John takes it to the ‘Max’ to win Road Club’s Veterans’ title

Chairman John Maxwell, from Cromkill Road has won the clubs veterans time trial best all-rounder competition for the 2014 season.

The Henderson cup, for the veterans’ BAR, which was introduced for the 1999 season, is awarded to the rider with the best overall age standard performance.

Each rider is given a universally recognised “par” or standard time for each distance depending on his or her age, and the one with the biggest overall accumulated total time is the winner.

John’s best performances in the Northstone sponsored series of club races for the 2014 season were: 10 miles, 25 minutes 35 seconds on 27th August at Woodgreen. This beat his age standard for a 64 year old by 5 minutes 10 seconds.

John’s 25 miles time was 65 minutes 41 seconds, which was recorded on 4th June in the Combat Cancer cup event on the Woodgreen, Dunsilly, Ballee course. This beat his standard time by 12 minutes 39 seconds.

At 50 miles John clocked 2 hours 12 minutes 12 seconds in the Sam McQuigg cup event on 25th June, again on the A26 Woodgreen circuit.

This was the decisive time for John as he beat standard by a massive 30 minutes 25 seconds.

When all three times are added up his winning total is plus 48 minutes 14 seconds.

Sean Wright finished second with + 45 minutes 31 seconds while Martin Ruddy was third with + 34.54 (4) Tommy Wilson + 34.05

John also finished eighth in the time trial handicap league in 2014.

FUN TOUR SIX

Saturday’s sixth ride in the fun tour series saw 70 riders assemble at Rex Bonar house for the day’s activities.

Another £46 was donated to the Chernobyl Children’s appeal and the total now stands at £971.

The 41 participants in the touring group headed out in two bunches until they reached the quieter roads. Their route took them out the Doury road, Dowgry road and on to Ballyweaney and Loughguille.

Then it was Stranocum and the mid-way stop at the duckpond in Ballymoney.

The return trip was again in two groups as the progresses along Bravallen road and on to Mullan road and Carclinty. They had a total of 46 miles, at 14.6mph; this was their longest challenge to date.

The “A” group, which leaves at the slightly earlier time of 9.15am, had 13 riders and they completed a 63 miles ride to Larne and around the coast road to Ballygally, Glenarm, Carnlough and Waterfoot before the 6 miles ascent of Glenariff glen and then in through Cargan, Martinstown and Rathkenny. Their average speed was 19 mph and, according to Martin Ruddy’s Garmin satnav report, they climbed 1576 metres.

Club Chairman John Maxwell had 16 riders in his group. They went to Randalstown, Antrim, Crumlin and Glenavy where they turned left and headed up the mountain. Then it was on by Cochranestown Road and Leathemstown Road to Dundrod where they turned right and then onto the 7 mile straight to Antrim and then by the A26 home. John’s group completed 54 miles at 18.8 mph average.

24 riders qualified for their bronze medals on Saturday having done five tours.

The medallists are – Adrian Archibald, Alan Blair, Bobby Currie, Ryan Currie, Jim Doherty, Peter Kearney, Nigel Logan, Trevor Magee, Deirdre McAuley, Harold McKinney, Bernie Monaghan, Francis O’Kane, Kay Rainey, David Rankin, Derwood Ritchie, Colin Scullion, Jonathan Scullion, Daryl Sempey, Maria Shannon, Peter Smyth, Chris Warwick, Andrew Wills, Stefan Wills and Wilnor Worthington.

The fun tours are due to continue for a total of 13 weeks and leave each Saturday from Rex Bonar house at 9.30am. (Except the Alan Blair group which departs at 9.15am)

Medals and certificates of merit are awarded for five tours (Bronze) eight for silver and 11 for gold.

There is a minimum £5 donation to charity which is the Chernobyl children’s appeal NI.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Ballymena Road Club’s annual general meeting will be held at Rex Bonar House on Monday, October 27 2014 at 7.15pm.

All notices of motion and nominations for official positions should be forwarded to the club secretary Hazel Hughes before the AGM.

Trophies

Winners of perpetual trophies are asked to return these no later than the AGM. Please note that trophies must be returned in a clean and polished condition.

Club dinner.

The 2014 Ballymena Road Club prize presentation dinner is scheduled to be held at Leighinmohr house hotel on Friday, November 21.

Tickets will be available next week from club officials.

Sympathy

Ballymena Road Club members and officials were shocked and saddened to hear of the death of the wife of their fellow club member Andrew McClelland last week.

Mrs Catherine McClelland (Kate) passed away suddenly on Tuesday, her funeral service was held on Saturday morning at Feystown near Glenarm.

The club extend their sympathy to Andrew and the family circle and also to club member Sean Elliott following the death of his mother in law last week.