Seven top ten spots in three days for BCC

SPORT in any of today’s top competitions are determined by results.

Ballymoney Cycling Club delighted their members and supporters with seven top 10 places in three days of racing.

This is a fantastic success unsurpassed for many years.

* Stevie McAllister wins Carn Wheelers Classic

BCC sprint missile Stevie McAllister erupted from the swaying mass of riders in the up hill finish of the Carn Wheelers Classic in Tobermore to win this well supported inaugural event.

Over 50 riders rode from the Tobermore Football ground to the start at the top of Tobermore village.

Faced with seven laps the field set off at a brisk pace, but with the two Ballymoney CC lads in fine form, Bryan McKinney and McAllister spent the first few laps at the front, monitoring the pace and bringing back would be early attackers.

In the A4 race started two minutes later Ballymoney CC riders Jerome McKendry, Olly Bateson and Niall O’Hagan were in action along with eventual A4 winner James Thompson and Nigel Quigley Bann Wheelers. Such was the pace set by this group that the organisers had to bring the race into a control situation and restart the two separate races.

A3 race leader and local rider Jonny Dempsey East Antrim CC, having established over a minutes gap, the top A3 riders including McKinney and McAllister ruthlessly hunted him down and then set about attacking each other in the final lead in to the finish.

On the Desertmartin/Tobermore road the pace was frantic as the bunch stalled and surged as riders brought back all the escapees, lining up for the race for a sprint finish.

Carn Wheelers CC the promoting Club had made an excellent job in taking the sport to the public and creating a feast of cycling for the people of mid Ulster.

The bunch surged onto the main street of the village, in the midst of blaring car and motor bike horns the two Ballymoney CC riders showed their winters preparation was starting to pay off.

McAllister roared to 1st place ahead of Stephen Beck East Antrim, 3rd, Gavin Magowan, Dromara and BCC team mate Bryan McKinney in 4th.

Jerome McKendry, Ballymoney CC in the A4 race was an excellent 4th place from 60 riders, in two weeks the man from Loughguile has had a 3rd and today a 4th placing,

these are real results that people who follow the sport can understand and enjoy the success that Jerome his having.

* Jason Taggart BCC 3rd at the John Moore Memorial

Saturday saw Ballymoney CC riders Jason Taggart, Niall O’Hagan, Bryan McKinney and enjoying his first years racing Garreth McBride set off to Carryduff to take part in the John Moore Memorial.

Bryan riding in the A cat race and the Jason and the others in the A4 race. Niall after going really well, another rider swerved and took his front wheel spokes out forcing him to retire. Garreth in the typical Ballymoney CC traditional style raced to the finish and completed his first race here in N. Ireland.

The Carryduff race was promoted by Castlereagh CC and with five laps of a rolling circuit, it was easy to see from the start that there would be no solo escapes.

With talented Roe Valley junior Kyle Cole making attempts to break away from the rest of the field, the wily Ballymoney rider was keeping the situation in check.

With the field together going into the uphill finish the Ballymoney rider looked to have it in his grasp only to see Michael McMullan North Down CC and Kyle Cole pip him to the line.

This was a excellent display from some one who has just been involved in a season of playing rugby, Jason Taggart Ballymoney CC finished 3rd in the John Moore Memorial 2011.

In the A race Ballymoney CC rider Bryan McKinney, after 72 hours of travelling between Dunboyne for the St. Patrick’s day races and County Down in a top quality field of some of the best riders around the big fellow showed that he is not just a time trialist but a capable sprinter and can hold his own when it come to the hustle bustle of these type of finishes.

The A race was won by semi professional rider Simon Williams riding for Team Basso, 2nd went to Ian Inglis (CRT) and third going to Tour of Britain rider Thomas Martin, Eurocycles Dublin. Bryan McKinney finished a notable 8th place ahead of a field of over 50 starters.

* St. Patrick’s Day Racing for BCC riders

Clann Eireann Cup

Top placings of 5th for Stevie McAllister and 8th for Bryan McKinney set the Saints eyes alight with pride as the two lads from the Ballymoney Club showed Irish Racing that BCC has come to town.

On the 17th of March each year the Lurgan Club, Clann Eireann host the popular Cup of the same name at Derrymacash on the shores of Lough Neagh, Ballymoney CC had Stevie McAllister there hoping to bring the cup back to the town, This race was run at 25mph average and Tony Boyle, Slane Cycles along with W. Larmour and Ian Inglis, broke clear with less than a lap to go.

Ballymoney’s McAllister stalled and waited for others to chase but the gap was opened and in the run in he had to settle for 5th place.

St. Patrick’s Race Dunboyne

Bryan along with team mate Gareth McBride set off to represent the local club at the Saint Patrick’s day race promoted by Usher Irish Road Club in Dunboyne near Dublin. On twisting roads and lanes the A3 race was run a fast and testing pace, in typical Irish competitive racing the peleton hurtles along at neck break pace, interrupted by the likes of Bryan McKinney from BCC trying to get a win under his belt at the start of the season, prior to going to the Gorey 3 Day Stage Race at Easter.

Going to Gorey is a quest that Bryan wants to have in his palmares as his Dad was a top contender in this prestigious event. Gorey 3 Day sees 200 competitors each year. So it will be an experience for Bryan and club mate Stevie McAllister when they travel down for the start at Blessington.

One thing about Bryan, is that he does not believe in travelling without a result, and out of almost 90 starters he came home in 8th behind winner Danny Mortimer from Epic Cycling. Gareth enjoyed his first international race and will be travelling with again to the Irish races during the summer.

* 100 Kids on Bikes

On Saturday past, BCC Youth and Woman’s development officer Joan Trengove invited local children to have fun on their bike at the Joey Dunlop Centre, games like skittles, jigsaws, hoops, Olympic rings, and good old rounders kept the children entertained in this second session, that saw almost 100 children participate in both events.

Such is the interest in children’s cycling, Joan has decided to run the series every month during the summer.

A date for the complete series will be announced in the local papers in the next couple of weeks.

* Ballymoney Cycling Club - Development and Leisure Runs

Until the time changes, there will just be Saturday and Sunday runs leaving at 9.30am from Outdoor Life, Market Street and the Ballymoney Rugby Club on Sundays at 9.30am.

Ballymoney Cycling Club want all cyclists to join in and enjoy the runs!