Steven McAllister wins Bann Valley Classic

THE Ballymoney club can now celebrate their second open race victory of the 2010 racing season. Ballymoney CC rider Steven McAllister sprinted to victory in the A4 race at the Bann Valley Classic outside Portglenone.

As over 60 riders lined up at the prestigious event hosted by the Portglenone based club to race on the fast and furious Ballynease circuit. Steven was joined by team mates Niall O’Hagan and Nigel Elder, both these riders rode in support of their winning team mate, protecting him to the final few miles.

And keeping him in a position that set him up to win the final sprint at the end.

Unfortunately both Niall and Nigel were involved in a pile up in the last couple of hundred yards.

With the race run in glorious sunshine the field was made up of riders from all over Ireland, as far away as Cork.

In the early laps the pace was fast and at times hectic, but the Ballymoney CC rider was protected in the bunch by O’Hagan and Elder.

Both these lads in their first year at road racing and also they were in action the previous day at Dromore. As the race progressed it was clear that the Ballymoney CC riders were up for this one and it was out of the heaving, snaking bunch sprint that Steven McAllister burst to the front taking a clear sprint victory from Dean McIlfatrick (BV) and in 3rd place Brian McComb of East Tyrone CC.

At the end Steven thanked his team mates for their tireless efforts in helping him to this prestigious victory, bringing more success to Ballymoney Cycling Club and to the town itself. Steven also thanked his Club’s race secretary in the way that he has structured the race calendar as it helps the riders prepare for the difficult and arduous racing season ahead of them.

Final result at Portglenone,

1st Steven McAllister (Ballymoney Cycling Club)

2nd Dean McIlfatrick (BV)

3rd Brian McComb (ETCC)

4th Robert Anderson (OCC)

5th Dolan Dunlop (HCC)

6th Steven Dunlop (EACC)

Caitie O’Hagan & Steven McAllister 7th & 5th at Dromore’s McGreevy Trophy

Cycling’s future is in the young of tomorrow and will be built around youth, not old men with long memories and big ego’s. That was the sentiment behind the fantastic efforts of Loughguille schoolgirl, 11 year old Caitie O’Hagan. Caitie who in her first road race ever recorded 7th along with other young cyclists on Saturday at Dromore Co. Down. Caitie along with her club mates Steven McAllister, Nigel Elder and father Niall O’Hagan travelled to compete in the Banbridge race in the hills around Dromore.

In the A4 race that saw the field of 50 riders climb the tough Ballykeel hill five times, it was Ballymoney CC rider Steven McAllister who most of the day

Was seen driving the bunch forward. In the process many were shelled out the back and left in the wake of the fast travelling remnants of the bunch.

On the steep uphill sprint to the line McAllister found himself boxed in by slower riders and had to barge his way out and settle for 5th place behind the

Winner James McFerrin Dromara CC, Ballymoney CC rider Niall O’Hagan was 26th overall.

Jason Henry wins at Bendooragh

Unattached Ballymoney cyclist Jason Henry has won two Ballymoney CC events in two weeks, last week winning a time trial and now this week winning the 22 mile road race at Bendooragh.

Twenty two riders lined up in three groups and were separated by 4 minutes, this was a perfect handicap set out by Ballymoney CC chairman Nat Magee

As the three groups came together at the final corner and Jason won the sprint easily from Chris McIntyre (BW) and BCC rider Bobby Kane.

Others worth of note are Shirley Park first lady winner and Jason Taggart and Niall O’Hagan, both finished 4th and 5th just ahead of Jerome McKendry and Ryan John and Neville Patton.

Result was.

1st Jason Henry (U/A)

2nd Chris McIntyre (BW)

3rd Bobby Kane (BCC)

4th Niall O’Hagan (BCC)

5th Jason Taggart (BCC)

6th Jerome McKendry (BCC)

7th Ryan Patton (BCC)

8th Dean McIlfatrick (BV)

9th Nigel Elder (BCC)

10th Steven McAllister (BCC)

Ballymoney CC would like to thank the support from local clubs Bann Wheelers and Bann Valley, as without them it is hard to get the level of completion it takes to help the riders improve.

Coming events

This Wednesday night the Ballymoney Cycling Club is holding a 10 mile Time Trial on the Portrush Road starting at 6.45pm.