Matt puts gloss on great season

Confirmation of Matthew's latest achievement crowns an exceptional year for the popular Rockgrove Valley cyclist during which time he won the Ulster junior road race championship and the season long "Weefoot trophy"

Matthew also won the Ulster junior 25 miles time trial championship and took a bronze medal in the 10 miles event.

Matthew recorded a five miles time of 10 minutes 42 seconds on 4th August on the Woodgreen to Ballee course.

His best 10 miles time of the year, 22 minutes 31 seconds, was registered early in the season, on 21st April, on the Woodgreen to Dunsilly course.

His performance at 25 miles was 58 minutes 17 seconds registered on 5th May again at Woodgreen.

Overall Matthew's winning average speed was 26.807 mph and this meant he retained the RF Linton trophy which he also won in 2009.

By comparison his winning times last year were; 11.45 (5 miles), 23.38 (10), and 62.18 (25) overall average 24.999 mph. if he improves as much in 2011 he will be challenging for the club's senior Best all Rounder title.

Steven Carruthers finished runner up in the junior BAR with times of 12.16 (5), 26.39 (10), and 73.19 (25 miles) average 22.477 mph.

Matthew sums up his 2010 season: "This has been a great season for me. It started well and when I was placing well in races, I took eighth in the Bobby Crilly and had a second in the Kirkistown Criterium.

"I made the Irish Development team at the start of the year which I was pleased with. I also had the opportunity to race for the Cycling Ulster – Slane cycles - team twice this year. The first time was at the Ras Donegal. I felt strong in the race and was well up on the GC sheet. However, on the second stage, I crashed hard and that ruined my chances in that race. The second time I raced for Cycling Ulster was at the Portaferry three day event in July and I was well placed in it."

"However winning the Ulster junior road race championship at Dundrod at the end of August was definitely the biggest achievement of my year and I was over the moon with it, as it was something I had really been aiming for. To cross the line knowing I had won the gold medal was a really great feeling."

"I also achieved another gold medal in the Ulster 25 miles junior time trial championship a couple of weeks later and then I won a bronze medal in the Ulster 10 miles time trial championship. This was slightly disappointing but I was very sick before and during the event. I wouldn't have been riding if it wasn't part of the Weefut Trophy.

"The Weefut Trophy works by taking the finishing positions of the junior riders in certain races. Points are assigned and a league table drawn up. The result came down to the wire and the 10 championship was the final round. I knew I had to ride the 10 even though I had been sick but in the end I managed to secure it, and this meant that the season had finished on a high too.

“In the club racing season I won the road racing league and I also won the junior best all rounder at the time trials. 2010 has really been a great season for me, roll on 2011!”

Matthew and Steven will receive their awards at the annual prize presentation dinner which will take place in the Adair Arms hotel on Friday 19th November at 7.30pm.

Tickets, priced at 15 in advance, are now currently available from the committee.

FUN TOURS

Saturday’s fun tour was the seventh of this year’s 13 week series and it proved to be as popular as ever with 61 cyclists assembling at Rex Bonar House for the start.

The touring group had a longer that usual ride of 45 miles which took them out the Doury road to Ballyweaney and on out the Ballyveely road and across the Drones road towards Stranocum before joining the Gracehill road. Then it was on to Kilraughts road and into Ballymoney for a well earned break at the riverside park “duckpond”

The second part of the ride took the group along the Garryduff road to Dunloy and on through Glarryford, Dunminning, Craigs and Cullybackey.

The “A” group had a similar start to their ride but after Stranocum they headed to Dervock, Derrykeigan, Ballybogy and across to Loughan and on to Rasharkin and up the Craig’s moss to Cullybackey and home. This was a total of 56 miles at 18.8 mph average and 2645 feet of climbing.

Unfortunately one rider, Harry Thompson, was injured after slipping on a muddy road surface. This occurred near Dervock on a section of road where agricultural vehicles had been operating in a road side field.

It is a timely reminder to all road users to take care on country roads as, even on a dry day, you may come across a dangerous surface.

Harry went to casualty at the Royal Victoria Hospital on Saturday afternoon. He has bad bruising to his elbow and also the possibility of a fracture, all his club mates wish him a speedy recovery.

Another 11 riders earned their bronze medals on Saturday, they were Seamus Butler, Ryan Currie, Jackie Knowles, Steven Lamont, Gordon Lennox, Judy Mahon, John Maxwell, Kevin McLister, Paul McWilliams, Peter Smyth and Trevor Thompson.

This Saturday’s tour will be the first of the silver medal rides and anyone with full attendance, and there are 17 so far, will earn their award.

Another 15 was donated to the charity fund on Saturday, the total has now reached 748, and there are still a few who have still to donate, so hopefully we can reach the 800 mark for the first time ever.

On the subject of charity, Patsy McGurk is holding his final fundraiser before heading off next month to Egypt for his sponsored ride.

Patsy is holding a quiz in the Michelin athletic club on Thursday night of this week 22nd October at 8 o’clock

The entry fee of 6 per person also includes supper.

AGM

Ballymena Road Club cyclists are scheduled to hold their annual general meeting on Monday 8th November at 7.15pm in Rex Bonar House.

All notices of motion should be forwarded to the club secretary Hazel Hughes using the official forms which are available from the club’s website.