Stevie wins the Billy Stewart Cup

Anyone who knows the roads around Katesbridge, will understand that not many of them are flat but lend more to ups and downs and

Fast descents into small colourful towns and villages. This race saw the Ballymoney rider McAllister mess up his sprint for first place and have to settle for 6th in the crazy sprint into Katesbridge. Nigel and Olly both struggled with the pace and rode round saving their powder for another day. Ballymoney CC riders are famous for their tenacity and determination, none more so than Jerome McKendry. Jerome's chain came off with two laps to go, and the BCC rider put in a fine display of gutsy riding as he fought to catch the fast riding bunch.

Just getting back on with the bell ringing for one to go. It is not always the winners who get noticed but this Ballymoney CC rider is making a lot of one's sit up and watch.

Jerome McKendry is certainly one to watch.

This race was won by North Downs likeable rogue and winner of stage one at the Ras Loughguile Matty Blayney.

So disappointed was McAllister that only encouragement from his team mates persuaded him to travel down to Lurgan on Sunday, getting him his third Open race win of 2010.

Billy Stewart Cup

With temperatures resembling the South of France, 58 riders set of to cover the 7 laps of the Apollo promoted Billy Stewart Cup. As the A2 and A3 riders were started together.

The A4's got a 7 minute handicap. But with McAllister and Madden in this limit group it was clear that this gap would soon be closed as they had clawed back two minutes in 10 miles. In the fourth lap all had come together and it was clear as the favourites were gathering at the front. When the fireworks started it was the Newry riders of Nathan Morgan and Dessie Foley who launched the first volley of attacks. This relentless pressure paid off and with two laps to go eventual winner McAllister (BCC) John Madden (Team Curran) Darren Weir (Dromara), JP Connelly (Omagh), Kyle Houston (Phoenix) and the two Newry riders broke clear.

Going into the final lap the group of 7 riders did not look like being caught as they had opened a gap of over a minute, one kilometre to go and top A2 riders Madden and Morgan launched a fearsome attack for the line on the uphill run to the finish. But the Ballymoney rider responded in classy style to close them down and then overtook them for his third open race victory of the season.

Steven at the end of the race was as usual his unassuming self, taking time to thank his team mates and asking into the well being of loyal team mate Niall O'Hagan, Niall had crashed earlier and has a lot of road rash to contend with. Get well soon from all of us at Ballymoney CC.

Final Result was: 1st Stevie McAllister (Ballymoney CC), 2nd Nathan Morgan (Newry Wheelers), 3rd John Madden (Team Curran), 4th Darren Weir (Dromara), 5th JP Connolly (Omagh), 6th Kyle Houston (Pheonix).

Madden breaks a 25 year Record.

John Madden from Ballycastle was a guest at the Ballymoney CC weekly club race on Wednesday evening. This event was the 16.75km "Kirk" Circuit TT. The race is held on the testing Stranocum/Dervock loop and is not a drag strip course by any means. The now folded Team Route from Ballymoney promoted a series of races round this course and 25 years ago Ballymoney CC rider Trevor Wilson set a time of 24 minutes. On Wednesday past Ireland's fastest TT rider and one highly admired by everyone at BCC, John Madden danced on the pedals of his Cervelo TT machine and smashed the record with a time of 23'-25".

As usual the Ballymoney event was well supported and 19 riders faced the timekeepers watch on a cold and less than balmy August evening. Fastest BCC rider was Steven McAllister, one second behind regular guest Chris Beattie.

Two of the best schoolboys in Ireland, Aaron Swan and Craig Crawford, who are just back from competing in the Mayo 2 Day, and are popular favourites for the Irish Schoolboy titles. This event is being held at the end of the month. Ballymoney Cycling Club will be following the two lads and readers can find out in the next few weeks how Aaron and Craig get on at the Championships.

At the Kirk Circuit TT Craig was 7th and Aaron 12th, fantastic riding by schoolboys.

Full Result was: 1st. John Madden (Team Curran) 23'-25" (25 year Course Record), 2nd. Chris Beattie (BRC) 25'-36", 3rd. Steven McAllister (BCC) 25'-37", 4th. Jason Taggart (BCC) 26'-00", 5th. Jason Henry (U/A) 26'-07", 6th. Jerome McKendry (BCC) 26'-47", 7th. Craig Crawford (TSR U14 Schoolboy) 27'-48", 8th. Niall O'Hagan (BCC) 28'-05", 9th. Oliver Bateson (BCC) 28'-23", 10th. John Patton (BCC) 28'-46", 11th. Dessie Dillon (BCC) 29'-18", 12th. Aaron Swan (TSR U14 Schoolboy) 29'-45", 13th. Ryan Fenton (BCC) 30'-28", 14th. Aaron Dickie (BCC) 30'-44", 15th. David McConaghie (BCC) 32'-00". Niall Carlin (BCC) (Mechanical Fault)

Upcoming Events and races

Leisure cycle rides leave as usual from Out Door Life on Monday and Thursday evenings at 6.30pm and on Saturday mornings at 9.30am, these rides are open

For everyone and are at times accompanied by some of the club's top racing cyclists who are on hand to give advice to the newcomers. All cyclists are very Welcome to come along!

This Wednesday evening the club holds it weekly race, the Lislagan/Garryduff 25mile Road Race starting at Garryduff Church from 7pm.