Smyth fastest on Downpatrick road in summer league time trial

TWENTY EIGHT CYCLISTS gathered on the Downpatrick road outside Ballynahinch last Thursday evening for round seven of the club’s summer league, a ten mile time trial.

The weather on the evening was near perfect for time trialling, with the skies blue and the warm sun shining down on the riders who were happy to see signs of summer starting to show.

The course started about 100 metres from the junction on the Downpatrick road heading into Ballynahinch, then heading straight for Annacloy to turn for home around the island in the middle of the road. The course is popular for its rolling roads and excellent surface, with a fast run down into Annacloy before turning and facing a long climb for about one mile before the roads level out towards home.

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Timekeepers Peter Bryson and David Young got the riders underway just after 7pm, assisted by Kevin Walker who acted as holder for the riders about to start. The riders at the start were set off at one minute intervals before the riders at the end were set off at 30 second intervals, and it wasn’t long before the riders were beginning to arrive at the finish.

At the end of the evening when all the riders were finished and telling tales of how they lost or gained a couple of seconds along the course the timekeepers calculated the times to see who was fastest, and it was Ronnie Smyth who came first in a time of 24 minutes and 23 seconds, with Tonmy Quinn second with a time of 24:28.

Neil Fitzsimons was third with 25:30, with the top 6 rounded off by Barry Van Kellett in 4th, Trevor Wright in 5th and Conor Rice in 6th.

Many thanks to all who helped out on the night, and well done to all who took part.

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Next round of the club league is this Thursday night, a ten time trial starting at the Spa Lake. See the message board on the club website at www.dromaracc.co.uk. The club hope to see a big crowd in attendance.

If you’re on Facebook visit the group at Dromara Cycling Club, or follow them on Twitter (@dromaracc).

Well done to Tommy Downey who took part in the Ras Loughiel 2-day race at the weekend, hosted by Duffin Transport. This was an A4 only event and Tommy rode strong all weekend to finish high up in the overall standings on undulating roads. Well done Tommy.

Nathan Mullan took part in the A3 support race which was help on the final day of the 2-day race, and he rode to a fine 7th place after torrential rain hampered both races on the Saturday.

Well done to Barry Van Kellett who finished 2nd last weekend in the third round of the Irish XC NPS down at Ticknock in Dublin.

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