Sponsorship boost for big cycle race

Ben Morrow of Woodside’s Chemists on Church Street and Jonathan Keys of J and R Keys tile shop, Castle Street, have both given their financial backing to the event which has been an annual fixture on the NI racing calendar for over forty years.

Ben Morrow is himself an established racing cyclist and has taken part in the Caldwell race on many occasions over the years.

The support of these two generous sponsors will mean that the event will again carry a generous prize list which includes a £100 prize for the first rider home.

There will be prizes for the first six finishers, possibly eight, if there is a full field, as well as category awards for A2, A3 and ladies. Ballymena RC riders who don’t qualify for a top six or category award will have three additional “BRC Club prizes” to race for.

The race starts from Galgorm and follows a route to Ahoghill, Portglenone, Maghera, Garvagh, Ringsend and then the tough climb to the Cam forest.

Then it’s a fast downhill sweep to the outskirts of Limavady before turning right and the even tougher climb up to the Springwell forest.

Then it’s on towards Coleraine before turning right on to the Garvagh road and left through Aghadowey to the Brown Trout.

The final miles take in Kilrea, Clady and Portglenone before the final test up Tully climb and on through Ahoghill to the Galgorm finish, a total distance of 78 miles. The event usually finished between 2.10 and 2.20pm

Last year’s race was won by Stephen Gallagher with Ahoghill’s Ryan Connor in second place.

Ryan will be a notable absentee this year however as he will be managing the Irish team at the East Midlands classic premier calendar event on the UK mainland next week.

Ryan has named the junior team which will represent Cycling Ulster at the Wallace Caldwell, it includes: Kyle Cole, Conor McIlwayne, Daniel Stewart, Ian Inglis and Cormac Clarke. The team will be managed by Sean McNicholl. Matthew Brennan hasn’t been included this time although he will most likely take part in the race and will be hoping to get one over on his junior rivals.

Hugh McCullough is appealing for race marshalls and feels that help may be in short supply as the club’s touring section cyclists, who usually assist with marshalling, will be away on their annual trip to Majorca.

Please make yourself available to assist, contact Hugh on 07743 240 975

CALENDAR

Tonight Wednesday 13th April Ballymena Road Club – Northstone – cyclists will hold their first club race event of the season when an eleven miles Australian Pursuit race takes place on the Broughshane Buckna Sheddings circuit from 7pm.

The youth section will also have an event on the same course. It was good to see that a rough section of road between Buckna and Hazelbank primary school has been resurfaced. However riders are urged to be cautious and to be mindful of other areas of the circuit where there are numerous potholes.

RIVER BANN CHARITY RIDE

Sunday 17th April. Adrian McPeake of “Bicycle shack” in Portglenone has organised a 45 miles charity bike ride to raise funds to support the work of the Community Rescue Service, Search and Rescue Portglenone unit.

The ride will start at 10.30 am from Bank Square in Portglenone and will follow a route along side the river Bann to Christie Park in Coleraine where a river rescue display will take place.

The Community Rescue Service work in conjunction with the PSNI in searching for people who are lost or in distress on both land and water. Volunteers are often on 24 hour call out .They provide a crucial service to the community. More information about what they do can be found on their website www.communityrescue.org

Event details can be obtained from Adrian on 028 2582 2070 or email [email protected]

Sunday 17th April 9, 2011McCann Cup Seskinore will have four races on offer. The main race for A2 and A3 Categories will do seven laps approx 70 miles. The B race for A4 riders is over 5 laps - 50 miles and the Third round of the UWA SportActive RR League for women will be three laps of the ten mile circuit.

Wednesday 20th April Ballymena Road Club 10 miles time trial on the A26 Lisnevenagh road course starting from Woodgreen at 7pm.

The Stan Finlay memorial trophy will be presented to the fastest BRC rider on the night. This event was postponed from Boxing Day 2010 because of the severe winter weather.

TOUR COMES TO TOWN - TWICE

Ballymena will host the big P&O Ferries tour of the north stage race twice this Easter weekend.

The event, which starts at Stormont with a 1.1 kilometre prologue time trial on Good Friday evening at 6.30pm will see Saturday’s stage finish in the Borough and then, on Easter Monday the final stage will start in Ballymena.

Saturday’s stage starts on Garvaghy road in Portadown at 11.15am from where the riders will embark on a 65 miles route which includes: Moy, Tamnamore, Stewartstown, Coagh, Moneymore, Loup, Ballyronan and Toomebridge where they are scheduled to arrive at 1pm.

Then the riders tackle the first of two king of the hills climbs from Moneyglass to the top of Roguery.

Next it’s down through the Largy to Portglenone and on to Townhill road before turning right and the second king of the hills climbs up Skerdan road at approximately 1.35pm.

From there it’s a very fast downhill approach to Fenaghy road and the finish line at Galgorm where the riders are due at 1.50pm.

Easter Sunday has an 80 miles stage at Limavady where the riders face four laps of a 20 miles circuit. The circuit includes the climb from Ringsend to the Cam forest each lap. (As included in this Saturday’s Wallace Caldwell race)

Easter Monday sees the race assemble in Ballymena for an 11.15am start on the Larne road. The route takes in Larne road to Millbrook and then on to Carrickfergus where the riders will complete three laps of a 23 miles circuit for a total of 79 miles on the day.