Weir takes maximum points on the Banbridge Road

This round had to be rescheduled from earlier in the season and it was touch and go whether it was going to go ahead this time round with heavy showers threatening all day. Thankfully the weather held with just a few spots of rain as the riders were getting signed on which then dried up once they got started.

On offer tonight were two distances, a 25 mile time trial and the lesser 16 mile time trial. As in previous years the most popular distance was the '25' with 18 entries and just six for the 16 mile course.

Riders got underway just after 7pm with those doing the '25' going first. Caroline Patterson was the only woman who entered the '25' and she set off first followed 30 seconds later by David McClurg then Alan McMullan 30 seconds after David.

Bernie Monaghan was the first of the 16 milers to set off and she was followed 30 seconds later by Johnny McBride then Mary Hunter 30 seconds later.

To add to the interest this evening medals for the '25' were being introduced for the first time with gold for those who finished under one hour, silver for those who finished under 1:05 and bronze for those who finished under one hour 10 minutes.

Timekeepers Derek Hanna and Simon Welby had fun predicting who was going to get the medals as well as predicting the order the riders were going to return.

Three men attained the 'gold standard' in the 25 with Ronnie Smyth the fastest of the three finishing in 59:00, David McKnight in 59:13 and Darren Weir in 59:16.

Finishing in the silver medal positions were five riders - Gavin Magowan, Chris Magowan, Marcus Magowan, Damien McDonald and Phillip Boyle.

There were also five winners of the bronze medal - Neill Currie, Stephen Heasley, David McClurg, Noel Gibson and Peter Bryson.

The fastest of the 16 mile time trial was Jonathan McBride who completed the distance in 43 minutes 21 seconds well over a minute and a half ahead of Stephen Wallace who was three and a half minutes faster than Massimo Manganaro. Mary Hunter was fourth with Raymond Martin fifth and Bernie Monaghan sixth.

As in all other rounds time handicaps were applied to see who had individually improved. The times for the 25 and 16 were converted to 10 miles and the individual time handicaps were applied.

Getting maximum points for this round was road racer Darren Weir with Massimo Manganaro second, John McGuigan third, Mary Hunter fourth, Chris Magowan fifth and David McKnight sixth.

After 16 rounds of the Dromara Cycling Club League, thing are very close at the top and each rider drop their three lowest scores. Gavin Magowan is 10 points clear of joint second place Stephen Wallace and Simon Welby. Within a further 20 points are, Chris Magowan, Massimo Manganaro, Ronnie Smyth and the first lady in seventh place overall is Caroline Patterson.

In the ladies leagues, Caroline has a strong lead over second placed Mary Hunter and Anne Maguire in third. A total of 86 Dromara members have so far taken part in a league event or marshalled. Many thanks to the timekeeper and all the marshals.

Round 17 is this Thursday (22 July 2010) and will be a road race at Donaghcloney starting at 6:50 pm.