Ladies' champion looks back on a year of highs and Lou-s!

She recorded a 5 miles time of 12 minutes 00 seconds on the Woodgreen to Ballee course on 23rd June while her fastest club 10 miles time trial of the season was recorded on 19th May.

On that occasion, on the Woodgreen to Dunsilly course, she clocked 25 minutes 24 seconds. Overall this represented a winning average speed of 24.311 mph.

Maeve Savage finished second with times of 13 minutes 48 seconds (5 miles) and 28 minutes 33 seconds (10 miles) average 21.377 mph.

Third place went to Joanne Kee with 14.16 (5) and 29.53 (10) average 20.553 mph.

Louise also competed at the 25 miles time trial distance and even though this doesn't count for the ladies' rose bowl trophy she still had the satisfaction of beating her previous best time by almost five minutes.

That performance came in the Combat Cancer trophy event on the Woodgreen, Dunsilly, and Ballee course on 2nd June. Louise recorded a time of 65 minutes 03 seconds to take sixth place in the club section and also win the handicap section and with it the Combat Cancer trophy.

In open competition Louise finished second overall in the inaugural season of the Ulster Women's Association time trial league series, a series which she was instrumental in creating.

On 12th September Louise recorded a time of 66 minutes 05 seconds to win the silver medal in the Ulster ladies' 25 miles time trial championship at Woodgreen.

Louise summarises her "highs and lows" of the year as follows: "My season in 2010 was very fulfilling and enjoyable; not only as a competitor but in my involvement in organising the Ulster Women's Association road racing and UWA time trial leagues.

"On a personal note, I mainly enjoyed the time trials this year and, although I didn't beat my personal best times, at the 5 and 10, I managed to finish second overall in the UWA TT league."

"Rachael Withers was the winner but it came down to the last event, which I won, but Rachael's previous results meant she was the overall winner. I was very pleased at the caliber of some of the women I was beating in time trials during the season."

"The Women's TT league was run in conjunction with the Ballymena Road Club's time trials and I was very pleased to win the handicap in the Combat Cancer Cup. I also retained the ladies' BAR rose bowl."

"I won a silver medal in Ulster 25 Championship, but unfortunately I was unable to compete in the Ulster 10 mile event which clashed with the Ras na Mban in Co. Kerry, where I represented Cycling Ulster.

Overall I was very pleased with my season and next year I would hope for a fast night, with the right conditions, when I aim to achieve a personal best.

I would also love to win the ladies' UWA time trial league as the league was very well attended and supported."

"My road racing in the UWA RR league was a bit of a disappointment, I felt I never really achieved what I was capable of. From an organiser’s point of view the numbers initially were very good but then dwindled throughout the season. Next year we hope to adjust the league to make it more competitive for those stronger women and also to run a beginners league to encourage more women to race.”

“Although my UWA road racing was disappointing I had a couple of good results in the Ballymena RC, Bann Wheelers, Carn Wheelers and Bann Valley, Inter-Club league events, where I finished fifth and twelfth in fields of 60 riders, mainly against the men. I finished joint first woman in this league along with Kay Hack from Bann Wheelers.”

I was very proud to ride in the Ulster team in the Dublin Criterium, my first ever Crit, this too was a great experience and the atmosphere was fantastic in front of the big crowd of spectators. Women from Ulster clubs were very well represented at this event and Tommy Lamb is hoping to help the UWA run a Criterium series in 2011.”

“I also represented Ulster in the 3 day International stage race “Ras na Mban” where I was in a team of nine riders.

“I was really looking forward to this race as I had ridden it twice before and I’d had good experiences and I had finished quite well previously but this year the level of the professional women was very high and I finished back in the third bunch on the first stage, but still happy enough.

“The ultimate low point though, was a crash involving our team mate Caroline Patterson from Dromara, which meant an Intensive Care Unit stay for her, and it certainly upset the whole team. I did not finish on the final stage due to a crash, but thankfully no injuries.”

“I was very disappointed with my experience of the Ras na Mban this year but it won’t put me off for next year, as it is the most highly ranked International event for women in Ireland.”

“The season finished in a fun mixed 2-up 10 mile time trial, where I partnered Simon Stockton from Madigan GP and we finished fourth. The entry fee proceeds went to the Davy McCall Foundation, which supported women’s events throughout the year.

“I aim to improve on all aspects of my racing next year and I intend to organise more training events for women and, in particular, pairing up with the Scottish women from Sandy Wallace Cycling Club, in Scotland. We would hope to host them over here in Ulster.”

CLUB DINNER

Louise and all the other club prizewinners will receive their awards at the annual prize presentation dinner which is scheduled for the Adair Arms hotel on Friday 19th November at 7.30pm.

Tickets are currently available at a reduced price of 15 (10 for youth members).

The guest of honour this year will be Cormac McCann of the Phoenix cycling club in Belfast.

Cormac was the manager of the successful cycling team at the recent Commonwealth Games in India and is sure to be a very interesting guest.

AGM

Ballymena Road Club’s annual general meeting is scheduled to take place this Monday 8th November in Rex Bonar House from 7.15pm.

Club members are encouraged to attend and show their support for the out going committee members.

Notices of motion and nominations for committee positions should be given to club secretary Hazel Hughes by this weekend. Nominations are also sought for a worthy recipient of the “Friendship cup” which is awarded annually for non competitive achievement or services rendered to the club.