Road Club handbook a 'must' for local cyclists

This year’s book has 36 pages and features the club’s top rider from 2009, Conor McAllister, on the front cover.

The handbook also features another 11 photographs, by Darren Crawford, which include shots of those who won the club’s season long competitions in 2009.

An excellent action photo of Adrian Kerr, who won the time trial handicap league, is also included as are pictures of all the successful youth section riders and other senior club members who won silverware in 2009.

The handbook is referred to throughout the year, as it includes details of all the senior, junior, ladies, veterans and youth section race fixtures for the 2010 season. Bann Valley’s race calendar is also included as well as touring fixtures for both Ballymena Road Club and Michelin’s team bibsport club.

Information regarding the assembly points and course details for all the club’s mid week club race events, which is particularly useful to newcomers, is included.

There is even a section entitled “tips for beginners” and “pre race bike checks” which is well worth a read, even for long term club members.

The advantages of joining Ballymena Road Club, as well as information on the insurance benefits of being a club member is included.

There is a section listing all the club’s office bearers and the various committees as well as contact details for the club’s management committee.

All of the club’s 2009 club race title holders and details of club records and their current holders are also included.

There is even a section devoted to advising cyclists how to report dangerous dogs, an ever present hazard, with telephone numbers for local council dog wardens listed.

The booklet, which sells at a modest 3, has received generous support from Nicholl Brothers, Motor sport and spares, Maine Auto spares, Galgorm Group, The Country Garage and Rossmore Dental care, all of whom took full page advertisements and another 11 sponsors who have half page adverts.

Adrian Kerr made a great effort once again in securing many of the advertisements. The club thanks Adrian for all his work and urges club members, where possible, to support its sponsors.

NATIONAL SHORTLIST

Three BRC cyclists have been short listed to proceed to the next step in the Cycling Ireland development squad selection process. This follows the two National training camps which took place in December and February.

Junior rider Matthew Brennan, who is a relative newcomer, and brothers Conor and Leo McAllister, who are in the under 25 category, are the successful candidates.

The next stage in the process relates to fitness testing.

JUNIOR TRAINING DAY

Ryan Connor had the juniors and under 23 riders together on Sunday morning for their pre season training day at Ballymena. They had planned to ride the Ballymena stage of the tour of the north but early morning snow and frost caused them to change their plans.

The group instead simply rode to Templepatrick and back to Ballymena before retracing back to Dunsilly for a second leg, this time with a bit more speed. The riders then assembled at the Dunsilly hotel for lunch and an informal chat about their plans for the season ahead.

WOMEN’S LEAGUE

The opening round of the Ulster Women’s Association road racing league will take place at Nutts Corner on 28th February when Phoenix GP hosts the action.

The Road Race League will consist of eight events, with a rider’s best seven results to count, overall sponsorship comes from Sportactive.

The early rounds will be short distance, handicapped events to encourage participation. Races will become longer and handicaps shorter as the season progresses.

There will also be a separate Time Trial League, with a total of eight time trials being held in conjunction with Ballymena Road Club, and sponsored by Caldwell Motor Factors. All the rounds will be held at Woodgreen.

For more information please contact Louise Fullerton on 07515 174 543 or email [email protected]

SEASON OPENER

Banbridge Cycling Club will be hoping for better weather conditions, for their Annaclone Road Race this Saturday, than those which caused the cancellation of last Sunday’s Phoenix reliability trial.

There will be two races at Annaclone, one of which, the “A” event will be handicapped and open to A1, A2 and A3 category riders. The “B” race is open to A4 Category only. The races are scheduled to start at 12 noon with registration open from 10:20 am until 11:45 am.

Phoenix, too, will be hoping for better luck, weather wise, when they hold their Phoenix GP road race at Nutts Corner this Sunday, February 28. This event is listed as 70/90 kilometres with a starting time of 11am from Crumlin.

REGISTRATION

Ballymena Road Club cyclists who haven’t yet renewed their membership for 2010 will have one more opportunity to do so at this Monday night’s (March 1) monthly meeting which will be held in the club rooms from 7.15pm.

All application forms received since last month’s meeting will be posted off to Cycling Ireland’s office in Dublin the next day.

Any one wishing to join BRC after next Monday night will have to contact Cycling Ireland “on line” themselves when applying for CI membership and racing licences.

So if you need assistance completing your form please make sure to attend Monday’s meeting as the club registrar will not be sending off individual applications to Dublin.