28 December 2007

Dempsey best in festive tests

Draperstown`s Jonathan Dempsey ran out the winner of the feature event over the festive period, the Stan Finlay Memorial 10 Mile Time Trial promoted by Ballymena Road Club on Boxing Day.

Dempsey, a former Tour of the North runner up, has been an infrequent competitor throughout 2007 but on Boxing morning he was the only rider to break `evens` recording a 25 miles per hour average in posting 24 minutes exactly on the A26 Woodgreen course.

Although some way off last years winning time of sub-21 minutes posted by Ryan Connor, Dempsey was nonetheless happy with his effort that saw him finish up with 20 seconds to spare over the promoting club`s top Veteran Sean Wright. Lisburn Junior rider Peter Wilson took third spot, and the Junior category whilst the host clubs Phillip Bremner took the Under 16 honours ahead of Antrims Jonny Beers.

Just off the M1, a total of 35 riders lined up on Boxing day for the Clann Eireann clubs 5.3 mile Time Trial at the Birches near Lurgan. Over £350 was raised for the Royal Victoria Hospital for Sick Children at the event which was won by John Heverin in a time of 13min 7 seconds.

In the West, there was no change from last year in the winner of Fintona CCs Kevin Mulholland memorial event when former Ulster Veterans champion Kenny Boyland made it his third win in a row in this event  . He posted just over 26 minutes for the 10.5 mile test, while Irish Under 23 Time Trial Champion, Paul Brady (Emyvale CC-McQuaid Tyres) finished runner up, with these pair the only riders inside 27 minutes.

Tomorrows action will be at the Dromara CCs second round of their Winter Trailquest series. These cyclo- orienteering on and off road events have proved to be a popular, combining a competitive element with a bit of craic, and raising money for the NI Cancer Fund for Childrens hospice at the came time. Tomorrows round starts from Brennans Garage on the Newcastle Road, Seaforde with the first teams setting off at10.30am.

Result Stan Finlay Memorial `10` Wednesday 26 December

1          Jonathon Dempsey               East Antrim-Agnew Audi      24.00

2          S Wright                                 Ballymena RC-Northstone   24.20

3          P Wilson (Junior)                   Maryland Whs                        24.47

4          C McAllister                           Ballymena RC-Northstone   25.04

5          U Cunningham                       Michelin bib-sport                 25.30

6          L McAllister                            Ballymena RC-Northstone   26.13

7          P Bremner (U16)                   Ballymena RC-Northstone   27.08

8          J Beers (U16)                        XMTBCC                               27.30

9          D McClean                             Ballymena RC-Northstone   27.39

10        A McKee                                Ballymena RC-Northstone   28.29

Kevin Mulholland Memorial Time Trial Wednesday 26th – Fintona.

1          Kenny Boyland                      Lakeland CC

2          P Brady                                  Emyvale-McQuaid Tyre

3          P Martin                                  Lakeland CC

Junior – Dane Dunlop                       Lakeland CC

Under16 – Padraic Kane                 Emyvale –McQuaid Tyres

Under 14 – Cormac Watterson       Emyvale –McQuaid Tyres

Under 12 – Damien McQuaid          Fintona CC

24 December 2007

Busy calendar over festive holidays

There are plenty of competitive opportunities for those wishing to burn off a few calories over the festive period with a selection of events taking place on both Christmas and Boxing days.

Tomorrow the Ards CC will host their annual fancy dress 10 mile Time Trial on the Portaferry Rd, Newtownards. Although this event traditionally has more of a festive feel to the proceedings, with many of the competitors dressing up for the occasion, last year Ballymena`s Ryan Connor took things seriously to record a stunning 21min 55 second ride to win the event with over three minutes to spare over the runner-up. Tomorrows action starts at 10am with the usual array of Santas & fairies expected !!

On Wednesday there are no fewer than three 10 mile time trials to choose from around the country. Starting in the West, Fintona CC kick off their 40th anniversary celebrations early with their festive `10` for the Kevin Mulholland shield. The event starts at Noon on the Tempo Rd, with the prize presentation and refreshments afterwards in McAtees bar.

In County Armagh, The Clann Eireann-Linen Green club are hosting their Charity Boxing day `10` at Oxford Island just off the M1. Raising funds for the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, this event kicks off at 11am.

Meanwhile, the feature event on Boxing Day is the Ballymena Road Club`s Stan Finlay Memorial `10` on the A26 at Woodgreen. A long standing fixture on the racing calendar, last year it was that man Connor who followed up his Christmas Day success with a stunning 20min 28sec ride to take the honours. Again, 95% of local riders would be hard pushed to record this time during the season, and it is testament to the year-round fitness of todays full-time riders that these times are achievable in the middle of the `off` season.

With Connor `down under` in Australia for the Winter, it may be last years runner up, Team Madigans Simon Stockton who will see his name on the Finlay Shield for 2007.

Looking ahead to the weekend, Dromara CC are hosting round two of their three-round Trailquest series of competitive cyclo-orienteering.

Their event will start from Brennans Garage on the Newcastle Road, Seaforde on Saturday at 10.30am.

In the Southern hemisphere, Giant Asia rider Paul Griffin ended up a superb 8th overall in the 6-day Tour of Thailand which ended on Friday. Having Taken a fine fourth place on Stage 4 from Ratchasima to Chiang Mai which moved him in to 7th overall, Griffin kept his place in the top 10 overall in the final days of the event to finish up 8th

21 December 2007

Busy Christmas Period for local cyclists

There is little let up in the training programme for some young local cyclists, who may not get to enjoy as much of the seasonal festivities as the rest of us as they are gearing up for a week long training trip to the Sean Kelly academy in Belgium straight after Christmas.

They are part of the 2008 Cycling Ireland Junior and Under 23 Development panel, drawn up following two very successful training camps in the last two weeks.

Applications were sought back in October, with an outstanding response from aspiring young athletes, both male and female. Over 60 applications were received from within the U23 and Junior ranks.

Testing sessions were arranged throughout the country in November, ensuring that all applicants got a chance to show their ability and match up against riders who already have established records.

This was followed by two initial training camps in the past week with 12 juniors invited to attend the weekend camp in Newbridge, Co Kildare and 12 U23’s invited to attend the Sean Kelly Academy  6 Day training camp in Carrick – on – Suir, in Waterford last week.

Among those attending from Northern Ireland were established Juniors including Banbridge lad Sean Downey and Peter Wilson, who were joined by Youth riders preparing to move in to the Junior ranks for 2008, namely Stuart Henry (North Down CC) , Peter Williams (Orchard Whs) and Jonny Cole (Team Madigan)

The next step in the process for these lads is a Junior track camp in the Sean Kelly Academy in Belgium on January 5th for 5 days were programme manager Brian Taaffe and coach Brian Nugent will be putting these aspiring youngsters through their paces.

Nugent commented, ‘we have started the National programme very early this year in order to identify the best riders in the country and prepare and educate them for the season ahead. We have made a huge shift in our thinking in that the programme fully integrates track and road, with the long term development of our young athletes the main focus. The goals of this programme are very clear and that is to prepare our best young athletes for success in future major events such as the 2012 Olympics, and to give them the best possible education for this and indeed the rest of their careers. Both camps have been hugely successful and we have already started making progress with the new talented riders we have identified.’

With rider preparation being organised and forging ehead, the administrative side of the sport at national level would appear to be in turmoil as Cycling Irelands Chief Executive, Declan Byrne, is preparing to step down from the post at the end of the year, and President - Kerry man Miceal Concannon appearing to have sparked off a major row by offending one of the Dublin regions largest clubs, and one of the sports longest serving sponsors. A throwaway comment made at a recent meeting has incensed members of the Irish Road Club, with Mick Usher now demanding a climb down and threatening to review his position in relation to Sponsorship of the sport.

With Stena Line also ending their sponsorship arrangements with Cycling Ireland, there is little festive cheer around in Cycling Irelands HQ at Kelly-Roche House in Dublin!

17 December 2007

Aiken gives masterclass in Academy showdown

As predicted, local rider Roger Aiken was the dominant force on home ground on Saturday at the Banbridge CC Cyclo-Cross event in the grounds of the Banbridge Academy.

He, along with Junior club-mate Liam McGreevy dominated proceedings, with Aiken overcoming a puncture in the closing stages to run out the winner by a mere four seconds from his younger rival.

The two had led from the start, with Glen Kinning (Castlereagh –Mattest), Robbie Lamont (XMTB), Mark Allen (Red Kite) and Don Travers (Banbridge CC) also figuring in the early running.

Covering 8 laps of the Co Down School grounds, early challenger Kinning retired on lap 3 but by then Aiken and McGreevy had already carved out a useful advantage. On lap 6 Aiken punctured, leaving the young Loughbrickland rider out front, where he opened up a 40 second advantage. Thanks to a quick wheel change, Aiken was back in the race, and by the start of the final circuit had re-caught the youngster to take the chequered flag. 

Allen took the final podium spot, with Veteran Lamont in 4th ahead of Rathfrilands Don Travers and Donaghadee Junior Graham Boyd rounding out the top 6.

In the preceeding Mountain bike event, Carryduff newcomer Phillip O`Neill dominated the proceedings, with his wife Valerie also taking the female event. The pair only began racing back in August, and so far in the winter Cyclo-Cross series Valerie has won all 5 Ladies races, whilst Phillip has recorded 2 firsts, 1 second and 2 third places, emphatically winning Saturdays event by almost three minutes from Dromara man Derek Hanna.

Result Banbridge CC Cyclo-Cross Saturday

1          Roger Aiken              Banbridge CC           47.48

2.         L McGreevy               Banbridge CC           47.52

3.         M Allen                       Swords CC                48.54

4.         R Lamont                   XMTB                        49.23

5.         D Travers                   Banbridge CC           50.56

6.         G Boyd                       XMTB                         50.56

Women

1. Valerie O’Neill                   Banbridge CC

2. Harriett Mayne                   Banbridge CC

3. Nicola Oldham                  Banbridge CC

Under 16

1          William Boyd             XMTB

Mountain Bikes

1. Phil O’Neill                         Banbridge CC           47.32

2. D Hanna                             Dromara CC              50.19

3. P Anderson                       Banbridge CC           50.47

Under 16

1 Jonny Beers                       XMTBCC      

Under 14

1 M Adair                               Banbridge CC

Under 12

1 M Downey                           Banbridge CC

Under 10

1 J Curry                                 Banbridge CC

Under 8

J Buller                                   Banbridge CC

Off-road competition takes a break over the Christmas period, with the second round of the Dromara CC Trailquest taking place on Saturday 29th at Seaforde, and the National Cyclo-Cross Championships on Sunday 6th January at Tymon park north of Dublin.

14 December 2007

Champion on home ground for Banbridge Cross

Newly crowned Ulster Cyclo-Cross Champion Roger Aiken will be on home ground, and therefore start as favourite for tomorrows race that takes place in the grounds of Banbridge Academy.

The course in the school grounds has always proved popular with both riders and spectators alike and features a mixture of climbs and fast sweeping sections. 

Expected front runners include Conor Campbell, Gary Henning and Mark McKinley (all Newry Wheelers), Lewis Ferguson (Team BHB), Dave Gill, Philip Roche, Richard Felle (Team Worc), Luke Manning and Paul O’Reilly  (IMBRC).

Banbridge CC youngsters Liam McGreevy and Sean Downey will also make a formidable challenge, Liam won the Junior Ulster `Cross  title at Rostrevor a few weeks ago and will make his European cyclo-cross debut in Belgium just after Christmas. Sean is the reigning Irish Junior Champion, a title he won on this course back in January.

Tomorrows programme will also feature a mountain bike race, with events getting underway with Youth racing at 11.30am. The Mountain Bike event is scheduled for Noon, and the `Cross event for 1.15pm. 

Meanwhile there would appear to be no good news on the horizon in relation to Irelands proposed indoor Velodrome, supposedly being funded from the 50 million `London Olympic Fund` much talked about in the past 12 months.

Following news of the Draft Budget Proposals for Northern Ireland it has emerged that far from delivering the promised £53 million, the figure has been slashed. Although North Down Borough Council has been awarded £15 million for the Olympic sized Swimming Pool, the remaining £38 million available to other sports has now been reduced to £20 million, with regional funds apparently being diverted back to the London Facilities.

After a year’s hard work and effort from Cycling Ulster, Cycling Ireland, Sport NI, and interested bidders, it emerged that three bids to build a velodrome (Belfast, Newry and Newcastle) were successful in reaching Phase Two of the Elite Facilities Programme. Cycling was the only sport to have three successful bids and it looked as if the Velodrome was a virtual certainty.

Cycling was asked to make a presentation to these three bidders earlier this month and a lot of hard work and effort went into the preparation of the presentation. This has now been postponed until early in the New Year, with cycling and cyclists now starting to fear the worst, none more so than the Ulster Youth Track squad who are attempting to train at the Orangefield outdoor track over the winter.

So far the plan for alternate Sunday afternoon sessions has seen only two take place, the remainder being cancelled due to inclement weather.

It is well known that following the building of the Manchester Velodrome in the mid 1990s Great Britain has become one of the top ranked Track nations in the world, producing several Olympic and World Champions. The possibility that Northern Ireland and Ireland could produce our own future champions now appears to hang in the balance.

10 December 2007

Ireland on Track for Olympic Qualification ?

The Irish National Elite Track squad have been in record breaking form on the Laoshan Velodrome in Beijing, China over the weekend.

Competing in the first of their winter programme of UCI World Cup events, two national Track records were broken in fine style.

With Cycling having its first look at the venue for next August`s Olympic Games, the National velodrome saw Irelands track men at their best, and putting in to practice all they have learned under guidance from former British National Track Coach, Simon Jones.

On day two of the three day event, David O`Loughlin shattered his own 4,000 metre Pursuit National Record. Recording 4min 25.1 sec, he took an amazing 4.5 seconds off his previous best set in Newport, Wales in 2006. In an event where hundredths of a second decide medals, this is a major improvement for the Mayo man, who has experienced a steady improvement since the Track World Championships in Majorca back in March. There he finished 17th in the Pursuit event, posting a time just over 4 minutes 30 seconds. Saturdays ride saw him finish up seventh in the World Cup event, won by Britain's World and Olympic Champion, Bradley Wiggins who posted 4.22 to top the table.

Next it was the turn of the Team Pursuit squad, where local interest lies with Newtownards man Martyn Irvine. This squad have been undergoing lengthy training sessions, both in Newport and in Ghent under the supervision of Jones and Irelands Track Coach Tommy Evans.

In China they also smashed the previous National Record, again by a healthy margin. With their best time to date of 4min 21 sec, they flew round the 16 laps of the 250 metre banked oval to record 4min 15.01sec, averaging 56.46kph, or a shade over 33mph. This is a huge margin to take off the record, and must give the guys a huge boost in their quest for Olympic qualification. With a possible two further World Cup events before the World Championships in Manchester at the end of March, there is still a distinct possibility that this quartet could be back in Beijing next August.

To put their ride in to context however, the British squad ran out the event winners in a time of 4.04.69. This was slower then their winning time in the opening World Cup event in Sydney last week where they posted an incredible 4.01.01. Despite Irelands new National Record on Saturday, it was still only good enough to leave them in 17th place in the competition.

With the Manchester World Championships in March signalling the end of the Olympic Qualification phase, and only an expected 8 Team Pursuit nations eligible for the Olympics, the national squad still have a mountain to climb.

Word is filtering through from Dublin that Cycling Ireland`s Chief Executive, Declan Byrne has stood down from the post.  Having taken over at the 2006 Cycling Ireland AGM on an interim basis, the Clonmel man, had previously acted as National Road Manager and Manager of the Murphy & Gunn professional outfit before being confirmed as the Cycling Ireland CEO early in 2007. No one from the Cycling Ireland Board was available for comment, although it is thought that Byrne will be staying on until the end of the month, or early January.

7 December 2007

Xmas Bonus for Gallagher

A new major backer of the Belgian-based Sean Kelly team was announced yesterday in the shape of An Post, the Irish Post Office.

This will come as great news for Richhills Stephen Gallagher, one of four Irish riders who has re-signed with the team for next season.

