Spa the setting for round two of league

Forty two competitors gathered for the second of the '2-up' time trials over a distance of 10 miles, from the lake to Seaforde and back.

Many of the regulars were off on a week's cycling trip to Mallorca but they were replaced by lots of new faces eager to give time trialling a go. First away were junior pairing Zak Hanna and Christopher Weir just after 7pm with the next 10 pairing following at 30 second intervals and the remaining pairing setting off at one minute intervals to make the best use of the daylight.

This course is notoriously tough especially on the return leg but this did not stop some excellent times being set. Fastest on the night was the pairing of Ronnie Smyth and Neill Fitzsimons, Ronnie having recovered well after the gruelling four day Tour of the North race which finished on Monday to set a time of 25 minutes exactly.

Next quickest were brothers Chris and Gavin Magowan, who were the fastest Dromara pairing in round one, but just 10 seconds slower than Ronnie and Neill.

Another road racer, Simon Welby, teamed up with newcomer Sean Donnelly to set the third fastest time of 25:13 and it was another road racing pairing, Simon Steele and James MacFerran who set the next fastest time of 25:50.

Mountainbikers Phil O'Neill and Ross Galway repeated their fifth position from last week with a time of 26:30. The women's pairing of Caroline Patterson and Mary Hunter set another excellent time of 29:19. Junior riders Zak and Chris finished just outside the magic 30 minutes with a time of 31:12.

The first two rounds of '2-ups' are combined and the winner of the Dromara pairing is awarded the '2-up' trophy which is sponsored by John Patterson of Versatile Windows.

There were 11 pairings who had competed in both rounds of '2-ups' and it was no surprise that brothers Chris and Gavin Magowan were fastest overall with a combined time of 50 minutes and 50 seconds. Phil and Ross finished second with pairings Stephen Wallace and Michael Cassidy finishing third overall.

The next round is a 10 mile individual time trial which will take place on Thursday April 15 on the Dundrum line in Dromara starting at 6:50pm. With the return of those who were in Majorca training a large turnout in expected, so please turn up early and sunshine is even promised.

Dromara Cycling club finished 2009 winning Cycling Ulster club of the year and with a total of 122 members. To date in 2010 Dromara are now the biggest club in Northern Ireland with over 130 members.

All who cycle should join a club for not only the encorouagement of cycling our beautiful countryside with like minded people, but also for the third party insurance and personal accident cover provided through a club by Cycling Ireland.

A leisure only licence for a new member to Cycling Ireland starts at only 9 and for those under 18 only 5. Full details of membership fees and the benefits from a cycling club can be found on our website www.dromaracc.co.uk or email club secretary at [email protected].