McAllister is Road Race Champion

IN his first year in competitive cycling local lad Steven McAllister took his tally to seven race wins for 2010 with a victory at his club’s Road Race Championships on the famous and feared by many Tullaghans circuit.

Having won races at Bangor, Lurgan and Bellaghy and a bagfull of top 10 finishes these are along with his club events, have made it a successful year for the former Landhead PS pupil.

It a fantastic two weeks for Ballymoney Cycling Club, that has seen the Toon lads and lasses represented at the Bridges of Hope Community Cycle at Stranocum along with 170 other cyclists from all over Ireland turn up to support this inaugural event,

Jerome McKendry and Jason Taggart finishing 7th and 8th on the Dundrod circuit race in what was described by those who know about cycling as a display of gutsy and hard riding in this tough race.

It also saw BRC rider Stephen McNeilly get 2nd, Niall Carlin, Charlie Dickson and others from BCC who will be featured next week as they finished the 90 mile lap the Lough event.

Stevie McAllister 4th at Ballyliffen Donegal in the arduous Tour of the Lakes road race.

Young Aaron Swan and Craig Crawford getting terrific results at the All Ireland Youth Championships at Coalisland, with Aaron winning the Criterium race.

Ballymoney Cycling Club nominated for 2010 ‘Special Achievement of the Year Award’ in the prestigious Times North Antrim Sports Award.

Anyone who is involved with Ballymoney CC can only feel a sense of pride at the positive forward steps taken in the club’s first year back from its 13 year sabbatical.

Road race championships on the Tullaghans

As the racing season draws to a close on a handful of hardened and determined souls turned out to face the torturous Long Mountain Circuit, five laps up to St Mary’s cross and then on the final lap the life sucking effort to the finish out over the top of the Long Mountain.Three groups set off, with the eventual winner along with fast Ballymoney rider Chris Beattie they set off driving this group to hunt down the others who had set of at a frenetic pace.

With three laps covered a familiar trio appeared at the head of affairs. Local favourite Jason Taggart, Chris Beattie and the unshakable Steven McAllister.

They were just ahead of a group of four that included onetime local Colm McIlfatrick, Colm had ridden round these roads as a boy and had come along to enjoy a few memories - if it is indeed possible to have an enjoyable experience on Tullaghans.

Dessie Dillon, Johnny Dillon and Ryan Fenton had worked themselves into contention for a bronze medal as the silver and gold places were fast disappearing up the road.

Last lap and Beattie hammered the legs off the two BCC riders, attacking them continuously up to St Mary’s but each time he was brought back, with 800 metres to go the on form McAllister launched a savage attack shedding his two accomplices and on the line had time to fix the jersey and raise his arms victorious in the air to take the Club’s Championship 2010 from Jason Taggart and Dessie Dillon.

Overall for the 2010 season Jason Taggart has won the Time Trial and Road Race League, making a nice trophy collection for his first year in cycling.

Aaron Swan and Craig Crawford top schoolboys at Coalisland Championships.

Ballymoney CC/TSC Racing schoolboy sensations Aaron Swan and Craig Crawford travelled along with over 100 other top Irish youth riders to Coalisland in County Tyrone on Saturday and Sunday to take part and challenge Ireland’s best in three events, the Time Trial, the Criterium and the Road Race.

On the Saturday “Mighty Wee Man” Aaron Swan from Cloughmills won the Youths U13 Criterium race in a powerful display of aggressive riding and sprint finishing, and then not to be outdone this talented young rider was 5th in the Time Trial.

His best friend and team mate Craig Crawford had an excellent weekend with an outstanding silver medal win in the Time Trial and 4th in the fast and furious Criterium in the U14 section.

Many other riders after the testing events of Saturday would have stayed away for the final day of truth on the Sunday. The Road Race, but not these two, Swan and Crawford both fresh from the previous day were seen mingling and chatting at the start of their U13 and U14 Road Races.

In the U13 race the undaunted Aaron Swan was narrowly beaten by Michael O’Loughlin from Dan Morrissey CC Carrick on Suir, this was after aggressive riding by Swan saw the group burst and only O’Loughlin could stay with Swan as they broke away from the others. With O’Loughlin taking the sprint from Aaron Swan in 2nd place.

In the U14 race Craig Crawford was 6th behind Ireland’s top youths from Limerick and Kanturk.

Ballymoney Cycling Club want to congratulate both Craig and Aaron on their fantastic weekend of Racing and also bringing more success to the Ballymoney Club, the future looks really bright for these two young men in cycling’s toughest challenges.

Full details of the Lap the Lough 90 mile Leisure Cycle will be covered next week as all the final details are not yet in at the time of going to press.

Coming events

Only two Ballymoney CC events to go before the season is over, this Wednesday night is the ‘Race of the Falling Leaves’ 16.75km Circuit TT starting on the Kirk Road at 7pm sharp

Everyone is invited to attend this super circuit race with the record for it beaten only recently by John Madden.