Ryan ‘Banks’ on another strong finish to win opening race of club series

Ballymena Road Club – Chain Reaction Cycles – held their first club event in the Northstone sponsored series last Wednesday evening at Broughshane where round one of the scratch road race series took place on the Sheddings circuit.
Ryan Bankhead won the opening round of Ballymena Road CLub's race series.Ryan Bankhead won the opening round of Ballymena Road CLub's race series.
Ryan Bankhead won the opening round of Ballymena Road CLub's race series.

The weather conditions were perfect for the time of year and this encouraged a field of 33 riders for the main senior / junior two lap – 22 miles – race.

It was encouraging to see that, despite the fact that this was a mass start / non handicapped race, there was a group of 21 riders still together to contest the finishing sprint.

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Ryan Bankhead produced his now customary strong finish to lead in the field a full length and a half ahead of Connor Young with Neil Millar in third place.

This leading group of riders were all timed home at 51 minutes 28 seconds.

The first group were all accounted for in the sprint but poor light conditions were to cause problems for the photo finish camera, which meant that the minor placings weren’t so easily determined. Nevertheless I have listed all the finishers, although not necessarily in the correct order.

The one lap – 11 miles – youth event was won by Shaun Byrne of Bann Valley in 32 minutes 40 seconds, with N Lawrence (Bann Valley) second and Caolan Stuart (BRC) third (4) Fergus Byrne (BV) (5) Eoin Mellon (BV) (6) R Lawrence (BV) all 32.40 (7) Joel McCavana (BRC) 34.25

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Senior/Junior results: (1) Ryan Bankhead 51 minutes 28 seconds (2) Connor Young (3) Neil Millar (4) Gary Reid (5) Philip Morrison (6) Alan Blair (7) Michael Carroll (8) Ryan Shaw (9) G McNally (Bann Valley) (10) Matthew Brennan (11) Richard Reid (12) Clifford Grant (13) Sean Wright (14) Hall Booth (15) Jim Mc Connell (16) Tommy Wilson (17) Colin Scullion (18) Mark Wright (19) Jason Burns (20) Nigel Kernohan (21) Karl Taylor all same time 51 minutes 28 seconds; Eileen Burns, Quinton McFall, Daryl Sempey, Breandan McCavana 52 minutes 50 seconds; Conor Crilly, David Dougan, Stephen Dempsey, George Graham, Leslie Balmer, Laura Blair.

Youth Event 11 miles (one lap) (1) Shaun Byrne (Bann Valley) (2) N Lawrence (Bann Valley) (3) Caolan Stuart (BRC) (4) Fergus Byrne (Bann Valley) (5) Eoin Mellon (Bann Valley) (6) R Lawrence (Bann Valley) all 32 minutes 40 seconds (7) Joel McCavana (BRC) 34.25.

CALENDAR

Wednesday 23rd April Ballymena Road Club will hold a 5 miles time trial in their Northstone club race series.

This event will take place on the Woodgreen to Ballee course with the first rider off at 7pm sharp.

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BRC ladies and juniors should note that they need to register times at the five miles and ten miles distances to qualify for their time trial best all-rounder championships.

The roundabout observers for Wednesday night’s time trial are Siobhan Fisher and Brigid Quinn. Riders are reminded that they must have a working red rear facing light (new batteries please) on their bike during this event.

TOUR OF NORTH

The Tour of the North three day stage race took place from its Ballymena base over the Easter weekend.

The race started on Saturday with a 68 miles road stage which was run off at an average speed of 27.53mph. The route took the 109 starters from Ballymena out through Glenwherry to the first king of the hills climb at Shane’s hill.

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Eddie Dunbar of the Cycling Ireland junior team won the climb here and he was also first up Glenarm glen, where the leading group of eight riders had a 55 seconds lead over the first of the chasers.

Then it was back down Glencloy to the coast road and Carnlough before KOH three at Tower road. Richard Hepworth (Velosure) won this one but Dunbar didn’t score although he was to secure the climbers jersey, by just one point, when he was second to James Cullen (Velosure) at the top of Glenariff.

Red Hand Trophy winner Fraser Duncan (Northern), who had initially missed the winning break but chased and joined them on the coast road before Glenarm, went again in the closing miles and won the stage at the Fry’s road finish after 2 hours 28 minutes 32 seconds racing.

Duncan achieved this despite the fact that he had three riders from the Velosure team to contend with in the leading break. To attack and win from this position is an outstanding achievement.

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One Velosure rider, James Cullen did manage to hold on to Duncan but he had to be content with second place. The leading pair were 29 seconds ahead of third placed Richard Hepworth.

Ballymena Road Club’s Chris Beattie had a great day and finished with the main pack of 69 riders who were contesting eighth place 2 minutes 23 seconds behind the winner – well done Chris.

Matthew Brennan and Clifford Grant finished the stage although they were 26 minutes and 55 minutes adrift. William Loughridge failed to finish.

Tour of the North 2014 - Stage 1

(1) Fraser Duncan (Northern) 2 hours 28 minutes 32 seconds (2) James Cullen (Velosure Giordana) same time (3) Richard Hepworth (Velosure Giordana) at 29 seconds (4) Brad Morgan (Velosure Giordana) (5) Sebastian Baylis (Champion Systems) (6) Eddie Dunbar (Cycling Ireland Juniors) all at 29 seconds (7) Chris Dredge (Spirit Bikes RT) at 2 minutes 03 seconds (8) Brian Stewart (Phoenix) 2 minutes 23 seconds (9) James McMaster (North Down) (10) Ed Clements (Spirit Bikes RT) all at 2.23.

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The race continued on Sunday morning with a 2.43 miles individual time trial from Woodgreen to Ballee.

Marcus Christie (North Pole) was fastest with a time of 4 minutes 38.45 seconds.

James Cullen was third in 4 minutes 42.58 seconds which was 11 seconds faster than Fraser Duncan’s 4 minutes 53.62 seconds.

This meant that Cullen took over the race leader’s yellow jersey for Sunday afternoon’s road stage at Randalstown.

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Chris Beattie recorded 5 minutes 28 seconds. Matthew Brennan 5.45. Clifford Grant 6.03.

Stage 2 time trial results

(1) Marcus Christie (North Pole) 4m38.45s (2) Tom Bustard (Velosure Giordana) 4m41.79s (3) James Cullen (Velosure Giordana) 4m42.58s (4) Richard Hepworth (Velosure Giordana) 4m47.44s (5) Brad Morgan (Velosure Giordana) 4m50.69s (6) Fraser Duncan (Northern) 4m53.62s