With Murphy & Gunn ending their sponsorship at the end of 2007, the race was on to find a replacement, and for Gallagher and the other members of the squad the news will come as an early Christmas bonus.

Announcing the sponsorship yesterday, An Post Chief Executive Donal Connell said An Post was very pleased to be supporting Sean Kelly’s team for 2008.

“In our view it is crucial that young Irish cyclists have access to international competition and training. This is an essential element of their career development and an integral part of the development of this sport across the country.

An Post’s sponsorship with enable some top-class Irish cyclists to fulfil their potential at the peak of international cycling, under the expert eye of Sean Kelly, an international sporting legend and a giant of Irish sport. We will be announcing a number of other sponsorship initiatives in cycling in the coming months,” he added.

Meanwhile on the other side of the world members of the Irish elite track programme embark on the latest phase of their quest to qualify for Olympic Games in Beijing next August.

A five strong team are competing in the second round of the UCI world cup which takes place in the newly opened Olympic Velodrome in Beijing which has attracted the largest ever field for a World Cup track event with over 400 riders representing 70 teams chasing world cup glory.

The members of Irish programme have been involved in an intensive training programme throughout the year under the guidance of ex British Cycling national track coach Simon Jones, and their plans are to compete in three UCI World Cup events over the winter, with Beijing the first.

Mayo man David O`loughlin, Corks Dermot Nally, Dubliner Paul Healion, Piltowns  Brian Kenneally are joined by Newtownards man Martyn Irvine as the backbone for the Team Pursuit squad that have a target of making it in to the top 10 nations in the world in order to be in with a shout of Olympic qualification.

For Cyclings talented athletes, Sport NI`s Athlete Support Programme of Lottery Funding has re-opened following a re-vamp over the summer months. A new wave of funding, to cover the the period December 2007 to March 2009 has been launched, with Cycling Ulster inviting applications from all interested parties

3 December 2007

Aiken in charge at rain soaked championship

Banbridge man Roger Aiken was head and shoulders above the opposition in Saturdays rain soaked Ulster Cyclo-Cross Championship in Kilbroney Park near Rostrevor.

The inclement conditions saw a lower than expected turnout, however it did not detract from a superb days racing over a tough and demanding course devised by the promoting Newry Wheelers club.

The expected tussle between defending champion Lewis Ferguson (Team BHB) and Aiken failed to materialise, with the Holywood man finishing back in 4th place overall. However as `southerner` Joe McCall (K Capital) was second across the line and therefore not counting for the Medals, Ferguson took the final podium place. Silver, and top in the Junior category was top off-roader Liam McGreevy who ads the Ulster Junior Cyclo-Cross crown to his National Junior Mountain Bike Gold won earlier in the season.

Meanwhile Saturday also saw the setting up of Cycling Ulster’s Disability Commission, set up at a meeting in Warrenpoint.

Cycling Ulster have been pro-active for some time in trying to move disability cycling forward and have been fortunate in having the services of Brian Nugent and Gerry Beggs, who have been working with the Irish Paralympic team that includes Warrenpoint husband and wife team Emma and Andrew Fitzgerald. They were part of the team that have recently returned from the Pan-American Games in Columbia where Ireland qualified a second bike for the Beijing Olympics.

Also present at the formation of the Commission were Cycling Ulster Chairman Tommy and Secretary Marian Lamb. Marian said, "It has been my goal to set up our own Disability Commission here in Ulster for some time but it was difficult to find volunteers with both the knowledge and interest. I am delighted that we now have Emma and Andrew on board. They are full of enthusiasm and have the contacts to move this forward."

Andrew will Chair the new Commission while Emma will act as Secretary. Emma said, "We are delighted to be involved with this Commission and while we are both full of ideas we realise that we must be realistic and begin with an analysis of where we are at. We are coming on board at the right time as we will have time to find our feet and develop an action plan. We hope to be in a position by the middle of 2008 to make a real contribution to Cycling Ulster's new 4 year Development plan for 2009 onwards." One of the groups` first targets will be to source both funding and additional volunteers.

Andrew commented, "As a Paralympic athlete I found it very difficult to get the training I needed to prepare for major events. My pilot is from Leinster and we had to take turns travelling to meet each other to train. It would have been helpful to have had someone closer to hand who could have provided additional training opportunities. One of our first targets will be to attract cyclists to act as pilots. We know we have a long way to go to make cycling inclusive for all those with disabilities but this is a good starting point."

The couple already have tentative plans for a tandem demonstration events and the possibility of an Ulster Tandem Championship

Result.

Ulster Cyclo Cross Championship  Saturday. Rostrevor

1          Roger Aiken              Banbridge CC

2          L McGreevy               Banbridge CC

3          L Ferguson                Team BHB

30 November 2007

Favourites Line Up for Ulster Cross Title

Tomorrow sees the Ulster Cyclo-Cross Championships take place at one of Ireland’s most popular venues, Kilbroney park in Rostrevor.  Promoted by Newry Wheelers for the second year in succession, the race promises to be a close run thing with defending champion Lewis Ferguson (Team BHB) starting as favourite. Banbridge man Roger Aiken should push him all the way, with other possible medallists in the shape of the promoting clubs Conor Campbell and Gary Henning along with Banbridge riders Liam Mcgreevy and Sean Downey.  For this year the course has been modified to add to the excitement for both riders and spectators.

The Newry Club have once again announced that Citroen & Honda dealers J.C. Campbell will sponsor the event, with sponsor Colin Campbell commenting: “I am delighted with the way the event was both organized and recognized in 2006.  Cyclo-Cross is a great sport to watch as well as take part in and we are pleased to be supporting the event once again.”

Race Promoter Drew McKinley declared: “It is great to have a local sponsor on board.  Cyclo Cross races have been taking place in Kilbroney Park for 20 years and to have a sponsor of the prestige of J.C. Campbell on board is great for the race and the sport.  Last year the race attracted one of the best entries in Ireland, the racing and the weather were both superb.  With the facilities, Kilbroney is an excellent venue.”

Tomorrows programme will include youth races and a mountain bike category, with the action getting underway with the Youth event at 11.45am, and the feature Ulster Championship scheduled for 1.15pm.  Event HQ is  Rostrevor GAA Club.

The East Tyrone Cycling Club celebrate their 60th Anniversary this evening, with over 130 guests lined up to attend a gala dinner in the Hanover House, Coagh. Guest of honour is former World number one rider Sean Kelly, who will also be heading a training run tomorrow morning departing from Cookstown Hockey Club at 10am.

It is believed the East Tyrone club was formed earlier than 1947, with a club in the Cookstown area in the 1920s. Following the war a group of cyclists headed by Cyril Henry re-formed the East Tyrone CC that went on to have great success with riders such as Tommy Talbot and Jimmy Slane. Along with the Henry name, the Talbot family is also synonymous with the club, with brothers Tommy, Ronnie, Bobby and John holding the unique honour of not only winning the Northern Ireland Team Time Trial Championship for their club, but also for their family !

Today the club enjoys a strong membership, and sponsorship from local Motor Factor, RT Autoparts. They were also involved with the inaugural Super 6 Time Trial Series in the West of the province this year.

Meanwhile Newtownards man Martyn Irvine is getting to see a fair bit of the world, or at least some of the worlds top velodrome`s in his quest to qualify with the Irish Track Team for the Team Pursuit event at next August`s Beijing Olympics.

Following this week training in Belgium, he will be flying out to China today for a round of the UCI world cup track series at the Olympic velodrome in Beijing.

Racing with Team Pezula and also for the National Squad, Irvine is hoping that Ireland meet the qualification criteria as one of the worlds top Team Pursuit nations that will open the door to Olympic participation next year. Following the China trip, the squad are planning further World Cup appearances in Los Angeles in January and Copenhagen in February before taking part in the World Track Championships in Manchester at the end of March.

26 November 2007

European squad target P&O Tour

With winter training still in its early stages, Ards Cycling Club is on the ball and has just announced that a Flemish Team will be entering the P&O Irish Sea Tour of the North next Easter.

Club member and Belgian ex-pat Dany Blondeel, has been working hard to encourage teams to come to Northern Ireland and has secured the participation of Flemish squad Decock-campino who are sending a delegation over to the province this weekend on a fact finding mission.

The delegation will include Xavier Decock, son of the team owner and assistant team manager Stefaan Verbeke.

Dany will act as guide and interpreter for the weekend and hopes to show the visitors the kind of terrain they can expect come next Easter.

The team are well known in Flanders and compete in top Elite and Under 23 races in Belgium and France, scoring 20 wins in the past season. Following this weekends visit the team will decide which of their 20 strong squad they will send over to take on the UKs best in March.

Blondeel was upbeat with his signing, “" As an Ards CC member and Commissaire it gives me a chance to promote our club and cycling in Ulster, it will also show the Belgian people that it is worthwhile to visit us and discover our second to none landscape and welcoming people”.

This will be the first time since the 70s that a Belgian squad will have competed in the Tour of the North, with Eddy van den Broeck winning the event back in 1977.

With another European mainland squad also rumoured to be making the trip to the P&O Tour in 2008 it is already shaping up to be a truly international affair.

Meanwhile Cycling Ireland has ratified a total of five Time Trial records all set in the Dave Kane Time Trial Series during the year.

Hillsborough`s Heather Wilsons 25 mile time of 56.06 is added to her 10 mile record; Bann Wheeler`s John Maddens Veterans 10 and 25 mile figures of 20.21 and 50.58 were also ratified while Lurgan teenager Thomas Martin lowered his Junior 25 mile time to 52.52.

Most impressive was Belfast`s David McCann who averaged almost 32mph to reduce his Senior 25 record to 47.06 while Templepatrick`s Jim McConnell, holder of the Belfast-Londonderry-Belfast record, set a new Veterans 50 mile record, recording 1.51.37.

Yesterdays opening round of the Dromara CC Trailquest series proved a big hit, with over 50 competitors taking part in the `orienteering on wheels` event. Teams were dispatched across the Dromara Hills with a map and set of instructions. The event placed more emphasis on the craic than all-out competition, while also raising funds for the Northern Ireland Cancer Fund For Childrens home at Bryansford. The next round will be on Saturday 29 December at Seaforde.

Monday 19 November

Connor on the move

From Ahoghill to Adelaide, that is the trip being planned by one of the provinces top Elite riders, Ryan Connor, who plans to up sticks and move to sunnier climes for the winter months.

The Team Pezula rider has not dismissed a permanent move `down under` and is viewing the coming months as a fact finding mission  with a view to a long term move.

Connor is one of the sports most successful riders having previously represented GB at the Junior World Championships as well as more recently representing Ireland at Senior International level. At 23 he has two Tour of the North wins under his belt, and in 2007 whilst riding for the Giant Asia squad he took overall victory in the season long NICF-Cycling Ulster Classic Series.

Having come through the ranks from Junior, he has ridden full-time for the UK mainland based Team DFL in 2005, or the Belgian based Sean Kelly Team in 2006, and this year for Giant Asia. Last month he signed for the new Mayo based Team Pezula along with a handful of Irelands top riders. Connor is upbeat about his new squad. “This is by far the best set-up I have been involved with, everything is done on a highly professional level. I have cleared my trip with the team management, and they are happy with my move. I may be back home for Christmas and then it will be off to Malaysia for the 10-day Tour of Langkawi in February, the teams first major road objective.”

Connor plans to make his base in Adelaide, where he will be staying with former Ballymena Road Club team mate Billy Thompson.

Whilst Connor will be sunning himself in Australia, some of his Pezula team mates will be heading to China at the end of the month for the UCI World Cup Track meeting. Riding for the National squad, they will be hoping to set a qualifying time in the top 8 of the Olympic Nations in the hope of making it back to Beijing next August.

Still with Olympians, the Irish Paralympic team continue to notch up impressive results in the Pan-American games which finish up in Colombia today.

In the Road Time Trial events, Enda Smyth took 4th in the CP4 category, whilst the female pairing of Catherine Walsh and Joanna Hickey recorded their best result of the championships, taking a fine 7th place in the Blind & Visually Impaired Category.

Double Bronze Track medallists, Michael Delaney and David Peelo finished in 10th place in their race. Whilst Warrenpoints Andrew Fitzgerald and John Lynch broke their chain shortly after the start and were forced to retire.

All of the teams competitors will be in action in the final events, the Road Race, taking place today.

Friday 16 November

Paralympians Colombian Medal Haul

The Irish Paralimpic Cycling squad rounded off a superb week at the Pan-American games in Colombia, bagging no fewer than three Bronze Medals in the Tandem and individual Track competitions.

Opening up the week last Sunday was Michael Delaney, steered by former International David Peelo, who took Bronze in the 4 Kilometre Pursuit event, setting a new Irish Record of 4.44.419 along the way. They missed out on their second Bronze on Monday, this time in the 1 kilometre Time Trial, taking fourth by .19 of a second.

This was followed up on Tuesday when individual rider Enda Smith secured the teams second medal of the Games, this time in the Individual 1 Kilometre Time Trial. Finishing in a time of 1:16.857, Smith knocked a huge 1.92 seconds off his old Irish record set at this year’s World Championships in Bordeaux. Japan took the gold in a new world record time with the silver medal going to France.

The third Bronze medal came on Wednesday, when again Peelo and Delaney competed in the Match Sprint competition. Having qualified fourth fastest, they disposed of the local Comombian pair, but were then beaten by eventual Gold medal winners Canada in the semi-finals. They recovered to see off the Argentinians in the Bronze ride-off.

Warrenpoint rider Andrew Fitzgerald partnered by John Lynch qualified in 8th place to secure a ride-off against Colombia for the minor placings.  They put in their best performance of the Championships to beat the Colombian tandem in a very exciting race with both tandems playing cat and mouse, with a packed Velodrome roaring encouragement for the local team.

This topped off a brilliant week of Track racing for the Irish squad and has seen the other nations looking at them in a totally different light. Track coach, Cookstowns Brian Nugent reckons there is still a lot more to come from these athletes and with the right programmes and support they should do us all proud again at next years Paralympic Games in Beijing.

The Pan American Games action now enters its final week and moves to the City of Palmira for the road competitions.

Staying with Track racing, tomorrow evening sees the second of the winter Revolution track series in Manchester, where the Pezula team will be fielding some of their riders in the evenings racing. Irish Road Champion David O`Loughlin, hoping to secure an Olympic place, will be on the boards tomorrow. Also expected to ride for the Mayo based outfit are former Tour of the North winner Paul Healion, and also Ciaran Power and Morgan Fox. Newtownards man Martyn Irvine, himself in the hunt for Olympic selection may also make the trip to Manchester.

The National Track Team will then head to Beijing at the end of the month to compete in a round of the UCI world Cup, in an effort to set their Olympic Qualification time in the Team Pursuit competition.  Further World Cup trips are planned to Los Angeles in January and Copenhagen in February before final selection is likely at the Track World Championships in Manchester at the end of March.

Monday 12 November

Commonwealth Joy for Scots

Following some recent bad news for cycling, in that the sport would not be catered for at all in next years Junior Commonwealth Games in India, and that Mountain Biking would not feature in the senior games in Dehli in 2010 comes some positive news, that Glasgow has been awarded the hosting of the 2014 edition of the Games.

The 71 nations of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth Games Federation met last Friday in Sri Lanka and voted 47-24 in favour of Scotlands biggest city, thus seeing off the challenge from the Nigerian capital Abuja.

  On hearing the news, Scotland's First Minister, Alex Salmond commented, “Today’s announcement is the culmination of years of hard work and I want to congratulate everyone involved in this Bid process. To quote the CGF Evaluation Commission report ‘Glasgow has demonstrated the ability to stage the 2014 Commonwealth Games to a standard which would continue to enhance the image and prestige of the Games’.

“But it’s all of us – the people of Scotland – who have helped to make our Games dream a reality”

The 20th Games, first hosted by Canada in 1930, are scheduled to run from 23 July until 4 August 2014, and will encompass 17 sports. For cycling that will mean Road, Mountain Bike and Track, thus seeing Mountain Biking return to the games following its planned absence in 2010.

This is some positive news, albeit well in the future, for riders like current National Junior Mountain Bike Champion Liam McGreevy from Banbridge, and the date will also see current up and coming riders such as Sean Downey (Banbridge) Stuart Henry (North Down) and Peter Williams (Orchard Wheelers) in their early 20s and on track for medals in a games that should see plenty of home support.

