial.

They are holding a 10 miles event on the main Straid road which links Ballycastle and Bushmills. The race starts at Ballinlea cross roads at 7pm and the riders will race in the direction of Bushmills before turning and retracing to the start on the same route.

McQUIGG CUP

Ballymena Road Club were forced to postpone their McQuigg cup 50 miles time trial for the second time.

It had been re-scheduled for last Saturday morning but planned works on the main A26 Lisnevenagh road meant that a 40mph speed limit was in place because of lane restrictions. I understand this was to enable grass cutting to take place. The club hope to rearrange the event for another Saturday morning soon, subject to receiving the necessary permission.