Entry shortage results in Red Hand Trophy race cancellation

However, race organiser Hugh McCullough was forced to cancel after having only received 38 confirmed entries by Sunday night.

Despite a posting on Monday on Cycling Ulster’s website, which emphasised the status and importance of the race, no more entries were forthcoming and Hugh reluctantly “pulled the plug.” As far as I remember this race has never been cancelled before.

A statement from the club read: “It is with regret that Ballymena Road Club have announced that the Red Hand Trophy race, due to be held on Saturday (24th August), has been cancelled.

“The club apologises to all those who have pre-entered the race and advises them that all entry fee cheques will be destroyed. The club plans to continue to run this race next year, preferably on its more usual date on the calendar.”

ERRIGAL INTERNATIONAL YOUTH TOUR

Ballymena Road Club – Chain Reaction Cycles – under 16 youth rider George Graham was part of the Cycling Ulster team which competed in the Errigal International youth tour in Co. Donegal recently.

Ballymena Academy student George gives his brief account of the race.

“Stage 1 - I had a good first stage, staying in the leading bunch of about twenty, while five riders got away up the road. I was 17th with the same time as sixth place.

Stage 2 - A hill climb time trial and I lost 17 seconds to the winner but was still only ten seconds off 6th place.

Stage 3 - I punctured early into the stage and never regained contact. I lost nearly 12 minutes and this shot me down the overall GC.

Stage 4 - Was a criterium around Letterkenny but I missed the split at the beginning, when about 20 riders went away, although I stayed in main bunch for the rest of the race. I’m very happy to have completed the race and I feel my overall performance was much better than last year. It’s just a pity about the puncture but that’s just bad luck.” added George.

ULSTER YOUTH TIME TRIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

George was back in Donegal last weekend for the Ulster youth championships at Gweedore.

This time his luck was better and he came home with a bronze medal, again George gives his account “The course was a lumpy 4.9 miles circuit with a headwind the whole way so I knew it was going to be difficult. When I was beginning my warm-up it started to rain extremely heavily but luckily it eased up before my start, I felt really good throughout and although the wet roads were slippery I managed to post a time of 22 minutes 43 seconds, which was only 22 seconds off the winners time, and this earned me third place and a medal.”

Results U16 Boys time trial (1) Ryan Orr Ballymoney CC (2) Aaron Swan TSC racing (3) George Graham Ballymena Road Club

DALRIADA CHALLENGE

This coming weekend will be very busy for Ballymoney CC who will hold their Dalriada Challenge on Saturday and the Ulster Road Race championships on Sunday.

The Dalriada cycling challenge will raise money for Benvardin Animal Rescue Kennels (BARK) and local Children’s Welfare and will begin at Roseyards Church Hall, 114 Kirk Road Ballymoney BT53 8HN. Sign on will start at 9:00am and the challenge will start at 10:00am sharp. There will be three routes on offer, 100 Kilometres, 50Km and 25Km. Sign on fee is £15 for adults; under 18 riders are most welcome and can make a voluntary donation. There are free T shirts for the first 100 riders to sign on.

HEDGES ULSTER ROAD RACE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ballymoney CC will continue their busy weekend this Sunday by promoting the 2013 Ulster Road Race Championships. The race will be using the same circuit where Sigma Sport professional Peter Hawkins took the honours in 2012.

The circuit has been described as one of the best in Ireland, winding through the lush green Co Antrim countryside, racing at neck break speed through “The Park” with its narrow Flemish style lanes, passing through the most photographed natural phenomena in Northern Ireland,

The “Dark Hedges” and enters the village of Stranocum. It is in the centre of the village where the finish line is located.

The sign on is as usual at the Ballymoney Rugby Club, 63 Kilraughts Rd, BT53 7HL from 9.30am. Categories are as follows; senior men, A1 - A2 - A3 and Juniors 8 laps (80 miles) starts at 11.00am. Veterans 6 laps (60 miles) starts at 11.05am. Women 5 laps (50 miles) starts at 11.10am.

For more details on both events contact Maurice McAllister on 07707088396 or [email protected]

FUN TOURS ON HORIZON

Ballymena Road Club – Chain Reaction Cycles – are scheduled to commence their Autumn and Winter series of fun cycle tours on Saturday 7th September, from Rex Bonar House at 9.30am.

Once again the tours will receive support from Ballymena Borough Council who will host a presentation at the end of the series.

The normal well tried and tested format will continue for this year’s series.

The participants will be divided into at least two groups with the more experienced riders scheduled to cover about 50 miles on their tour.

Club members will welcome newcomers to the touring section’s group where the average speed will be kept to around 15mph.

This speed isn’t exactly slow for novices so anyone who turns up needs to have been doing some training in preparation for the event. The minimum age of the participants is set at 13 years and all those under 16 must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or other nominated adult.

Experienced club members are asked to make themselves available as “travelling marshalls”. They need to be fit to do this job as it means riding ahead of the group, to cover junctions and corners and then staying in position until everyone goes past, and then cycling back up to the front again ready for the next turn. This will certainly be good training for those volunteers!

Certificates and medals will be awarded to the successful participants with five tours earning bronze, eight for silver while 11 wins gold.

Participants are advised that crash helmets must be worn. They are also advised to dress appropriately for the weather conditions and to bring a rain jacket, spare tube, food and money. There is a minimum one off entry fee of £5 to cover the fun tour series with the donations going to the Chernobyl children’s appeal NI.

AWAY FOR THE DAY

Sunday 8th September. Ballymena Road Club’s touring section will hold their final “away for the day tour” when their, “last resort”, tour of the harbours will leave from the duck pond in Ballymoney, the starting time will be 10am.

This end of season tour is very popular and is ridden at a moderate pace. The route includes Balnamore, Mountsandel, Coleraine, Portstewart, Portrush, Portballintrae, Dunseverick, Port Bradddan and Ballintoy, where there is a tea stop at the harbour. Then it’s on to Ballycastle and the inland route via Mosside and Dervock back to Ballymoney.