Also announced are the 2011 Junior Commonwealth Games, also close to home with the Isle of Man winning the bid. It is unlikely that Track racing will be on the agenda here, however Road and Mountain Biking should be catered for. This should see the likes of East Antrim`s Jack Wilson and Banbridge lad Michael Runciman head the Junior ranks around that time.

Closer to home, and in `real time` was yesterdays Cyclo Cross and Mountain Bike race in Castle Park, Bangor. Promoted by XMTBCC, the event drew a good crowd, despite the fresh weather conditions.

In the Mountain Bike event, local rider Paul Ferguson brought victory to Bangors North Down CC, with a substantial margin over Paul McMenamin (Leisure Lakes – Omagh Whs) The Pink and Black colours of North Down, celebrating their 30th anniversary this year, were also to the fore in the Under 16 event, with Stuart Henry taking 3rd overall and first youth, pipping early race leader and rival Jonny Beers from the promoting club.

In the feature Cyclo-Cross event, Banbridge rider Roger Aiken was in command throughout, building up an unassailable lead over Holywoods Lewis Ferguson and National Junior Mountian Bike Champion Liam McGreevy (Banbridge) who took 3rd.

Result XMTBCC Cyclo-Cross. Bangor

1    Roger Aiken        Banbridge CC

2    L Ferguson          Team BHB

3    L McGreevy         Banbridge CC

4    G Kinning             Castlereagh CC-Mattest

5    J Allen                  

Mountain Bike Event

1    Paul Ferguson    North Down CC

2    P McMenamin    Leisure Lakes-Omagh Whs

3    S Henry    (U16)  North Down CC

4    J Beers    (U16)  XMTBCC

Friday 9 November

Race for Beijing Places hots up.

In a repeat of the 2004 Athens Olympics, two Irish riders will be eligible to compete in the Mens road race at next August`s Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

Cyclings world governing body, the UCI, have released details of the Olympic places obtained via the ProTour and Continental Tour rankings and under this criteria Ireland will have two berths in the Elite Mens road race, while the big cycling nations, Australia, Italy, France, Spain, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Russia and the USA each get the maximum of five. This plus the allocations for other countries brings the total up to 145 entrants for this event.

Hot favourite for the number one spot in the Ireland squad is Donegal`s Phillip Deignan, the AG2R professional having a superb 2007 season that saw him score three top 15 stage places in Septembers Tour of Spain. Others in the running for the second berth include Belfast`s David McCann, Nicolas Roche, son of Stephen, along with current National Champion David O`Loughlin. 

Ireland has already secured a place in the Elite men’s Mountain Bike cross country race, and are hoping to qualify for at least one track event and will thus be aiming to perform strongly in the forthcoming World Cup Events. The 4-man Team Pursuit squad are hoping to make the required time, and will be travelling to Beijing at the end of the month to take part in a round of the UCI World Cup in an effort to make the time. The final date for qualification is likely to be the end of March, when the World Track Championships take place in Manchester. Hoping for a place in the final quartet in Newtownards man Martyn Irvine, and Belfast`s David McCann has also joined this panel and will also be in the running for a place.

Meanwhile the Paralympians have qualified two bikes for the Beijing Paralympics, and the squad are currently in Colombia at the Pan-American Games in an effort to upstage their able-bodied counterparts and qualify three places.

Closer to home, the Cyclo-Cross season continues this weekend with the XMTBCC promotion at Castle Park, Bangor on Sunday. Following the usual format for these events, the action gets underway at Noon, with separate Mountain Bike & Cyclo-Cross events as well as a supporting Youth Programme.

This is as close as it gets to home ground for Holywoods Lewis Ferguson, already a winner of two rounds of the winter series. He will expect stiff competition from Donaghadees Graham Boyd and Irish Mountain Bike Champion Liam McGreevy. In the Mountain Bike category, Bangors Sam Craig will be hoping for a repeat of his win in the Larne round a few weeks ago. Sign-on is at the pavilion in Castle Park from 10.30. Racing begins at 11.30, with the Mountain Bike Race at Noon, and the Cyclo Cross event at 1.30pm.

Monday 5 November

Roche on top at Lisburn thriller.

Dubliner Phil Roche ran out the winner of yesterdays Cyclo-Cross event at Lisburn`s Island Centre. The Dromara CC event was run over a superb re-vamped course that took in the Lagan towpath that included two bridge crossings and saw a variety of conditions including steep climbs, muddy fields and a 12-step ascent on each lap.

By the end of lap one the race had came down to a tussle between a small group including Roche, Liam McGreevy, on-form Lewis Ferguson (Team BHB) and Sean Downey, just returned on Thursday from a spell at the UCI World Track Centre in Agile, Switzerland.

At the narrow parts of the course, bottlenecks saw riders lose time, with Downey and Ferguson losing contact with the leaders. At the finish, Roche took the verdict with McGreevy settling for the runner up slot. In the earlier Mountain Bike race, Paul McMenamin (Team Specialized) was the winner.

Promoters of yesterdays event, Dromara Cycling Club, also announced details of a three round winter Trail Quest league. Getting underway on Sunday 25 November, these events are family and fun orientated, but also have a competitive twist. These events are on and off road, and require an element of map reading skill, which is where the competition element comes in to play. Teams with a maximum of three riders are permitted, with the remaining dates being Sunday 29 December and Sunday 20 January 2008. Proceeds from the series will be given to the Northern Ireland Childrens Cancer home at Bryansford. 

Cycling Irelands Track Coach, Brian Nugent will head a Paralympic Cycling squad leaving for Colombia on tomorrow to compete in the Pan-American games. Included in the team is Warenpoints Andrew Fitzgerald, who will compete in the 200m sprint, 1km time-trial and 4km pursuit, as well as the 20km road time-trial and 110km road-race. He will be piloted by John Lynch from Bray; this successful partnership having powered their way to personal best times in all their disciplines at the Paralympic World Championships in Bordeaux in September.

.The Games are the last opportunity for Ireland to compete in a world ranking event in an effort to qualify a third tandem for the Beijing Olympics next year.

The team for Colombia consists of three tandem teams, one cerebral palsy and one amputee cyclist, as well as coaching and management staff. The championships will span two weeks and will be extremely challenging, with the cyclists having to compete under conditions of high temperatures, humidity and altitude.

Meanwhile there were no major upsets at yesterdays Cycling Ulster AGM in Lurgan. All Executive members were returned to their posts, and the voting for Club of the Year saw Emyvale CC from Monaghan run out the winners, and Andy Potts (Banbridge CC) take the honour as Coach of the Year for his services to Mountain Biking. 

Result Dromara CC Cyclo-Cross

1          Phil Roche     Team WORC

2          L McGreevy   Banbridge CC

3          L Ferguson    Team BHB

4          G Kinning       Castlereagh CC

5          S Downey      Banbridge CC

6          G Boyd           XMTBCC

Friday 2 November

Ferguson on Hat-Trick Trail

This Sunday the fourth race of the Ulster Cyclo Cross season will be held at the Island Centre, headquarters of  Lisburn City Council Headquarters, who are kindly supporting days events.

First run last year, the Dromara Cycling Club promotion was the best supported Cyclo-Cross event race in 2006 and once again this popular course should attract the crowds.

Sundays event will also see Holywood `star` Lewis Ferguson go for the hat-trick, to add to his wins at Larne and again at Carrickfergus last week.

For this year the course has had a re-vamp by Dromara`s Trevor Annett, seeing it extended to 1.5 miles per lap of mostly fast flowing terrain, taking in both sides of the river Lagan.

Following the so far successful 2007 format, the event will have separate Cyclo-Cross and Mountain bike categories as well as catering for Youth riders.

Sunday’s race HQ will be the Island Centre and directional signs will be placed on approach roads to Lisburn. Sign on will be from 10.30 and car parking and toilet facilities are available. Post race refreshments will be provided.

The Programme gets underway with the Under 8s at 11.20am; the Mountain Bike race is scheduled for 12.15, with the feature Cyclo Cross event at 1.30pm.

Dromara Cycling Club have also announced details of a three round winter Trail Quest league. Getting underway on Sunday 25 November, these events are family and fun orientated, but also have a competitive twist. These events are on and off road, and require an element of map reading skill, which is where the competition element comes in to play. Teams with a maximum of three riders are permitted, with the remaining dates being Sunday 29 December and Sunday 20 January 2008. Proceeds from the series will be given to the Northern Ireland Childrens Cancer home at Bryansford. 

Meanwhile this weekend also sees a Youth fun day at Craigavon Watersports centre tomorrow. Aimed at novice youth and family members, the days activities will also feature a presentation by 2007 European Youth Olympian, Peter Williams. Activities commence at 9.30am.

On Sunday Junior riders from north of the border will undergo physiological testing at the Lurgan Golf & Ski Centre, under the supervision of National Track Coach Brian Nugent. Over a dozen of the provinces top Youth and Junior riders are being called up for the tests, with a view to progressing on to the National Track and Road squads for 2008.

Just up the road at the Ashburn Hotel in Lurgan, Cycling Ulster will be holding their AGM on Sunday afternoon at 1pm.

No major upsets are expected in the election of officers and Executive Committee members, with slight amendments to the Constitution being tabled to reflect the amalgamation with the NICF at the beginning of the year.

Monday 29 October

2008 Season taking shape.

The 2008 Northern Ireland Racing Calendar is starting to take shape, with clubs now having their event applications reviewed by Cycling Ulster.

Top of the list are the two big `tours` the P&O Irish Sea Tour of the North at Easter, and the Tour of Ulster which takes place over the May bank holiday weekend.

With Easter a moveable date, the cycling calendar slots in round the P&O Tour, with many events vying for their traditional dates on the calendar.

As usual the season gets underway with the `pre-season friendlies`, the Reliability Trials. These are generally far from friendly affairs, with riders keen to put their winter training to good use and show the opposition who is in top form. The Northern CC`s event kicks off hostilities on Sunday 3 February, with the opening race on the calendar the Banbridge CC`s Annaclone Handicap event on Saturday 1 March.

Multi-day stages are also proving popular around the province, with no fewer than 6 on the books for 2008. On top of the `big two` mentioned above, there is also the Ras Dun na nGall (30 May-1 June), The Newry 3-day (20-22 June), Bobby Crilly 3-day (4-6July) and the Portaferry 3-day (25-27 July)

Time Trialling is also well represented, with 37 events registered so far. The ever popular Dave Kane Cycles League, entering its 13th year is the best supported series in the country, and the mid-week `super six` events proved a success in 2007 and are again listed for next year. With the NICF running Northern Ireland 10, 25 & 50 Mile Championships on Sunday mornings, there is still a demand for these early morning starts.

The Off-road calendar is jam packed as usual, with the National Cyclo-Cross championships on January 6th, closely followed by XMTBs Winter League which gets underway on January 20th. Dromara CC are also getting in on the Winter act, promoting a 3-round trailquest series commencing in December and carrying in to January.

Nationally the All-Ireland Championships are mostly South of the border, with the Youth events in Kanturk in August, the Veterans & Ladies Time Trial Championship events at the end of June.

Some major dates are still to be slotted in, but Ulster Secretary Marian Lamb has been hard at work for many weeks ensuring all Ulster dates are applied for in good time. Cycling Ireland have given an undertaking to have their Handbook printed for January, following the delays in the 2007 edition which did not arrive until after the season had got well underway.

The week ahead is also a busy one, with a Youth fun day this Saturday (3rd) at the Craigavon Watersports Centre. Getting underway at 9.30, there will be a talk from 2007 Youth Olympian Peter Williams, followed by training and nutrition seminars, and finishing with a parents versus children Mountain Bike orienteering event in the afternoon. Interested youngsters should contact Ken Dunlop on   8952 1681 (after 8pm) to register their interest.

Sunday sees the Cycling Ulster AGM in the Ashburn Hotel, Lurgan at 1pm. Also on Sunday there is a Cyclo Cross event at the Island Centre, Lisburn at 1pm.

Slieve Gullion Wheelers have announced details of their thirty mile charity cycle on Saturday 10th November with Sean Kelly the star attraction. The former world number 1 will lead the run from the Mountain House, Belleek at 10.00am and arriving in Crossmaglen square at 12.30pm.

Friday 26 October

Double blow for Commonwealth Hopefuls

Cycling has received a double blow in recent weeks for anyone aspiring to represent Northern Ireland at the next edition of the Commonwealth Games.

The 4-yearly games are the pinnacle for an athletes Northern Ireland representative honours, as in the World Championships or Olympic Games a competitor can only represent Ireland or Great Britain.

  The `big` Commonwealth Games taking place in Delhi, India between 3-14 October 2010, and will be proceeded by the Junior Commonwealth Games in Pune, India from 12-18 October next year.

The first blow for cycling is that, unlike the 2004 Junior Commonwealth Games in Bendigo, Australia – where Northern Ireland fielded 4 cyclists - the sport of Cycling will not feature at all in the `08 version. This must come as a major disappointment for Northern Irelands up and coming Youth Riders who would have had their sights set on the India trip. 2007 European Youth Olympians Stuart Henry (North Down CC) and Peter Williams (Orchard Whs) along with Sean Downey (Banbridge) would surely have been in with a chance of medals, and other upcoming talent including Jonny Beers, Jonny Cole, Jessica Laird and Rachel Mitchell will also miss out on this once-only opportunity, and must now look further in to the future for their chance to shine.

The second blow is for Mountain Bikers, in that Cross Country Mountain Biking will not feature in the 2010 Delhi Commonwealths, where only Road Cycling (Road Race & Time Trial) and Track Racing will be on the cycling programme.

With Conor McConvey putting in a superb performance at the recent World Championships in Fort William, and Lewis Ferguson, who represented Northern Ireland in Mountain Biking in the 2006 Commonwealths in Australia, this must come as a major blow to their immediate plans, and comes at a time when both are in the running for a Mountain Bike place in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, with the place to be decided early in the new year with a ride-off in the opening rounds of the K-Capital Cup series.

That said, off-road cycling continues to enjoy great grass roots support, with last Sundays Cyclo Cross event in Tymon Park, Dublin seeing another large turnout where 15-times National Champion Robin Seymour put his skills to good use to decimate the opposition and take his first `Cross win of the season. This weekend the action is back North, in County Antrim where Team Madigan promote their event on Sunday, where a new course is being used.

The Beltoy Sports Complex, in the shadow of Kilroot Power Station near Carrickfergus is the venue, and again both Cyclo-Cross and Mountain Bikes are being catered for.

Meanwhile Ulsters top Youth Talent will be in Newport this weekend at the Welsh National Velodrome for a weekends coaching under the watchful eye of Cycling Ulster coaches Gary McKeegan and Brian Cardy.

11 Youths are making the trip, having been put through their paces last Sunday at the Orangefield track in Belfast with a refresher session, managing to avoid the Autumn leaves on the track banking, something that in the next couple of years will not be an issue, with the imminent announcement of Northern Irelands own state of the art facility 250metre indoor velodrome.

Monday 22 October

Local riders in line-up for new super squad

Mayo was the venue this week for the launch of a new UCI registered Irish cycling team. Over 100 guests attended the Lisloughrey Lodge hotel in Cong for the announcement of the roster for Team Pezula, a new outfit headed by current Irish National Champion David O`Loughlin.

Following the announcement at the end of the 2007 season that O`Loughlins American-backed Navigators Insurance squad was folding, it left him and team mate Ciaran Power looking for a new employer. O`Loughlins uncle, Declan stepped in as the owner of Pezula, a company specialising in the provision of project and cost management services to the construction industry, and the idea for a new team was born.

Included in the 9-rider squad are two of Northern Irelands top cyclists who will be joining forces in 2008. Newtownards man Matryn Irvine, who spent the bulk of 2007 in Belgium riding for the Sean Kelly academy team, and Ahoghill`s Ryan Connor who competed in the Giant Asia colours in `07.

Irvine, the younger of the two riders has excelled in both road and time trialling, lifting the 2006 Ulster Road Race Championship and a Bronze medal in the Under 23 Time Trial event in the same year. 2007 has been a learning year for the youngster, spending most of his season with the other Irish hopefuls in the Sean Kelly academy set-up in Belgium. That has obviously paid off, seeing him now snapped up by this new super team.

