Great turnout for Freewheelers

The event- which is celebrating its 25th anniversary- is organised by the ‘Ulster Hand Cycling Association’.

With close to 300 cyclists many from the Antrim and Ballymena areas, as well as all over the province, leaving Antrim to make their way around the UK and Ireland`s biggest lough.

The cyclists on the 25th anniversary of the event passed through Antrim, Randalstown, Toome, Ballyronan, Portadown and Lurgan then conquering Aghalee hill on their way to Crumlin before returning to Antrim, to complete the 78 mile circuit.

Certificates were presented at the finish in Antrim to all who completed this very challenging Lough Neagh cycle tour.

Event organiser, Ivor Jess MBE said: “We are very grateful to all the cyclists who took on this challenge in order to help develop disability sport in our province.”

The cyclists were backed up by service vans kindly provided by JBE Building Services of Ballymena and Alan McComb Joinery from Dundrod.

Refreshments were handed out by the willing Freewheelers volunteers, and were available to all concerned as they reached the half way point at Moy roundabout.

The final amount raised will be published in the local press as soon as all sponsorship monies have been received.

All funds raised from the event will go towards further developing sports for the disabled in Northern Ireland.

Sports that will benefit from this money will be wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis, hand cycling and trackchair racing as well as ski-ing for the disabled.

The annual event was once again a great success and the organising committee would like to thank the sponsors, the hard working service crews, the catering team, the Freewheelers’ willing volunteers and to all who kindly contributed.

Without their assistance it would not be possible to stage this highly popular event and successful event.