Workman completes hat-trick of race victories in Ernie Mark Cup

Last Wednesday evening’s Ballymena Road Club – Chain Reaction Cycles – event in the Northstone sponsored series of club races was the Ernie Mark cup 25 miles time trial at Woodgreen.
Steven Workman won Ballymena Road CLub's Ernie Mark Cup event for a third time last week.Steven Workman won Ballymena Road CLub's Ernie Mark Cup event for a third time last week.
Steven Workman won Ballymena Road CLub's Ernie Mark Cup event for a third time last week.

The event saw a welcome return by Steven Workman, who had won this race in 2011 and 2012. He completed a hat trick when he was fastest of the 18 club entrants with a time of 55 minutes 04 seconds. Ryan Currie was just 16 seconds slower with 55.20 with fellow veteran Michael Carroll third, just another 4 seconds back with 55.26.

Claire Gillespie was fastest of the ladies with 66.07 while David Dougan won the handicap section with a net time of 55.40.

John Madden (Curran) was fastest of the visitors with 51 minutes 46 seconds.

Results

BRC Fastest (1) Steven Workman 55.04 (2) Ryan Currie 55.20 (3) Michael Carroll 55.26 (4) Matthew Brennan 56.05 (5) Tommy Wilson 58.41 (6) David Dougan 59.35 (7) Nigel Kernohan 59.42 (8) Adrian Kerr 61.27 (9) David Kennedy 62.31 (10) Jim Burns 63.56 (11) Martin Ruddy 64.04 (12) Jason Burns 64.42 (13) John Maxwell 64.56 (14) Claire Gillespie 66.07 (15) Emma Smyth 66.21 (16) Bobby Currie 67.21 (17) Eileen Burns 68.24 (18) Beresford Millar 72.09

Handicap section (1) David Dougan 55.40 (2) Jason Burns 57.43 (3) Carroll 58.39 (4) Maxwell 58.48 (5) Brennan 59.02 (6) Eileen Burns 59.05

LEAGUE POSITIONS

The Ernie Mark cup was the fifth round of the eight race BRC time trial handicap league competitionand it couldn’t be closer with Michael Carroll and John Maxwell tied with 12 points each.

Husband and wife Jason and Eileen Burns are equal third with seven points each while the next six riders all have scored six points. Those holding this fifth position are David Dougan, Beresford Millar, Leo McCavana, John Shaw, Stephen Smyth and Bobby Currie.

The next round is the GP of the Glens time trial for the Tommy Talbot cup on 3rd July. The Gardiner cup 10 miles TT on 10th July and the 5 miles TT on 17th July will round up the series.

YOUTHS

Last week’s BRC youth section race was a 10 miles road race at the Craigs circuit Cullybackey. Caolan Stuart won in 28 minutes 39 seconds with Hayden Ritchie second at 32 seconds and Matthew Booth third at 1 minute 11 seconds. The next youth race is a 5 miles time trial from Glenariff to Martinstown on 1st July.

INTER-CLUB SERIES

BRC’s RichardReid took second place in last week’s latest inter-club road racing league event at Macosquin, behind Jason McIntyre, of host club Bann Wheelers.

The result meant that Connor Young still holds the lead in the series with 2 rounds left. Ballymena lie third overall in the team competition.

In the ladies’ event Claire Gillespie continued her domination with her third win out of three starts in the league. Emma Smyth placed an excellent third.

ORRA

BRC’s Connor Young broke the previous course record in last week’s Orra mountain road time trial last week.

However, two other riders – Stephen Harkens (Madigan) and Sean McIntyre (Shelbourne) – both went faster to finish first and second. Aaron Swan (TSC Racing) from Clough was fourth and BRC’s Matthew Brennan fifth.

CRIT IN THE PARK

Aaron Swan was beaten by a wheel by Newry Wheelers’ James Mulligan in Phoenix CC’s annual races in Ormeau Park on Friday night. Third place went to the ever improving George Graham of Ballymena RC.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

National Championships at Carlingford.

Clifford Grant finished in an excellent thirtieth position from 144 starters in Saturday’s National veterans’ road race championship which was held over 70 miles at Carlingford. Clifford finished with a group of 61 riders who were contesting 26th position. Michael Carroll also finished with this group; both were at 2 minutes 49 seconds behind the winner Hugh Mulhearne of Carrick Wheelers. Ryan Currie was also a finisher despite suffering a puncture.