Connor is arguably Northern Irelands number 1 rider, despite having been around at the top for a few years, he is still relatively young at 23 years of age. Already a double P&O Tour of the North winner, he has also represented Great Britain and Northern Ireland at World Championship level. 

Also included in the Team Pezula line-up is 2005 P&O Irish Sea Tour of the North winner Paul Healion along with Eugene Moriarty, Brian O'Loughlin, Declan O'Loughlin, William Connolly and Morgan Fox along with sole female rider Louise Moriarty.

Primarily a track squad, their ambition is to qualify a Team Pursuit squad to represent Ireland at the Beijing Olympic Games next year. Team Boss O`Loughlin commented, “Our ultimate aim is to qualify for the Olympics - not just to qualify but to win a medal. We want to give these guys the best chance possible. We are in for the long haul and we see this as a three to five-year plan.”

He was also keen to point out an ambitious road programme for the fledgling team. “On the road we hope to be participating in the Tour de Langkawi, FBD Rás, Philadelphia Week and the Premier Calendar series in the UK as well as the Tour of Ireland and Tour of Britain.”

Friday 19 October

Local riders favourite for Dublin Cross

The Autumn-Winter Cyclo-Cross calendar continues this weekend South of the border, when the Irisn Mountain Bike Riders Club promote their event in Tymon Park on the outskirts of Dublin on Sunday.

This could be the opportunity for local man Robin Seymour to open his Cyclo Cross account for 2007. Seymour, one of the country`s most experienced off-road riders has a long list of Mountain Bike & Cyclo-Cross titles in his CV, and missed last weeks event in Larne due to International Mountain Bike commitments in Turkey.

Riding the UCI class1 Alanya International MTB Cup, Seymour led an Irish trio that included Belfast`s Conor McConvey and Richard Felle. Held in atrocious weather conditions, the race brought together five national champions, with victory going to British Champion Oli Beckinsale, the Giant rider breaking clear in the closing stages of the race. Seymour finished a brilliant 4th place, and in the process gained Ireland a valuable 25 world ranking points. McConvey ended the race in 12th place, with Felle in 15th.

Sundays venue will also be used for the National Cyclo-Cross championships on 6 January, so all the big guns are expected to make the trip to this weekends event. Among the local fancied runners are, Roger Aiken (Banbridge), Conor McConvey (XMTBCC), Lewis Ferguson (Holywood), and Newry riders Mark McKinley, Peter McConville and Gary Henning.

Tymon park is off the M50, taking the Tallaght turn off, left for Templeouge, left at the Spawell complex in to Wellington Rd, through the roundabout and left at the traffic lights in to Limekiln Rd and proceed for approx 1 mile. Sign-on opens at 11am, with the Youth events at Noon, and the feature race at 1.30.

Next week the Cyclo-Cross action returns North when Team Madigan promote their event at Beltoy on Sunday

Cycling Ireland has announced details of the three races which will be used to select the rider who will represent Ireland in Mountain Biking at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.  Under the criteria set down in 2006 currently three riders meet the standard and it would appear to be a shoot-out between Robin Seymour, Niall Davis and Connor McConvey for the slot.

  The three races chosen will be rounds One, Two and Three of the 2008 K-Capital Cup series which will take place during the months of March and April 2007. The race for Olympic selection should add extra spice to the popular K-Capital series.

With the darker months seeing competition confined to off-road, there are also the rounds of AGMs and Social events to attend. Most clubs have announced details of their annual awards bashes, with North Down kicking the action off this week with their event on Monday evening.  Clann Eireanns function takes place on Friday 26 October, Team Madigans on Saturday 10 November, Ards CC on Friday 16 November, Ballymena Road Club on Friday 23 November, Apollo CT on 14 December and Phoenix on 11 January.

There is also a planned NICF-Cycling Ulster awards night due to take place early next year, with the event still in the planning stages. With these events in the run up to Christmas, it is little wonder that cyclists begin the new years training a few pounds overweight!

Monday 15 October

Ferguson in charge at Larne Cross

Holywoods Lewis Ferguson, Northern Irelands Mountain Bike representative at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Australia, was in dominant form in Saturday’s second event of the Ulster Cyclo-Cross season.

The East Antrim-Agnew Audi club promoted the event at the Seacourt Community Centre on the outskirts of Larne, and with round 1 winner Conor McConvey and top Cross man Robin Seymour absent due to International Mountain Bike duty in Turkey, it left the way open for the experienced Ferguson to take the win.

Ferguson, runner up in the opening event of the season last week at Lurgan, didn’t have it all his own way, but produced a last-gasp win, having faced tough opposition throughout the seven laps of the one mile circuit.

Ardsman Ross Blayney shot off in to an immediate lead, but by the end of the first lap, a quartet comprising Ferguson (Team BHB), Conor Campbell (Newry Wheelers), Graham Boyd (XMTB) and Liam McGreevy (BanbridgeCC) had opened a decisive lead over Newry duo Peter McConville and Gary Henning.

Junior `young guns` Boyd and McGreevy collided on the second lap, but recovered to regain their places at the head of affairs, and despite numerous attacks from Ferguson and Boyd, the quartet stayed intact throughout the remainder of the 7 lap thriller, with Ferguson leading the way over the final log section before the final uphill sprint to the line, where he held off the advances of Boyd and McGreevy to win by inches.

Campbell finished fourth, with the race long battle between Newry club mates going to Gary Henning who got the better of Veteran Peter McConville to round out the top 6.

In the supporting Mountain Bike event, Carryduff`s Phil O’Neill won a race long tussle with North Down’s Paul Ferguson, whilst Matthew Adair (banbridge CC) took the Under 14 race and the O’Neill family made it a double, with Phil’s wife Valerie taking the ladies category.

All were complimentary of the work carried out by the promoting club and Larne Borough Council in preparing the course, with the refreshments laid on being well received by riders and officials alike.

The next round sees the Cyclo Cross season move south of the border next week, when IMBRC promote their event at Tymon Park, Dublin on Sunday.

Result

East Antrim Cyclo-Cross. Larne

1          Lewis Ferguson                    Team BHB

2          G Boyd                                   XMTBCC

3          L McGreevy                           Banbridge CC

4          C Campbell                           Newry Wheelers

5          G Henning                              Newry Wheelers

6          P McConville                         Newry Wheelers

Under 16s

1          William Boyd                         XMTBCC

2          J Cole                                     Team Madigan

Mountain Bikes

1          Phil O`Neill                             Unattached

2          P Ferguson                            North Down CC

3          P Anderson                            Banbridge CC

Ladies - Valerie O`Neill                                Unattached

Under 14 - Matthew Adair                            Banbridge CC

Under 12 - Daniel Runciman                       Banbridge CC

Under 10 - Conor Nairn                                XMTBCC

Under 8 - John Buller                                    Banbridge CC

Friday 12 October

McConvey eyes Cyclo-X double

Belfast teenager Connor McConvey (XMTBCC) will be on the trail of a double this weekend, when the East Antrim club promote their cyclo-cross event tomorrow at Larne.

McConvey, one of the country`s top mountain bikers who is in the running for a Mountain Bike place at next years Beijing Olympics, scored an emphatic win in last Sundays season opener at Lurgan Park promoted by the Apollo club. He will be out to maintain his unbeaten run tomorrow at the Seacourt Community Centre venue outside Larne.

This will be the second year the Audi club have used this venue, with numerous improvements made since its inaugural use. The course measures just over one mile, with a mixture of grass and stoned paths, including two step-off sections per circuit.

Sign-on tomorrow opens at 10am, with racing getting underway with the Under 8s and 10s at 11.30. Following the success of the Mountain Bike-only category last week, won by North Down CC`s Sam Craig, East Antrim will repeat the format, with Mountain Bikes off at 12.15pm, followed by the feature Cyclo-Cross event at 1.30pm.

There is an excellent prize fund overall and a trophy for the Cyclo-Cross race. Refreshments will be available after the event at the Community Centre, and the venue will be signposted from the approach to Larne.

With cyclo-cross calendar dates filling up, XMTBCC have now added their event to the list, this will be staged in Castle Park, Bangor on Sunday 11th November.

Staying with off-road competition, Banbridge CC will also host the delayed final round of the Ulster Mountain Bike Cross Country League at Havelock Park in Banbridge on Sunday 18th November.

One of the proposals accepted at last weeks Cycling Ireland AGM in Dublin was that Veteran (over 40) riders be graded by ability. Currently all over 40 riders are simply listed as Veterans, generally meaning they can be afforded a generous handicap over younger riders in certain events.

With a current crop of `super veterans` in Northern Ireland including East Antrim-Audi duo Gordon Scott and Jim McConnell along with Lennie Kirk (Slane Cycles) and Shaun Grey (Orchard Wheelers) all capable of winning races outright, the new suggestion will now see them qualify for licence category upgrade points.

How this move will go down with these and other Veteran riders throughout Ireland remains to be seen, however it also creates potential headaches for race promoters. Certain events that cater for 3rd category, Junior and Veteran riders only, may require a re-think as to how these crop of `super vets` are accommodated. This one is likely to run over the winter!

Following the National AGM, the Cycling Ulster provincial AGM will take place at 1.30pm on Sunday 4th November 2007 at the Ashburn Hotel, Lurgan.

All nominations and proposals to be addressed at the AGM must be must be received by 26th October 2007, with the relevant paperwork currently being issued to Club Secretaries.

Monday 8 October

Paralympians on track for Beijing places.

Local tandem cyclists, Emma and Andrew Fitzgerald from Warrenpoint have just returned from the Paralympic World Cycling Championships in Bordeaux, having achieved personal best times in all their events.

Both partially-sighted physiotherapists, they cycle as `stokers` on the back of tandems, with a fully-sighted `pilots` up front. The pair have been cycling with the Newry and Mourne Watsh Club for a number of years, and Andy received his call-up to the Irish squad last year, with Emma`s being early in 2007.

Paralympic competition involves cyclists who have physical disabilities, with over forty nations and 400 cyclists competing at the Bordeaux championships. Events took place both on the indoor velodrome and road circuits. This years Worlds held particular significance with the run up to the Beijing Paralympic games in 2008.

`We feel proud and honoured to have been selected to represent Ireland at such a high-ranking and prestigious event`, said Emma, who was piloted by Fionnuala Ni Bhradaigh from Bray Wheelers Cycling Club, Co Wicklow. `The standard of paralympic cycling is phenomenal, and we gave our all both physically and mentally during the championships, recording top 20 finishes in all track and road events”, Their highest finish came in the 72km road race, run off in 45 degree heat, where they finished 16th overall.

Andy also had an extremely successful championships, resuming his tandem partnership with Bray Wheelers` John Lynch. The pair had first competed together at the worlds in Switzerland last year, and were keen to build on their performances from that event. This they did with considerable improvement in all events. They took 2 seconds off their 1km time, and a massive 6 seconds off their 4km pursuit time. Road events were also cause for celebration, when the pair finished 27th in the extremely tough 106km road race.

These pair are now focusing on qualification for next years Olympics, although it involves a complicated qualification procedure that will necessitate travel to Colombia next month for the Pan-American games, the last ranking event before team selection.

Ulster Cyclo-Cross round 1 Lurgan Park Sunday 7th October

1. CONNOR McCONVEY    XMTB                                                             48.42

2. L FERGUSON                    TEAM BHB                                                     @ 32sec

3. P ROCHE                            TEAM WORC                                                @33sec

Mountain Bike Race

1          Sam Craig                 North Down CC

2          P McMenamin           Specialised-Leisure Lakes

3          M Holland                   Lakeland CC

Under 16.       Andrew Adair            banbridge CC

Under 14.       Matthew Adair           banbridge CC

Under 12        Mark Downey            banbridge CC

Under 10        James Currie             banbridge CC

Under 8          John Buller                 banbridge CC

Friday 5 October

Winter Cyclo-Cross Season gets underway

The 2007-08 Cyclo-Cross season gets underway on Sunday with the traditional opening event, Apollo CT’s popular promotion in Lurgan Park. 

There is no Ulster cyclo-cross league this year, however riders as ever have a full programme of events including the Ulster, Leinster and Irish Championships to look forward to, and with a few Clubs still to put their date on the calendar it is already shaping up to be a busy Autumn-Winter schedule. 

The sport of cyclo-cross has seen a tremendous rise in popularity over recent years with events attracting upwards of sixty senior riders, plus a full supporting Youth category. Cyclo-Cross is a combination of Mountain Biking and Road Cycling with the events ridden on machines similar to road bikes, with dropped handlebars etc, however the terrain is all off road, with some obstacles demanding that the rider dismount and carry the bike. 

Races bring together riders from all cycling disciplines, road, track, cross country and downhill.  Robin Seymour is the reigning Irish Champion, the Wicklow rider having won the title on no fewer than 15 occasions, and he is due to be on the start line at Lurgan on Sunday.

Leading the Ulster  Cross challenge will be former Irish Champion, and recently crowned Ulster Mountain Bike Champion, Banbridge CC’s Roger Aiken and current Ulster Cross Champion Lewis Ferguson (Team BHB), who is still keeping an eye on selection for a mountain bike place at next years Olympics. Newry Wheelers field a  strong squad  including Drew and Mark McKinley, Conor Campbell, Brian Henning and Peter McConville.

Always involved with the leading pack is Bangor man Raymond Brownfield who this year took part in a number of mountain bike races to brush up on his technical skills.  Apollo rider Andy Layhe, a former British Junior Champion and Ulster Senior Champion in 2005, is another front runner, though his 2006/2007 season was marred by injury.

Sundays feature race at Lurgan Park will be for cyclo-cross bikes only, with a separate race being held for mountain bike riders as well as races  for U-8, U-10 and U-12 riders.

Sunday’s race will be based at Waves Leisure Complex, just off Lurgan’s Main Street, directional signs will be placed on approach roads on Sunday morning.  Sign on will be at the Cush Pavillion, beside the car park with changing and showering facilities available.

The race programme for Sunday gets underway at 11.30am with the Under 8 event, the Mountain Bike event is scheduled for 12.15, and the main Cross event at 1.30pm.

Monday 1 October

                    Ulster Girls Mainland Mountain Bike Success                 

Last weekends final round of the British Cycling National Points Series in Wales saw a strong Northern Ireland contingent head across the Irish Sea to Coed-Y-Brenin where Cycling Ulster youth riders were in the hunt for overall podium honours.

Ulster’s youth girls have been having a fantastic season on the mainland, with Bangors Jessica Laird, in her last Youth race before moving up to the Junior class for 2008 holding third place for most of the event, before overhauling her rival Ruby Millar to take a superb second place, also wrapping up second overall in the Youth Womens national series points table.

  Fellow XMTB club mate Claire Oakley from Newtownards matched Jessica`s results, taking second in the Juvenile (Under 14) Womens event and also runner up in the series.

In the Under 14 boys category, Ulsters trio of Jack Wilson (East Antrim-Agnew Audi) Michael Runciman (Banbridge CC) and Matthew Adair were in action, with Wilson best placed overall in the series. A fall damaged his bike early in the race, however he still managed to finish 11th overall, behind team mate Runciman who was 9th. In the final points table, Wilson took 4th overall, Runciman 8th and Adair 10th, all of which augurs well for next season when the trio move in to the Under 16 ranks. 

  In the Junior event, Liam McGreevy was holding a brilliant third place until he punctured and had to run two miles to the technical zone to get a wheel, the unlucky Banbridge rider eventually finishing in 13th whilst XMTB`s Graham Boyd was 9th.

These regular trips to the mainland have seen local Mountain Bike riders stretched to their limits, and events like these which are outside their comfort zone in terms of difficulty and competition have proved invaluable in realising their potential, with Jessica Laird already earmarked for the Irish Junior squad for 2008.

This week also wrapped up the `super six` time trial series, a competition hosted throughout the season by Tyrone based clubs Island Wheelers and East Tyrone CC.

Phoenix CC rider Stuart Bennett ran out the winner, despite not featuring in the final event which was won by East Antrim`s Keiran McKenna. Thomas Martin (Clann Eireann-Linen Green) took the Junior title with Ann McFarland and Ernie Magwood the Ladies and Veterans classes respectively.

