Ryan to the four in memorial event

Ryan led home a four rider breakaway group at the end of the 66 miles Maryland Wheelers promoted event and in doing so extended his overall lead in the Slane Cycles Ulster Classic League.

After overcoming their short handicap the scratch group took over at the front and Ryan was then included in the winning move.

This breakaway group of four built up a lead of 1 minute 26 seconds, over the first of the chasers, by the finish where Ryan, who isn't known for his sprinting ability, took the initiative on the approach to the line and held off the others for a memorable victory. Conor McAllister kept up his challenge for league honours by finishing ninth.

H&M WILSON CUP

Ballymena Road Club held their popular H&M Wilson cup road race over three laps of the Caddy course last Wednesday evening.

This year's race was the first round of the four race inter club league series between BRC, Carn Wheelers, Bann Valley and Bann Wheelers with participants from these visiting clubs swelling the entry to 57 riders.

The front half of the field came together on the second lap and their combined efforts kept them clear of the fourth and scratch groups.

David Dougan proved much stronger than everyone else in the group which he started with and he dominated throughout the race and at the finish won the 25 rider bunch sprint by a clear margin from Bann Wheelers visitors Robert Kennedy and C McIntyre with S Walsh (Carn) fourth and R Young (Carn) fifth at 3 seconds

Top female rider Elle Forrest (Bann Valley) took an excellent six place also just 3 seconds behind. The other top 25 positions were (7) Beresford Millar (8) Alan Blair (9) C Wright (BW) (10) Bobby Currie (11) Nigel Kernohan (12) Tom Douds (13) Cairan Mullan (BW) (14) Louise Fullerton (15) Brian Geddis (16) Gerry McCullagh (BV) (17) Maurice Carruthers (18) N McNeill (BW) (19) David Kennedy (20) Derek Dougan (21) Sammy Kerr (22) D McTaggart (BV) (23) P Boyle (BW) (24) A Donnelly (BW) (25) Harry Thompson all 3 seconds behind winner. A full list of results is available by email from timekeeper Billy Jebb on request.

Many thanks to all those on the marshalling, timekeeping and judging rota at Slaght and also to Hugh McCullough for erecting warning signs and marking the directional arrows on the course prior to the start of Wednesday's race.

SLAGHT APR - NEW DATE

The new date for the Slaght Australian pursuit race is Saturday 3rd July at 10am. The race distance has been increased to three laps of the Caddy circuit, which is the same distance as last weeks H&M Wilson cup road race at the same venue.

10 MILE TT

David McClean was the best BRC finisher in Thursday night's 10 miles time trial league event at Toomebridge, when he finished 15th in a time of 23.55.

Adrian Kerr was 30th in 30:30 while Ballymena man Darrell Erwin (Ulster Hand cycling Association) posted a time of 38.15. The event was won by John Heverin (Clann Eireann) in a time of 21.21.

CALENDAR

Wednesday 19th May Ballymena Road Club will hold a 10 miles time trial on their A26 “Antrim Road” course starting from Woodgreen at 7pm.

This event also doubles as a round of the Ulster women’s association time trial league series.

All participants are reminded that they must have a working, rear facing, red tail light fitted to their bike or they will not be permitted to take part.

The club have loaned suitable lights to competitors at previous events but they haven’t all been returned. If you still have one of these lights or the bracket for one then please return same urgently.

Thursday 20th May 10 miles time trial league Templepatrick 7pm.

Saturday 22nd May Groucho’s GP at Richill.

Monday, May 24: Ballymena Road Club will promote their annual Tommy Smyth cup road race over eight laps of a 3 miles circuit at Bellaghy at 7pm.

This may be the final edition of this once popular event in its present format. The race has proved difficult to organise in recent years and has been poorly supported. In fact if it wasn’t for the continued generosity of the Smyth family, who sponsor the event, it wouldn’t be viable at all. All road club members with racing licences are urged to go to Bellaghy and make the race a success; after all it is held on a relatively flat circuit at what is a club race distance. Race secretary Tommy Wilson also needs at least ten marshalls to man the corners.

Wednesday 26th May: BRC’s A. Bonar cup 25 miles road race is scheduled for the Lisnamurrican circuit at Broughshane, registration takes place at Houston’s mill car park at 6.30pm.

The chief marshall for this race is John Maxwell who will be assisted by Beresford Millar, Paul Murdoch, Clifford Grant, Jackie Knowles, Sydney Stewart and Neil Millar.

CLOTHING

Sales of club clothing have been very encouraging so far this year. Anyone who still needs items of kit should contact Richard Wilson on 07808 865 688.

PATSY’S THANKS

BRC’s touring committee chairman Patsy McGurk has asked me to pass on his sincere thanks to all those who helped him with his charity fund raising “bag pack” at Tescos recently. N

amely: Alan and Mary Mark, Hugh and Joan McCullough Joanne Kee also Bernie and her sister Patrica. Next fund raising function is a table quiz on Thursday the 10th June in the Michelin athletic club at Woodside road Ballymena.

PHILIP’S MOURNE THE MERRIER

Ballymena Road Club Scott Roof Tiles rider Philip Bremner was delighted with his first win of the season in the Tour of the Mournes road race.

Sixty six riders started the 60 miles race and Philip explains: “There was a early break which went clear 7 miles into the race Matthew Brennan was in it. They had around 30 seconds on the bunch and then I got across at the 10 miles mark. T

“here were twelve of us and we worked well and made a gap of 3 minutes 10 seconds on the bunch. Then, at about 40 miles into the race, a lot of riders stopped working, and we then found out that a group of 10 was chasing at 1 min 40secs behind.

At 48 miles there was a steep hill into Rathriland, where I attacked from the bottom, but the group chased hard and I was caught again.

The gap kept closing until, with six miles to go, it was just 20 seconds.

I attacked again and got away on my own but it was still very close and I wasn’t sure if I could hold them off but when I saw the line and 100 metres to go I looked back and couldn’t see them, so I raised my arms in delight as this was my first open race win for 2010 and a solo win at that by around 20-30 seconds. It was amazing. I was also pleased that Matthew finished 9th,” added Philip