Ronnie Smyth fastest on Dundrum Road

A large collection of riders had turned up on this bright dry spring evening including many of the riders who had just returned the day before from a week's cycling in Mallorca. Some of them were quite tired after a tough week in the saddle and had chosen to marshal the event instead.

Among the club members were three guest riders from other clubs and the McKelvey family who are ran a charity cycle on Sunday April 18 around Strangford Lough, in aid of Marie Curie and raised just under 3000 - well done to them.

Trevor and Martin were busy getting the 38 keen riders signed on and ordered so that Davy Robb could get them set off around 7.10pm with just 30 seconds interval between each rider. This round was the first of 10 events which counted towards the club's Womens and Youth League.

First away were the junior riders, Nathan Proctor, Zak Hanna, Christopher Weir and Eoghan McGuigan and two of the female riders Anne Maguire and Caroline Patterson. Fastest of the evening was Ronnie Smyth with a time of 24m 16s with Davy McKnight second 24m 48s, Gavin Magowan third 25m 29s and Darren Weir fourth 25m 54s. It was great to see Marcus Magowan back on the bike after a nasty fall back in February when he broke his jaw and wrist.

Marcus was only one second slower than Darren and Chris Magowan was just one second slower than Marcus. Neill Currie was 7th with a time of 26m 19s and behind him setting a great time was Bob Patterson 27m 29s who finished with the same time as Michael Cassidy who also had a great ride. Peter Bryson was 10th fastest with a time of 27m 48s.

Looking further down the list we had Geoff Brown, more accostumed to being on a mountain bike, setting a great time of 28m 14s which gives some indication of why he does so well at the trail quests. Newcomers John Clyde and Trevor Wright both finished inside the magic 30 minute time. The fastest female rider was Caroline Patterson who completed the tough 10 mile circuit in exactly 30 minutes with Mary Hunter not far behind on 31m 13s.

Many thanks to timekeepers Trevor Annett and Davy Robb and to all the marshals for keeping the riders safe. The next round is another 10 mile individual time trial which will take place on Thursday 22 April 2010 on the Lurgan Road in Dromore starting at 6:50pm.