Team Madigans John Lindsay memorial Torr Head Challenge last week was a great success, with well over one hundred and fifty participants. On hand to flag away the riders was former Moto-GP star Jeremy McWilliams, and a good, if tough, day was had by all with over £3200 raised for the Marie Curie cancer charity.

Meanwhile competition continues over the Autumn and Winter when the Cyclo-Cross season kicks off on Sunday, with the Apollo club hosting the opening round of the Ulster series, the venue is Lurgan Park and the start time is Noon.

Friday 28 sept

McCann out of luck at Stuttgart

Irelands sole representative in the Elite World Time Trial Championship yesterday, Belfasts David McCann, was out of luck yesterday, finishing a lowly 32nd overall in a rain swept event won for the second year in succession by Switzerlands Fabian Cancellara.

Disaster struck McCann before the off, when he sliced open his finger, the injury requiring first aid before he took his place on the start ramp. With riders setting off at one minute intervals, McCann was off 26th in a field of 69 of the worlds best riders against the clock, all covering two laps of a demanding circuit totalling 45 kilometres. McCann was hampered by the injury to his finger which bled for the duration of the event making gripping the handlebars difficult at times.

He had earlier set his stall out to finish in the top 15, equalling his best ever result back in 2005, however a combination of factors saw him finish almost four minutes off the 30 miles per hour average speed set by Cancellara.

Afterwards McCann admitted to being a little disappointed, having hoped to finish within three minutes of the winner. He also reckoned the weather conditions favoured the later starters, as the earlier two thirds of the field started in the rain, with the roads starting to dry before the race favourites set off.

By way of an explanation McCann offered, “I reckoned we were losing 40-50 seconds on the descents due to the greasy roads. Having ridden the course yesterday in the dry, corners that were flat out were taken more cautiously today. It was a tough course, definitely a roadmans circuit with technical climbs and descents, even treated with caution I felt my wheels slide on a couple of the bends.”   

Cancellara, helped by drying roads, powered round the circuit in a time of 55minutes 41 seconds, almost one minute ahead of runner up, Hingary`s Lazlo Bodrogi.

Among the pre race favourites, Britons Bradley Wiggins and David Millar were also somewhat off the pace, finishing 10th and 18th respectively.

On Wednesday Ulster born Wendy Houvenaghel, representing Great Britain, was also out of luck in the Womens Time Trial event. Hopes were high for her, having recently broken the 14 year-old British Womens 10 mile record, however in Stuttgart she was well off the pace, ending up 25th overall. Her GB team mate Emma Pooley fared better finishing in 8th place, one place behind the phenomenal Jennie Longo-Ciprelli, who at 48 years old was the oldest competitor in the race, having taken Gold on three previous occasions.

Irelands squad are in action again tomorrow when the under 23 quartet comprising Derek Burke, Isaac Speers, Daniel Martin and Mark Cassidy line up for the Road Race event, whilst Irelands sole female representative, Siobhan Dervan will also be riding the Elite Womens Road Race.

Sunday sees the blue ribband event, the Elite road race, where David McCann will also be in action again, along with Letterkenny`s  Philip Deignan when they tackle the 267km route.

Result. Elite Mens World Time Trial Championship. Stuttgart

1          Fabian Cancellara                Sui.                 55min 41 sec

2          Lazlo Bodrogi                        Hun                 @ 52 sec

3          Stef Clement                          Ned                 @57 sec

10        Bradley Wiggine                   GB                  @ 2min 10 sec

18        David Millar                            GB                  @ 2min 40 sec

32        David McCann                      Irl                     @ 3min 49 sec

Monday 24 September

McCann Heads Irish Medal Hopes in Stuttgart

Belfast`s David McCann will today head off to Stuttgart to represent Ireland in this weeks forthcoming UCI World Time Trial Championships.

McCann, who rides for the American based Colevita Sutter Home team will be taking part in the elite mens time trial on Thursday, along with Irish team mate Nicholas Roche, son of 1987 Tour de France winner Stephen.

The event will cover 45km and McCann is aiming for a top 15 placing that would equal his best placing in the event back in 2005.

He has been in terrific form this year, bettering his National record for 25 miles to an incredible 47 minutes 6 seconds, and narrowly missing out on a stage victory in last months Tour of Ireland stage race.

Having put the finishing touches to his preparation at the Orangefield track last week, McCann is confident of bettering his target of a top 15 placing, and possibly breaking on to the top 10 in the world.

Letterkenny`s Phillip Deignan will be Ireland`s main hope in the Elite Road Race, taking place on Sunday over 268 kilometres. Deignan has been flying in the Tour of Spain, recording three top 20 stage finishes. The AG2r professional will be up against the likes of Spains Oscar Friere, aiming for a record 4th world title.

Also a real medal prospect in the Womens Elite Time Trial is Wendy Houvenaghel. The Ulster born girl will be representing Great Britain and has already came close to a medal at the Track worlds earlier in the season. She recently broke the 14 year-old British womens 10 mile Time Trial record, setting a time of 19 minutes 50 for the distance. 

The World Championships get underway in Stuttgart on Wednesday with the Under 23 Mens Time Trial and run through to Sunday with the feature Elite Road Race.

Irelands full squad is –

David McCann – Elite Time Trial

Nicholas Roche – Elite Time Trial & Elite Road Race

Phillip Deignan – Elite Road Race

Mark Cassidy – Under 23 Road Race

Derek Burke – Under 23 Road Race

Isaac Speers – Under 23 Road Race

Daniel Martin – Under 23 Road Race.

With the road season over, the Cyclo Cross calendar kicks off next Sunday (October 7th) with an event in Lurgan Park to be promoted by Apollo CT.

October also sees the onset of AGMs. The Cycling Ireland AGM and Awards night will take place on Saturday 6th October. The venue is the Clarion Hotel at Dublin Airport, with the AGM at 11am and the awards dinner in the evening.

Following that, the Cycling Ulster annual meeting will be held on Sunday 4th November in the Ashbourne Hotel, Lurgan.

Along with the two dates above, Clubs will be scheduling their own AGMS, and then the social season kicks off with the round of awards nights, before the serious training gets underway for 2008 !

Friday 21 September

Mountain Biking on the lakes!

This weekend sees yet another packed programme of cycling, with a handful of events to choose from both on and off road.

Tomorrow sees Lurgan based Apollo CT take on round five of the Ulster Mountain Bike Cross Country series, with Craigavon Lakes as the venue.

The venue and course layout should offer something of interest for all riders whether recovering from last week’s Ulster Championships at Dunmore Mountain or hoping to ride the next week’s Marathon Champs in The Cooley mountains.

The 2 mile course is a mix of single track and open trails with some grass sections and will be available for practice from 10:15am.  There will be a separate, shorter grass circuit for the under 12/10/8 categories. Excellent changing, shower, toilet and café facilities are on site.

Craigavon Lakes Watersports Centre is situated off roundabout 3 on the main Portadown to Lurgan road.  Leaving the M1 motorway at Junction 10 and follow the signs for Craigavon Centre.

Downhilling takes centre stage near Ballycastle on Saturday and Sunday, with round 6 of the Irish Down Hill National Points Series taking place at Coolaveely.

Also tomorrow the Cycling Ulster MTB Academy Squad will be in Coed-y-Brenin in North Wales for the final round of the British Cross Country Series, with XMTB’s Jessica Laird from Bangor in with a good chance of winning the overall U-16 title. 

Newtownards girl Claire Oakley goes for second overall in the Womens U-14 Class, while Jack Wilson, Matthew Adair and Michael Runciman are aiming for top six final placings in the U-14 Mens series. Ulsters Youth riders have been regular competitors at these events on the mainland all season, and tomorrows final race should see the youngsters return with some silverware.

Whilst Mountain Biking is on the up following two Northern Ireland riders scoring excellent placings at last weekends World Championships in Fortwilliam, where Ben Reid finished 14th in the Downhill and Conor McConvey 21st in the Under 23 Cross Country event, the local scene has been rocked by the announcement that Mountain Bike stalwart Robert Lamont has decided to retire from both competition and administration. Robbie was a member of the Cycling Ireland off-road commission, and was also a top competitor on the Ulster scene. His experience will be greatly missed in local mountain biking. 

For the non competitive cyclist there are again two events to choose from on Sunday. Team Madigan promote their annual John Lindsay, Memorial ‘Torr Head’ Cycle Challenge starting at 10.30 am, from Ballygalley on the Antrim Coast.  For the second year in a row the beneficiary is Marie Curie Cancer Care.  

Over £3500 was raised last year and a similar figure is hoped for this year. Light Refreshments are included and the minimum donation is £10.

There are three routes to choose from, the tough 70-miles Torr Head Challenge taking in the famous Torr Head road, next is the slightly easier is the 50-miles Cushendun Challenge which is on mainly flat roads, and finally the 20-mile Carnlough Challenge for the less energetic.

Further North West, Sunday also sees the Roe Valley Sperrin Tour. This is a 50 mile run departing from Gort na Drum House, near Dungiven, at 10am. Proceeds for this event are also in aid of Marie Curie.

With Cycling Ulster currently asking all clubs to have their proposed 2008 event dates in for the end of the month, hopefully next years calendar will have all events more evenly spaced throughout the year to avoid unfortunate clashes like these.

Monday 17 Sept.

Roger conquers the mountain.

Banbridge rider Roger Aiken conquered the opposition in Saturdays Ulster Mountain Bike Championships held at Dunmore Mountain near Ballynahinch.

The promoting Dromara club had pulled out all the stops to set up a superb course that tested riders to the full, with Aiken, who represented Northern Ireland at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, leading from start to finish to successfully defend his Elite title.

National Junior Champion, Liam McGreevy gave the Banbridge club its second title win of the day when he added the Ulster crown to the national honours won back in July.

Chris Cameron (XMTBCC) won the Under 16s, with Jack Wilson (East Antrim-Audi) the Under 14s and Mark Downey took the third of six titles for Banbridge CC, taking the Under 12s. 

Round six of the league takes place next Saturday, promoted by Apollo CT at Craigavon.

Saturday will also see an Ulster Mountain Bike squad head to Wales for the 6th and final round of the 2007 British National Points Series at Coed y Brenin. Ulsters youth riders are well placed in the overall standings, with Jessica Laird lying 3rd in the Youth Womens series and Jack Wilson and Michael Runciman also in contention for top honours in the Juvenile Men category.

Meanwhile a squad of Ulsters youth Road riders made the journey to Glasgow to take part in the support events that marked the end of the Tour of Britain on Saturday. The P&O Irish Sea supported squad included XMTBs Jonny Beers, Ballymena’s Phillip Bremner and Madigan trio Jonny Cole, Richard Alexander and David Neill.

Beers was best of the bunch, taking third overall in the Under 16 event. The squad, under the guidance of manager Gary McKeegan, performed superbly with Cole taking 4th, Neill 8th and Alexander 10th. The riders, most of whom move up to the Junior ranks for 2008, were also active in the lap prime competition, with Cole and Beers taking one apiece.

The lads were able to see the finish of the 6-day Professional Tour of Britain that ended on Glasgow Green on Saturday afternoon. The final stage was won by Briton Paul Manning, with the overall race honours going to Romain Feillu riding for the French Agritubel team. Stage one winner, Manxman Mark Cavendish took the overall Green points jersey thanks to his consistency throughout the event.

With the road season at an end, some riders are already turning their attention to training for the 2008 season.

Local specialist holiday firm Sport Active.net are rolling out their 2008 roadshow, and will be at Rex Bonar House, home to Ballymena Road Club, this evening at 7.30pm. Other events are planned for Carlow on Thursday and Cookstown next Monday.

Sport Active has linked up with former world star Sean Kelly who attends many of their Majorca training camps that are growing in popularity with local riders.

24 year old Letterkenny professional Phillip Deignan, Northern Irelands top hope for last years Commonwealth Games until a broken collar bone saw his withdrawal from the team, has been making a spectacular return to form, taking an excellent 10th place on Saturdays 14th  stage of the Tour of Spain.

Deignan, riding for the French AG2r outfit has scored three top 20 stage finishes so far in the three week event, placing 16th and 12th on mountain top finishes. 

Result Ulster MTB Championship Ballynahinch

Elite

1          Roger Aiken              Banbridge CC

2          S McConnell              MTB Rider

3          T Edgar                      XMTBCC

Elite Ladies Ciara McManus           XMTBCC

Junior Liam McGreevy         Banbridge CC

Under 16 Chris Cameron     XMTBCC

Under 14 Jack Wilson                      East Antrim-Audi

Under 12 Mark Downey       Banbridge CC

Under 10 James Currie. Banbridge CC

Under 8. John Buller      Banbridge CC

Veterans. Willie Mulligan. Banbridge CC

Masters. Martin O`Hagan. Newry Whs

FRIDAY 14 Sept.

Ulster`s Best take to the hills.

Tomorrow (Sat) sees the Dromara club promote the Ulster Mountain Bike Cross Country Championships, to be held on private land on Dunmore Mountain near Ballynahnich.

This follows ongoing problems with using forestry commission land, where a £500 `licence fee` is being demanded.

The forward thinking Dromara outfit have hastily re-jigged their plans, securing the use of private land to host the event.

The course will cover 3 miles of open mountain terrain, with a mixture of ascents, descents and technical features. The course will be open for practice from 10am, with the first event, for Under 12 Youth, getting underway at 11.30. The Under 16 Youth event is scheduled for Noon, with the Elite men off at 1.30pm.

The venue is accessed by taking the B175 road out of Ballynahinch, and heading through Spa for 2 miles.

Ulsters top performers from last weekends World Championships in Fortwilliam must be in tip top form and leading tomorrows medal hunt. Belfast`s Conor McConvey finished an excellent 21st place in the Under 23 event, well ahead of Ireland team mate, Dublin`s Niall Davis. McConvey is the rising star of National Mountain Biking, and along with Holywood`s Lewis Ferguson, is pushing hard for a place on next years Olympic team. They are likely to slug it out for Ulster honours in the Elite class tomorrow.

Banbridge Junior Liam McGreevy and Donaghadee`s Graham Boyd represented Ireland at the Junior World Championships, the pair finishing 54th and 70th respectively. They will renew their local rivalry over the Dunmore hills tomorrow for the Ulster Junior crown.

The star of Irelands team at Fortwilliam was Ards Downhiller Ben Reid. He finished a superb 14th in his discipline, to edge him closer to a place in the Worlds top 10 rankings.

Tomorrows event is also round five of the Ulster Cross Country League, with the Apollo club hosting Round 6 next Saturday at Craigavon.

Meanwhile the Leisure cyclists are spoiled for choice on Sunday, with an unfortunate clash of dates that sees three events to choose from.

First up the Four Masters club in Donegal have their famous Poison Glen 100km run leaving Letterkenny Community Centre from 9.30am.  The procceds will be in aid of Letterkenny teenager Alan Doherty. Alan was born with a rare maxillofacial disorder called "Ocetphally". As a result he requires pioneering surgery in America and will go to New York for the operations. A major fund raising effort is needed for Alan to have these operations, with a target of €250,000.

Closer to home, the Ards club are hosting their annual 100km Strangford Lough Tour. This will start from the Portaferry Rd in Newtownards and go down the Peninsula via Comber. There will be a lunch stop at Inch Abbey outside Downpatrick before crossing on the Strangford ferry and returning to Ards.

This will be in aid of the Forthspring Inter-Community Group.

Finally, Sleive Gullion Wheelers are running their 3rd annual Minnie Clarke Memorial ride. HQ will be Crossmaglen Rangers GFC, with 80 hilly miles being planned over the Newry Armagh roads. Start time is 10am.

Club Secretaries are reminded that Cycling Ulster require all proposed 2008 race dates to be in by the end of this month. This is to ensure a National calendar with as few clashes as possible. All dates should be sent to Marian Lamb.

mon 10 Sept

Delahaye wraps up Season, as Blayney takes NI title.

Neill Delahaye (Usher-Irish Road Club) ended his season in fine style, taking victory in Saturdays North Down Grand Prix at Killinchy.

The Dubliner is no stranger to Northern Ireland racing this season, being a regular competitor north of the border, having been runner up in the Wallace Caldwell Memorial, and third in the Tour of the North.

He signalled his intentions from the off, going clear on the opening of 6 laps, each covering 8 and a quarter miles of undulating terrain.  He was joined on lap by two by seven chasers who quickly opened up a lead in excess of two minutes. Pre race favourites Ryan Connor (Giant Asia) and Martyn Irvine (Ards CC) missed the move, however midway through the race the field came together again, only for a three man break to go clear, with Delahaye again at the head of affairs, but this time accompanied by Veteran East Antrim-Audi duo Gordon Scott and Jim McConnell.

The trio worked well together building up a sizeable gap over the closing laps, however McConnell lost contact on the final circuit, leaving Delahaye to take the verdict in a two up sprint at the line. Scott finished just behind to give him his 4th successive Northern Ireland Veterans Title.

With the race also incorporating the Northern Ireland championships for Seniors, Veterans and Juniors, the big names seemed happy to let this break escape, as Delahaye was ineligible for the title and Scott and McConnell were in contention for the Veterans honours.

With Irvine, Ryan Connor and defending Northern Ireland Champion Peter Hawkins (Usher Irish Road Club) seemingly happy to leave the senior title to a sprint finish, the decision went against them when Ards man Ross Blayney and Dromara`s Davy McKnight slipped away in the closing miles, with Blayney powering across the line to claim the gold medal. Martyn Irvine led a five man group home to claim the final medal.

Lurgans Thomas Martin crossed the line in 11th  place to give him the Northern Ireland Junior title to add to the Ulster crown won last weekend.

Earlier Ballymena`s Louise Fullerton had lofted the Ladies championship, held over a shorter distance.

Result

North Down Grand Prix

1          Neill Delahaye           Usher IRC                      50 miles in 2.20.21

2          Gordon Scott             EACC-Audi               @ 2 sec                                 

3          Jim McConnell           EACC-Audi               @ 1.20                                  

4          Ross Blayney Ards CC                                 @ 2.05          

5          Davy McKnight          Dromara CC              s.t.                  

6          Martyn Irvine               Ards CC                     @ 2.30          

7          Neill McKenna           NDCC                                   

8          Ryan Connor              BRC-Northstone                               

9          Alan Lavery                NDCC

10        James MaMaster      Northern-DK Cycles   all same time

NI Championships

Senior

1          Ross Blayney                         Ards CC

2          D McKnight                            Dromara CC

3          M Irvine                                   Ards CC

Junior

1          Thomas Martin                      Clann Eireann

2          L McAllister                            Ballymena Road Club-Northstone

3          R Byrne                                  Newry Whs-Haldane Fisher

Veteran

1          Gordon Scott                         East Antrim-Agnew Audi

2          J McConnell                           East Antrim-Agnew Audi

3          P McConville                         Newry Whs-Haldane Fisher

Ladies

1          Louise Fullerton                     Ballymena RC-Northstone

Irish Hill Climb Championship (Saturday) Monaghan.

1  David McCann     Colavita Sutter Home     5.39

2  S Coughlan           Donaman Dynamos       5.56

3  Frank Billings        Lucan Staggs                 6.12.

4  Kenny Boylan        Lakeland CC                  6.14

5  Raymond Dunlop  Lakeland CC                  6.19

6  Conor Murphy        Usher IRC                       6.22

Cycling column Friday 7 Sept.

                                                      Road Season Finale

The Ulster road racing calendar wraps up this weekend, with both Northern Ireland and All Ireland medals up for grabs on both days.

Tomorrow sees the Northern Ireland Road Championships for Seniors, Juniors, Ladies and Veterans. The event will be promoted by North Down CC as part of the North Down Grand Prix.

The race gets underway at Noon and will be held over an 8 mile circuit close to Balloo off the Comber-Killyleagh rd.

Last years championship race was an Usher-Irish Road Club 1-2 with Peter Hawkins and Matt Ward leaving the remainder of the field in their wake. Hawkins finished 4th in last Saturdays Red Hand Trophy event to clinch the runner up spot in the NICF-Cycling Ulster league, whilst Ward was in the placings last Sunday finishing runner up in the Crumlin GP. Both riders are on form, but will have to watch local Ards rider Martyn Irvine. He is back from a summer in Belgium with the Sean Kelly professional team, and had just come out of a tough Tour of Ireland, riding for the National squad.

Ahoghills Ryan Connor (Giant Asia) will start as race favourite, having decimated the field in last weeks Red Hand event to sew up the overall win in the NICF-CU series. The 22-yearold has split his season between commitments for his Giant squad in the far east, and domestic racing at home that has seen him consistent throughout the year.

The Junior event will see Lurgans Thomas Martin going for the double, having taken Gold in last weekends Ulster Junior championship. He will face stiff opposition from Maryland Wheeler Peter Wilson, the pair riding as Ulster team mates last week in the Junior Tour of Wales, where they both finished in the top 40 from a 120 rider field. This will be their last event as Juniors, as the pair move in to the Senior ranks for 2008. Other medal prospects include Ballymena`s Leo McAllister, Orchard Wheelers Alastair Fiddes and local Ards man Andrew Hedley.

Irelands top female, Heather Wilson will miss the Ladies Championship, being on International duty with the Irish Development Squad in the Ras Na nBan Ladies 3-day that gets underway in Kildare this evening.

In the Veterans category, Gordon Scott (East Antrim – Audi) is going for his 4th straight title, but is likely to face opposition from team mate Jim McConnell and Ballymena`s Sean Wright.

Sign – on is from 10.30am at Ballymacashen Gospel Hall, on the Saintfield Road out of Balloo. There will be no racing for Youth riders.

Also tomorrow, the Emyvale club are promoting the National Hill Climb championships at Sliabh Beagh. The 4km climb will attract the specialists to compete for the shortest and arguably toughest championship event on the calendar. The event gets underway at 3pm, with the Sleabh Beagh as HQ.

The Emyvale club are in action again on Sunday, promoting the National 2nd category championships, based at the Sleabh Beagh Hotel Knockatallon. Sign-on os from 10am with a Noon start. The HQ is approximately 2 miles from Emyvale on the Monagha nRoad and will be signposted.

These events bring the curtain down on the 2007 road season, however there is no respite as the off-road calendar resumes next weekend when Dromara CC promote the Ulster Cross Country Mountain Bike Championships at Dunmore Mountain near Ballynahinch, followed by the final Ulster league event the following week before the Cyclo Cross Season gets underway over the winter.

Cycling Column Monday 3 Sept

Connor`s solo performance wraps up title

Ahoghill`s Ryan Connor (Giant Asia) turned in a top drawer performance on Saturday to claim victory in the Ballymena Road Clubs Blair Transport Red Hand Trophy event, and in doing so wrapped up the season long Cycling Ulster-NICF classic series.

Connor came home alone with a massive two and a half minute advantage, having been part of an earlier three man break that went clear at Loughguille after 12 miles. With Connor went Matt Ward (Usher – Irish Road Club) and Veteran John Madden (Bann Wheelers). and at the start of the long climb out of Ballycastle their advantage had reached one minute. Following the Vanishing Lake ascent and drop in to Cushendall, that margin had doubled to just over two minutes.

The main protagonists in the bunch were Martyn Irvine (Ards CC), recovering for his efforts on National team duty in the Tour of Ireland, and Ben Morrow (East Antrim-Audi), on home ground through his native Glenarm, however no moves were successful with the bunch countering all attacks.

On the run down the Antrim Coast road Ward lost contact with the leaders, and on the final Glencloy climb with 10 miles remaining, Madden was unable to counter the climbing strength of Connor.

Both Madden and Ward were caught by the bunch, whilst Connor held on to his advantage to the line back in Broughshane where later two Veterans, Sean Wright (Ballymena RC) and Gordon Scott (East Antrim-Audi) fought it out in the final sprint, with the runner-up spot going to Wright.

Connor`s main threat in the season long Cycling Ulster-NiCF Series, Peter Hawkins (Usher – Irish Road Club) could only manage 4th place, leaving Connor the comfortable winner in the extremely successful inaugural series.

Yesterday it was the turn of the Veterans and Juniors to take centre stage for the Ulster Championships, held round the 8 mile Nutts Corner circuit, promoted by Phoenix CC.

The Veterans were set off in two groups, with the Over 50s given a two minute advantage. New Veteran Tommy Wilson (Ballymena Road Club – Northstone) wasted no time in bridging the gap, and had caught the leaders by the beginning of lap 2.  His forceful riding saw him break clear of the leading bunch, taking with him Drew Corrigan (Maryland Wheelers). The duo stayed clear, with first year Veteran Wilson taking off on the final circuit to take a fine solo win. Corrigan came in 30 seconds later to take a well deserved Silver, with Liam Curran (Team Curran Racing) escaping from the bunch in the closing mile to take Bronze.

In the Junior event, held in conjunction with a non-championship Senior race, Thomas Martin (Clann Eireann-Linen Green) was part of a three man break that went clear with three laps remaining. The trio built up a race winning lead, with Irvine taking off on the final circuit for a solo win in the Crumlin GP, with Martin taking second to clinch the Junior title.

In the bunch sprint for 4th place, Dromara trio Davy McKnight, Darren Weir and Ronnie Smith took the first three places while Marylands Peter Wilson outsprinted Dane Dunlop for the Junior placings.

More championship medals are up for grabs this Saturday when North Down CC promote the Northern Ireland Senior, Junior, Veteran and Ladies championship at Killinchy.

Result –

Blair Transport Red Hand Trophy

1          Ryan Connor              Giant Asia                              62 miles in 2.32.57

2          S Wright                     Ballymena RC-Northstone               @ 2.31

3          G Scott                       East Antrim-Agnew Audi

4          P Hawkins                  Usher-Irish Road Club         

5          J McMaster                Northern-Dave Kane

6          S Williams                  Orchard Whs                                     all same time

Ulster Veterans Championship

1          Tommy Wilson                       Ballymena RC-Northstone

2          D Corrigan                             Maryland Whs

3          L Curran                                 Curran Racing

4          K Boylan                                 Lakeland CC

5          S wright                                  Ballymena RC-Northstone

6          G Scott                                   East Antrim-Audi

Ulster Junior Championship

1          Thomas Martin                      Clann Eireann-Linen Green

2          P Wilson                                 Maryland Whs

3          D Dunlop                                Lakeland CC

Crumlin GP

1          Martyn Irvine                           Ards CC

2          M Ward                                  Usher-IRC

3          D McKnight                            Dromara CC

cycling Friday 31 Aug

Season long Cycling Series goes down to the wire.

With the Cycling road season entering its final few weeks, there is a flurry of top events to round off the year.

Tomorrow`s event, the Red Hand Trophy, brings to an end the inaugural Cycling Ulster-NICF season long classic league, sponsored by Slane Cycles of Belfast.

As befits this race, one of the true classic events on the Ulster calendar, it sees the series going right down to the wire, with two riders capable of wining the title.

The race will cover 60 miles over the tough North Antrim roads, getting underway from Broughshane Community Centre at 11am. The route goes via Clough, Loughguille and Ballycastle and on to the Vanishing Lakes climb. From there it is down the Antrim Coast road via Glenariff and Carnlough then swinging up the final climb of the day at the `wee Glen`, before coming in through the Sheddings and finishing back at Broughshane.

Last years event was won by Stephen Gallagher, then riding for Giant Asia who took a fine solo victory, over a minute ahead of Fraser Duncan. This year all eyes will be on local man Ryan Connor, riding for Giant Asia, but a Ballymena Road Club man at heart, who is ahead in the Classic Series and has all to play for over his local roads. He can only be beaten by current Northern Ireland Road Champion, Peter Hawkins (Usher Irish Road Club)

The points standings see Connor, winner of Round 1, the Wallace Caldwell Memorial back in March, and also the Tommy Givan Memorial in May, with a clear 8 point advantage, however the Ahoghill man has been under the weather in the second part of the season, suffering from a viral infection that kept him out of the running for selection to the Ireland team for last weeks Tour of Ireland.

He will be looking to finish the season with a bang, and what better way than taking victory in his own clubs promotion to wrap up the season long series.

Hawkins, having moved from the Castlereagh club to the Dublin based Usher Insulations backed Irish Road Club, was winner of the 4-Masters event in Donegal last month to put him in with a shout of the overall, but needs to win Saturdays race (35pts) with Connor 4th (24pts) or lower.

On Sunday it is the turn of the Phoenix Club to promote the Ulster Veterans & Juniors Road Championships at Nutts Corner. The event will also cater for all Senior categories, but only championship medals for the Vets and Juniors. HQ is the Crumlin Community centre, where sign-on is from 8.45 - 9.45am, with the start at 10am.

The Senior race will be run over 7 laps of the Nutts Corner circuit, with the Veterans covering 6.

Neither of the weekends events cater for Youth riders.

Next weekend will see the Ras na Mban Ladies International event taking place in and around Naas in County Kildare. Hillsborough girl Heather Wilson (Maryland Wheelers) has secured a place on the Irish National Development squad, but will have their work cut out against teams from holland, Germany and the UK mainland.

The 60 rider field will cover 35 miles on Friday, 45 miles on Saturday and 55 miles on Sunday.

Unfortunately Wilson, the current Northern Ireland Ladies Champion, will miss out on the defence of her title as North Down CC promote the Northern Ireland Senior, Junior and Ladies Championship next Saturday as part of the North Down GP at Killinchy.

cycling Monday 27 Aug

Local riders in Worlds call up

Four Northern Ireland cyclists have been selected for the National squad to contest next months World Mountain Bike championships, taking place in the North of Scotland at Fortwilliam.

Heading the Junior squad is Banbridge National Champion Liam McGreevy, accompanied by XMTBs Graham Boyd. The pair secured their places with a 1-2 respectively in the National Championships at Tollymore forest back in July and have been consistent performers this year both at home and in the British National points series on the mainland.

In the Under 23 category, Belfasts Conor McConvey is one of only two riders selected to represent Ireland. Along with Irish Mountain Bike Racing Club`s Niall Davis, the pair finished 6th and second respectively at the National Championships in the overall Elite category, clearly demonstrating their superiority in the Espoir ranks. 19 yearold McConvey is one of the youngest senior riders in the UCIs top 150 riders in the Cross Country Olympic rankings.

In the Downhill division, Newtownards man Ben Reid heads the Irish selection; the Newtownards man is currently ranked 12th in the World at the discipline, and will be looking for a top result on UK home ground.

The World Championships take place in the shadow of Ben Nevis at Fortwilliam from Tuesday 4th September to Sunday 9th.

The news will come as a welcome shot in the arm for local Mountain Biking, still reeling from the recent announcement that the Forestry Commission are requesting a minimum £500 `event licence` for events to be held on their land. This has already led to the cancellation of the Dromara clubs proposed event at Tivendaragh near Ballynahinch next month.

The Discover Ireland Tour of Ireland wound up yesterday in Dublin, following 5 days and 1000 kilometres of racing across Ireland, taking in Kilkenny, Cork, Kilarney, Tralee, Ennis, Galway and Athlone.

The first top class stage race to be held in Ireland since the last Nissan Classic 15 years ago, the event brought many Tour de France teams and riders to our shores.

It was perhaps then somewhat disappointing to see the event come down to a fight between only ten riders following the first day, when a small group stole over thirteen minutes on the main field.

23 year old Stijn Vandenbergh, riding for the Unibet.com squad took victory in Stage one in to Cork, and held on to his slender 20 second lead all the way to Dublin yesterday.

The final stage was also shrouded in confusion, when a three man break lapped the remainder of the field on the 2km finishing circuit around the City Centre. The trio were allowed to overtake the bunch and continue on their way, and the confusion set in as to when the bunch would be sprinting for 4th place on the stage. As it turned out, the referees decided to end the stage on the same lap as the stage winner, Italian Marco Marcato (Team LPR).

Belfasts David McCann ended the event in 22nd place, Richhills Stephen Gallagher was 71st and Newtownards man Martyn Irvine came home 79th.

As the domestic calendar enters its final few weeks, the season long Cycling Ulster-NICF classic series wraps up on Saturday with the Red Hand Trophy event promoted by Ballymena Road Club.

The series has came down to a two-horse race, with current leader Ryan Connor (Giant Asia) on 109 points, only able to be beaten by Belfasts Peter Hawkins (Usher – Irish Road Club) currently on 101.

Connor has led from the start of the series, by way of winning the Wallace Caldwell Memorial back in March, and will also be hoping to end the season on a win with victory on `home` ground over the North Antrim roads at the weekend.

Current Northern Ireland champion Hawkins needs only to beat the Ahoghill man by two places to nip through and take the honours in what has proved to have been an extremely popular series.

cycling Fri 24 August.

Ulster riders get Fort William worlds call up

Four Northern Ireland cyclists have been selected for the National squad to contest next months World Mountain Bike championships, taking place in the North of Scotland at Fortwilliam.

Heading the Junior squad is Banbridge National Champion Liam McGreevy, accompanied by XMTBs Graham Boyd. The pair secured their places with a 1-2 respectively in the National Championships at Tollymore forest back in July and have been consistent performers at home and in the British National points series on the mainland.

In the Under 23 category, Belfasts Conor McConvey is one of only two riders selected to represent Ireland. Along with Irish Mountain Bike Racing Club`s Niall Davis, the pair finished 6th and second respectively at the National Championships in the overall Elite category, clearly demonstrating their superiority in the Espoir ranks. 19 yearold McConvey is one of the youngest senior riders in the UCIs top 150 riders in the Cross Country Olympic rankings.

In the Downhill division, Newtownards man Ben Reid heads the Irish selection; the Newtownards man currently ranked 12th in the World at the discipline, and will be looking for a top result on UK home ground.

The World Championships take place in the shadow of Ben Nevis at Fortwilliam from Tuesday 4th September to Sunday 9th.

The news will come as a welcome shot in the arm for local Mountain Biking, still reeling from the recent announcement that the Forestry Commission are requesting a minimum £500 `event licence` for events held on their land. This has already led to the cancellation of the Dromara clubs proposed event at Tivendaragh near Ballynahinch next month.

With a break in the racing calendar this weekend, Leisure events are top op of the agenda, with two to choose from on Sunday.

The Bann Valley road club are holding their 60 mile event in aid of the Marie Currie cancer charity. The event starts at Portglenone community centre, with changing and showering facilities at the venue. Last years event raised over £2,500 for the charity.

Sunday also sees a tour of Lough Neagh, starting at Kinnego at 9am.

Meanwhile following a break of 15 years since the last Nissan Classic, some of the worlds top stars are making their way around Ireland in the 5-day Discover Ireland Tour of Ireland stage race.

The opening day on Wednesday saw the riders cover 174km from Kilkenny to Cork, where a 10 man breakaway stole the march on the field, building up a massive 13 minute advantage on the field, virtually ensuring that the overall winner in Dublin on Sunday will come from one of their number.

The group split up in the closing miles, following the double ascent of Patricks Hill in Cork, with Belgian Stijn Vandenbergh (Unibet.com) opening a 20 second advantage on the run in to the finish.

Irelands best placed finished was Paudi O`Brien in 15th place, with David McCann best of the local riders in 26th place with Stephen Gallagher 70th and Martyn Irvine 97th.

Yesterdays stage covered 166km from Clonakilty to Killarney, featuring four climbs, including the Healy Pass and Molls Gap, the latter covered with 20km remaining. However it ended up a day for the sprinters, with Team CSC closing down every attack in the closing stages and controlling the 45 rider group at the front of the race.

Over the top of the final climb at Molls Gap, local man Brian Keneally attacked, hoping to take a home win in Killarney, however he was pulled back, as was a subsequent attack by former world Time Trial champion Danny Pate.

On the run in to Killarney, team CSC kept the pace high to discourage any further attacks, and at the finish it was Denmarks Matti Breschel who took the win. His CSC team mate, Swede Marcus Ljungqvist had taken the intermediate sprint bonuses along the way to move him in to second place overall, behind Wednesdays winner Vandenbergh. 

Todays stage runs from Tralee to Ennis and tomorrows penultimate stage is a circular loop around Galway before finishing on Sunday with a 147km run from Athlone to Dublin.

cycling Mon 20 Aug

Ulster Youths bring Inter-Provincial Track Shield home.

Ulster’s Youth track squad brought the Inter-Provincial Track Shield home on Saturday following a washed out days racing in Sundrive, Dublin.

It was a stop-start day with showers in the morning developing in to prolonged periods of rain in the afternoon, which eventually curtailed the days programme.

Ulsters stars on the day were Under 12 rider Laura Casey (Clann Eireann – Linen Green) who was fastest girl, and posted the second fastest time of the day in the Time Trial event. Similarly National Champion Rachel Mitchell (North Down CC) was also first girl and second fastest in the Under 14 event, while Jonny Beers (XMTBCC) proved best in the skills event, closely followed by Madigan pairing Richard Alexander and Jonny Cole.

When the points were tallied up, Ulster ran out the winners by 1 point over Leinster with Munster third and defending champions Cannaught taking the wooden spoon.

Meanwhile on Saturday Banbridge Junior Sean Downey was putting the finishing touches to his preparations for this weekends Junior Tour of Wales, where he heads an Ulster team that includes Thomas Martin (Clann Eireann-Linen Green), Peter Wilson (Maryland Whs) and Stuart Henry (North Down CC). Downey was pick of the bunch at Katesbridge, winning the West Down Grand Prix ahead of seasoned campaigner Gordon Scott (East Antrim-Audi) These positions were reversed in yesterdays Billy Stewart cup at Derrymacash where the experienced Scott took the verdict.

Also on Saturday, Giant Asia professional Ryan Connor was fastest in the Stephen Smyth Memorial 10 mile Time trial on the Glenshane Rd. He dipped under the 20 minute barrier, with a minute to spare over runner up Stuart Bennett (Phoenix CC)

This week sees some of the worlds top riders descend on Irelands roads, when the inaugural Tour of Ireland gets underway with a 174km stage on Wednesday from Kilkenny to Cork that goes via Sean Kellys home town of Carrick on Suir, and finishes with two laps of the tough St Patricks hill in Cork City.

Leading the Tour de France squads is T-Mobile, joined by Team CSC and Dutch outfit Rabobank. Three Northern Ireland riders are included in the 112 rider field with Martyn Irvine (Ards CC) on the Ireland national squad, Belfasts David McCann brings his American Colavita-Sutter Home squad to the event, and Richhills Stephen Gallagher who is part of the Murphy & Gunn Sean Kelly team.

The event finishes up next Sunday where the final 147km stage starts from Athlone and finishes in Dublin.

Records tumbled in last Thursday evenings 25 mile Time Trial on the Woodgreen course, with no fewer than 4 records now requiring ratification.

Current record holder David McCann (Colavita Sutter Home) reduced the Senior record to a staggering 47.06, whilst Junior record holder Thomas Martin reduced his figures to 52.52, and Ladies record holder Heather Wilson also improved to 56.06. Bann Wheeler John Madden set a new Veterans figure of 50.58. On the night there were 35 personal best times set in a field of 38 riders.

Results – West Down GP (Saturday)

1          Sean Downey (Junior)          Banbridge CC

2          G Scott (Veteran)                  East Antrim-Agnew Audi

3          D Weir                                    Dromara CC

4          C Smith                                  Phoenix CC

5          R Smith                                  Dromara CC

6          C Hughes                               Phoenix CC

S Smyth Memorial 10 Mile TT (Saturday)

1          Ryan Connor               ( Giant Asia)    19. 46

2          S Bennett                   (Phoenix CC)  20. 47

3          P Brady                    (Emyvale CC) 20. 59

4          S Stockton                (Madigan CC) 21. 06

5          G Cranston                (East Antrim)  21. 35

6         C McAllister                ( Ballymena)   22. 07

Billy Stewart Cup (Sunday)

1          Gordon Scott             East Antrim-Audi

2          S Downey                  Banbridge CC

3          S Farr                         Team Madigan

4          N McKenna                North Down

5          D Weir                        Dromara CC

6          A Lavery                     North Down

cycling Fri 17 Aug

Countdown to Ulster Velodrome

Plans are now well advanced for the provision of Northern Irelands first purpose built indoor Velodrome, a cycling facility to rival the best in the world.

On the back of the London 2012 Olympic year, Northern Ireland is among other areas of the UK to receive funding for the provision of top class facilities as part of the Olympic legacy.

Three applicants have submitted bids, which are now being assessed by Sport Northern Ireland and other government agencies with the successful bids being announced towards the end of the year.

The three applicants, Down, Newry & Mourne and Belfast all have prepared detailed submissions that include provision of an indoor 250metre velodrome with spectator seating, and all necessary ancillary provisions to make this a rival for the mainland facilities at Manchester and Newport.

There are still various processes to go through with architects and planners, not to mention potential users, meeting with the applicants to discuss these plans, but with the London Olympics taking place in 2012, the facility would need to be fully functioning before that date. All bidders are confident that they can deliver within the given time-frame, however the realisation of the project cannot come soon enough for Ulsters athletes.

Northern Ireland cyclists continue to make use of the only outdoor track in the country, at Orangefield in Belfast. The 50 year-old facility, used weekly, continues to produce National champions with North Down CC Club mates Stuart Henry & Rachel Mitchell All Ireland Track Champions this year alone, with Stuart picking up two Golds in the Junior championships last week.

With the real prospect of a facility to rival Manchester in place by the end of the current decade, how long before we see local cyclists competing successfully on the Worlds stage?

Cycling Ulster has announced a 4-man team to contest next weeks Junior Tour of Wales. The quartet will be led by Banbridge`s Sean Downey who will be accompanied by Thomas Martin (Clann Eireann-Linen Green), Peter Wilson (Maryland Whs) and newly upgraded Youth Olympian Stuart Henry (North Down CC)

Track action is on the agenda this weekend, with tomorrows Inter-Provincial Youth Track Meeting in Dublin. Ulster will be fielding a squad led by Jonny Beers comprising Under 12s, Under 14s and Under 16s in the hope of bringing the shield back North.

Also tomorrow, the West Down club are promoting the West Down Grand Prix at Katesbridge. The event is for 3rd category, Juniors, Veterans and Ladies only and gets underway at 11am, with the HQ at Katesbridge Orange Hall.

For Time Triallists, South Derry Wheelers are promoting the Stephen Smyth Memorial `10` on the Glenshane Rd, starting at 11am.

On Sunday Apollo CT promote the Billy Stewart cup, for all categories except Youth, starting at Noon from the Corner Bar Derrymacash.

Whilst local riders continue to enjoy the summer weather at home, two North Down lads are participating in the Trans Rockies marathon Mountain bike race in Canada. Matty Blayney and Duane McCreadie are taking part in this gruelling 8 day event, with daily off-road mileages of up to 120km. The duo, imaginatively named the Irish Bear Wrestling Team are currently lying 80th overall in the Open Team Competition.

Northern Ireland Hill Climb Championship Holywood Tuesday.

1    Warren Francis        Ards CC

2    Stuart Henry             North Down CC

3    William Barclay       North Down CC

cycling Mon 13 Aug

Triple joy for Murphy

Monaghan`s Conor Murphy (Usher-Irish Road Club) scored an emphatic win in yesterdays Classic Mineral Water Tour of Armagh, bringing his tally of wins in the event to three.

The event saw a good turnout of riders from both sides of the border, with Dubliner Urban Monks (Murphy & Gun) winner of Friday evenings Lurgan Criterium on the start list along with Stephen O`Sullivan (myhome.ie)

The bunch stayed fairly intact until the first climb at Lisnadill, where an 8 man group moved clear. It was on the second climb of the day at Keady Mountain where Murphy made his move and went clear of the field. He rode strongly in the closing stages of the race to take the flag back at Craigavon.

Team-mate Matt Ward claimed second spot with O`Sullivan third. Season long Slane Cycles series leader Ryan Connor (Giant Asia) finished in the main bunch to maintain his lead in the series, with the final round in three weeks time with Ballymena`s Red Hand trophy event.

In Friday evenings Lurgan town centre races, Urban Monks took the win in the feature event, held over 45 minutes plus three laps of the demanding circuit. Held in damp conditions, the large bunch negotiated the tight turns of Lurgans back streets, and at the finale in fading light Monks took the holeshot into the final bend to lead across the line, closely followed by Dromara`s  Ronnie Smith with local lad Michael Murray, representing the promoting Clann Eireann club, third.

The youth races saw Ballymena`s Phillip Bremner triumph in the Under 16s, unstoppable Jack Wilson (East Antrim) take the Under 14s and local lass Ciara Mulholland the Under 12s.

Meanwhile in yesterdays Northern Ireland 50 mile time trial championship, as predicted the tussle was between defending champion Mark Greer (Maryland Wheelers) and former champion Jim McConnell (East Antrim-Audi) The split times up and down the A26 Antrim-Ballymena road were nip and tuck, with McConnell holding the early advantage, that later swung back in favour of the younger Greer. At the finish Greer had just 49 seconds to spare over McConnell, with Ards veteran Michael Rowan taking the Bronze medal. The team medals went to Team Madigan with former Best All Rounder Mel McCann leading their trio to the title.

Results- Lurgan Town Centre Criterium

1          Urban Monks             Team Murphy & Gunn

2          R Smith                      Dromara CC

3          M Murray                    Clann Eireann-Linen Green

4          M Ward                      Usher-IRC

5          S Gray                        Orchard Whs

6          C McAllister               Ballymena RC-Northstone

Under 16 P Bremner                             Ballymena RC

Under 14 J Wilson                                 East Antrim-Agnew Audi

Under 12Ciara Mulholland                   Clann Eireann-Linen Green

Classic Mineral Water Tour of Armagh

1          Conor Murphy            Usher-Irish Road Club

2          M Ward                      Usher-IRC

3          S O`Sullivan               Myhome.ie

4          R Aldaheff                  Orchard Whs

5          P Hawkins                  Usher-IRC

6          G Swinnard                Myhome.ie

Northern Ireland 50 mile TT Championships

1          Mark Greer                Maryland Wheelers               1.50.48

2          J McConnell               East Antrim-Audi                   1.51.37

3          M Rowan                    Ards CC                                 1.53.04

4          G Cranston                East Antrim-Audi                   1.53.42

5          M McCann                 Team Madigan                      1.56.46

6          M Birney                     Sport Active                           1.57.39

This week sees the Apollo club promote the Jim Traynor Memorial 10 mile event at Ballydonaghy whilst on Wednesday North Down CC promote the re-scheduled Northern Ireland Hillclimb championship on the Creightons Green Rd in Holywood. Both events get underway at 7pm.

cycling Friday 10 Aug

Slane Series hots up

The season long inaugural Slane Cycles classic league, the result of the amalgamation of Cycling Ulster and the NICF, and sponsored by West Belfast cycle shop proprietor Paul Slane, reaches the penultimate round on Sunday with the Classic Mineral Water Tour of Armagh.

Race HQ is the Craigavon Water Sports Centre, with a Noon start. The race will take in the rolling South Armagh terrain, with King of the Hills primes at Keady Mountain and Lisnadill.

The event is round 6 of a 7 round series that sees Ahoghill man Ryan Connor (Giant Asia) hold a commanding lead that he has held since winning round 1 back in March. Belfast`s Peter Hawkins (Usher Irish Road Club) is his nearest challenger albeit 18 points adrift. With 35 points on offer to each round winner, and the final round on Sat 1 Sept, the Red Hand Trophy in Ballymena, there is still all to play for as the cycling road season enters its final month.

Before that the Clann Eireann-Linen Green club are promoting the Lurgan Town Centre Criterium this evening. Racing begins at 7pm for beginner Youths, and the feature race is due to get underway at 7.30pm.

For time triallists, Sunday sees the Northern Ireland 50 mile championship at woodgreen, with a 9am start. Maryland Wheeler Mark Greer was the winner last year in a time of 1 hour 57 minutes, and this year he, along with evergreen Veteran Jim McConnell (East Antrim-Audi) must start as event favourites.

For the leisure cyclist Sunday sees the Dromara Mourne Sportive event, billed as the toughest single day leisure ride in Ireland and covering 100 miles through some of the most beautiful scenery in Kingdom of Mourne. There are three route options, a hilly 125km, moderate 80km and leisure 60km. The HQ is Dromara Football Club, with a 9.30am start.

Meanwhile Ulsters top Youth cyclists have returned from Kerry with a host of top placings in the 3-day Kerry International Youth stage race.

Top of the pile was Lurgan schoolgirl Ciara Mulholland who lifter the overall honours in the Under 12 division, closely followed by Banbridge lad Dan Runciman in 5th and Chris Oakley from Newtownards in 6th. Newtownabbeys Jack Wilson ended up second in the Under 14 category, taking a stage win and three second places along the way. Again the Runciman family had cause for celebration with Michael finishing in 4th place. Bangor girl Jessica Laird put up a superb performance, ending 19th overall, and 3rd girl closely followed by Fintona`s Rachel Withers and Rachel Mitchell from Newtownards 5th and 6th girls respectively.

In the main Under 16 category Antrim`s Jonny Beers was riding well in the National squad until a fall in the final stage left him out of the running. Bangors Stuart Henry had similar problems, winning a stage and lying 4th until a double puncture on the final stage also put him out of the running. 

cycling Monday  6 Aug

Countdown for Tour teams in Ireland.

The countdown is on for Tour De France riders to grace the roads of Ireland, as the inaugural 5-day Tour of Ireland gears up for the off later this month.

Already world class Protour teams T-Mobile, Rabobank, team CSC and Unibet have announced their line-up, and as the entries closed on Wednesday, the event has a full international field.

Manxman Mark Cavendish is expected to feature in the T-Mobile line-up, the youngster was tipped for a stage win in last months Tour De France, but crashes and bad luck denied him a stage podium place, however he twice featured in the top 10 in the manic sprint finishes that dominate the opening week of the Tour. Sven Nys leads the Dutch Rabobank challenge accompanied by Junior World Cyclo Cross Champion Boy Van Poppel. The worlds Number 1 ranked team, CSC are also on the start list, with their riders still to be announced.

Not since the Kelly-Roche hey-day of the Nissan Classic in the 80s, and a one-off Tour de France visit in the 90`s will Ireland have witnessed this class of event, with the 5-day world ranked race taking in some of Irelands most demanding roads.

On the domestic scene, British registered DFL-Cyclingnews.com are led by former Tour de France rider Nico Mattan, who is joined by Scot Evan Oliphant and runner up in the recent Tour of Qinghai lake in China, Daniel Lloyd. Plowman-Craven/Evans Cycles have also entered a team led by Blackpool GP winner Tony Gibb and New-Zealander Gordon Macauley. Recycling.co.uk, no strangers to Irish roads with regular forays to the FBD Ras and Shay Elliott memorial, are led by the experienced Chris Newton.

Paudi O`Brien heads the Murphy & Gunn – Ireland squad, whilst 34 year-old Belfast man David McCann will bring over his American Colavita-Sutter Home team. McCann is no stranger to top class racing, the double Olympian and triple National Champion scored a win in the Tour of Indonesia stage race whilst racing with the Giant Asia team last year.

The action gets underway on Wednesday 22nd from Kilkenny to Cork, featuring the infamous St Patricks Hill in the City. Stage stop offs include Killarney, Tralee, Ennis and Galway. The final stage on Sunday 26 will depart from Athlone and finish up in Dublin.

The event has secured sponsorship from Failte Ireland and is due to be televised across Europe.

On the home front, racing this week includes the Belfast Track League at Orangefield tomorrow evening, a 10 mile event in the Dave Kane Time Trial League at Ballydonaghy on Thursday, and the popular Lurgan Town Centre races on Friday evening where racing caters for all categories and gets underway at 7pm.

cycling Friday 3 Aug

Top Guns for Antrim Coast Classic.

Tomorrow sees the 19th running of Madigan Grand Prix event at Kilroot on the Antrim coast. The 55 mile race, promoted by Carrick based Club Team Madigan will cover three laps of a 18.5 mile route starting from Kilroot and going via Glin, Gleno  and Beltoy. The tough triangle includes three climbs each lap, the Bla-Hole, Lizzard and 7-sisters.

The demanding loop favours a small breakaway, and last year Bangor`s Keiran McKenna (Ards CC) was the eventual winner, having been part of a three man break  that went early in the race.

In-form Adam Armstrong (Northern-Dave Kane) must start as race favourite, with Matt Ward (Usher) and Tommy Wilson (Ballymena RC) among the fancied riders. The undulating terrain might also suit Castlereagh`s Glen Kinning who has been in the frame over the past two weekends, narrowly missing out on the overall honours at the Portaferry & Phoenix stage races.

The event gets underway at 11am, with sign-on at Eden Palying fields in Kilroot from 10. Club sponsor Ronnie McKeegan of Madigan Pro-Bike Centre is sponsoring the event for a record 19th year to the tune of £400.

The event does not cater for Youth category riders, as the bulk of the provinces up and coming riders are heading to Killarney for the 3-day Kerry International Youth Tour. Selected for the Ireland squad for this event is Antrim`s Jonny Beers (XMTBCC) one of the most versatile riders in the province. Jonny excels at Mountain Biking, Track and Road Racing, and his selection is in recognition of his fine form this year that has seen him lift the all Ireland Under 16 Mountain bike title last month.

Two local riders just returned from the European Youth Olympics in Serbia, Bangors Stuart Henry and Richhills Peter Wilson were ineligible for national selection, and will lead the strong Ulster regional attack.

Others making the trek South are Jack Wilson (East Antrim – Audi) hoping for overall honours in the Under 14 class along with Banbridge lad Michael Runciman. Jess Laird, Rachel Mitchell and Rachel Withers all hoping for top placings in the female category.

Sunday morning sees Newry Wheelers host their 10 mile Time Trial on the Warrenpoint Rd starting at 10am.

For the leisure riders there are two events on offer over the weekend. Tomorrow is the Freewheelers Tour of the Lough, hugging the Lough Neagh shoreline and starting from the Market Yard in Crumlin at 9.30am.  Sundays sees East Tyrone`s Sperrin Challenge. Two routes of 55km and 110km are on offer with the event HQ at Cookstown Hockey club on the Molesworth Rd. Start time is 10am, with registration from 9.

cycling Monday 30 July

Armstrong takes Victory in Phoenix 3-day

Two cycling stage races came to a conclusion yesterday, one the 3-day Bobby Crilly Phoenix CC promotion, and the other the 3-week affair that is the Tour de France.

Both had grandstand finishes, one the scenic view point on top of Divis Mountain, the other on the Champs Elysees in Paris.

Close to home, the Crilly event enjoyed a 65 rider entry, with the main protagonists from last weeks Portaferry 3-day, Matt Ward, David McCann, Conor Murphy and Adam Armstrong all back in the fray this weekend.

Friday evenings opening 30 mile stage around Crumlin, saw a home town winner when Matt Ward (Usher – Irish Road Club) crossed the line at the head of a trio that held the bunch off by a mere 50 metres. Adam Armstrong (Northern CC) was runner up, with Ballymena Veteran Tommy Wilson third.

Saturdays second stage saw a nine man breakaway extract a four minute advantage out of the field, to leave them in charge of the event overall. Stage winner was the promoting club`s John Neill who held off Armstrong and Emyvale`s Paul Brady with Glen Kinning (Castlereagh-Mattest) fourth.

The afternoon saw American based professional David McCann demonstrate his superiority over the field, taking 23 seconds out of Armstrong in the short 6 mile test.

The scene was set for the final stage, with the unique mountain top finish at Divis. Armstrong held a 28 second advantage over Brady with Kinning a further 48 seconds adrift.

On the final stage, covering three laps of a 16 mile circuit round Nutts Corner before the final climb at Divis, a three man break was established on the second lap. Portaferry 3-day winner Conor Murphy (Usher) team mate Ward and Ballymena`s Conor McAllister had built up a one minute 45 second advantage by the start of the final circuit, with Armstrong doing most of the work back in the main bunch.

On the Divis climb Murphy held on up the torturous ascent for the stage win, with McCann (Colavita-Sutter Home) second 28 seconds later with Kinning 3rd and Armstrong 4th.

Armstrong had done enough to hold on to the Yellow Jersey, winning the event by one minute one second, with Kinning leapfrogging Brady for second.

Meanwhile at the Tour de France, Saturdays Time Trial stage had cut race leader Alberto Contador`s overall lead to just 23 seconds. The Angouleme Time Trial winner was American Levi Leipheimer (Discovery Channel) who closed in on the leading duo, to see just 31 seconds separating the top three going in to the final stage, normally a processional affair in to Paris.

With time bonuses along the way, and at the finish line, there was still all to play for, with second placed man Cadel Evans (Predictor Lotto) refusing to rule out an overall win before the stage start. However with race leader Contador and 3rd place man Leipheimer both riding for the same team it looked like the Discovery riders would control the final 130km stage.

At the finish in Paris it was the `traditional` bunch sprint finish that saw Daniel Bennati (Lampre) take the stage win ahead of Thor Hushovd and Eric Zabel.

In the overall, 24 year-old Spaniard Alberto Contador held on to his slender lead, with Evans second and Leipheimer 3rd overall. 

Results – Bobby Crilly 3-day

Stage 1 Friday. Crumlin

1          Matt Ward      Usher – Irish Road Club                  

2          A Armstrong  Northern – Dave Kane Cycles

3          T Wilson         Ballymena Road Club – Northstone

Stage 2 Saturday. Nutts Corner

1          John neill        Phoenix CC

2          A Armstrong  Northern-Dave Kane

3          P Brady          Emyvale-McQuaid Tyres

Stage 3 Time Trial

1          David McCann Colavita-Sutter Home

2          A Armstrong     Northern

3          P Brady             Emyvale

Stage 4. Divis

1          Conor Murphy            Usher-Irish Road Club

2          D McCann                  Colavita

3          G Kinning                   Castlereagh-Mattest

Final Overall Classification.

1          Adam Armstrong       Northern-Dave Kane          5hrs 38.18

2          Glen Kinning Castlereagh-Mattest                         @ 01:01

3          Paul Brady                 Emyvale-Maquaid Tyres      @ 01:42

4          David McCann          Colavita-Sutter Home           @ 01:46

5          Conor Murphy            Usher-Irish RC                      @ 02:10

6          David McKnight         Dromara CC                         @ 04:25

Cycling FRIDAY 27 July

Mountain Top Finish for Crilly 3-day.

Stage racing is again top of the agenda this weekend when Belfast`s Phoenix CC host the second annual Bobby Crilly 3-day stage race.

Based in the Crumlin area the event will feature as its showpiece finale a mountain top finish at the top of Divis Mountain on Sunday.

Special permission has been granted from the National Trust for the race to use the service road to the mast at the top of the mountain, and it is thought that this is possibly the highest road in Ireland.

The action gets underway this evening with a short circuit race around Crumlin starting at 7.30pm. Tomorrow sees a 48 mile stage covering 6 laps of an 8 mile circuit around Nutts Corner, followed in the afternoon with a 6 mile individual Time Trial.

Sundays final stage starts at 11am and covers 3 circuits of a 16 mile circuit, followed by the final climb at Divis.

Local Crumlin man Matt Ward (Usher Irish Road Club) must be hoping for support from his team mate Conor Murphy, who won last weekends Poertaferry race with Wards help. The Usher duo is likely to be joined by last years event winner Peter Hawkins, making the Dublin based squad the favourites on paper. Adam Armstrong (Northern CC-Dave Kane) is overdue a big win, and should be in the frame over the weekend, and also Glen Kinning (Castlereagh CC-Mattest) is also no slough on the hills, and it could well come down to who has the best climing legs on Sunday at Divis mountain to decide the overall outcome.

Ulsters duo in the European Youth Olympics in Belgrade competed in their first event on Tuesday, an individual Time Trial around the streets of the city. Polands  Andrzej Bartkiewitz was the overall winner, with Bangors Stuart Henry (North Down CC) the best of the Irish lads in 47th place.

In Wednesdays criterium event, both Henry and Charles Prendergast qualified through the heats for the A Final, whilst Richhil`s Peter Williams was involved in a crash on the final lap of his heat, and failed to qualify for the medals final. His consolation was 10th place in the B final. The Gold medal went to Britains Daniel McClay With the Irish pairing of Henry and Prendergast finishing a creditable 26th and 28th respectively.

  The Tour de France was again rocked by more doping revelations this week, when one of the pre-race favourites Alexandre Vinoukourov from the Astana team returned a `non-negative` test. In line with the organisers tough stance on doping, the entire Astana squad were asked to withdraw, which they duly did. This also took 5th placed Andreas Kloden and 8th placed Andrey Kashechkin from the event which finishes up on Sunday with the final run-in to the Champs Elysees in Paris.

Race leader, Dane Michael Rasmussen (Rabobank) has also sensationally been kicked off the race and sacked by his Rabobank squad for failing to inform doping agencies of his whereabouts. The entire Cofidis squad has also been removed from the race due to Christophe Morini`s positive test. Brit Bradley Wiggins is one of the affected squad members who will not now make it to Paris on Sunday.

With these key figures missing, Alberto Contador inherits the Yellow Jersey, but tomorrows 30 mile Time Trial could see Australian Cadel Evans overhaul the spaniard to take the overall honours.

European Youth Olympics Individual Time Trial. Belgrade

1          Andrzej Bartkiewicz              Poland                        11.02

7          G Atkins                                 GBR                            11.11

21        D McClay                               GBR                            11.29

47        Stuart Henry                           Irl                                 11.47

59        Charles Prendergast            Irl                                 11.53

94        Peter Williams                       Irl                                 12.33

Cycling Notes Monday 23 July

Monaghan`s Murphy takes Peninsula spoils.

Stage racing took centre stage at the weekend on the scenic Ards Peninsula with a hotly contested 3-day 4-stage race promoted by Ards club. Two riders dominated the proceedings, winning three of the four stages with Monahan’s Conor Murphy (Usher – Irish Road Club) taking the overall honours.

Friday evenings opening stage took place at the Kirkistown motor racing circuit, where Newtownards man Adam Armstrong (Northern CC-Dave Kane), proved he had the biggest engine, crossing the line alone with 29 seconds to spare over his chasers, led by Crumlins Matt Ward (Usher – Irish Road Club) taking second ahead of former National Champion David McCann (Colevitia-Sutter Home) making a flying visit home from his base in the States.

8 riders had broken clear on the stage, building up an advantage of almost two minutes, effectively making them the only riders in contention for the overall spoils.

Saturday’s 55 mile stage was also a lively affair, with a break of four riders going clear virtually from the stage start. John Neill (Phoenix CC) Gerry Heverin (Castlereagh CC) Davy McKnight (Dromara CC) and Southern visitor Padraig Marrey (Murphy & Gunn) set about carving out a useful lead over the 6 laps of a 9 mile circuit. At the end of lap three their lead peaked at around two minutes, and on the 4th circuit the reaction came, with Glen Kinning (Castlereagh CC) and Matt Ward (Usher IRC) attacking from the bunch. Heverin was dropped from the break, Kinning also dropped back and Wards team mate Conor Murphy joined him and the Usher pair set about catching the leaders.

At the start of the final lap the five leaders had a 1-minute 20-second advantage, and at the line back in Portaferry it was Dubliner Marrey who took the honours ahead of Murphy with John Neill third. The promoting clubs Brendan Kirk led the bunch home for 6th place over a minute later, with Monahan’s Conor Murphy taking over the race leaders Yellow Jersey.

Saturday afternoons 2 mile time trial went to Armstrong his winning time of 4.39 was 5 seconds quicker than Murphy, with Marrey taking third and Glen Kinning (Castlereagh CC-Mattest) 4th.That left Murphy with a 29 second advantage going in to the final stage, with team-mate Matt Ward in second and Armstrong trailing by 58 seconds.

The final stage, despite being only 36 miles long, saw the two strong men at the head of affairs, with Murphy & Armstrong attacking on the opening lap and building up a massive 3minutes 40 second advantage by lap 4 of six. The pair comfortably stayed away to the finish, with Murphy taking the stage and the overall race honours. Glen Kinning led the remainder of the field home almost four minutes adrift.  

Result Stage 1 (Kirkistown)

1          Adam Armstrong       Northern CC Dave Kane                  1.08.51

2          M Ward                      Usher Irish Road Club                      @ 29 sec

3          D McCann                  Colevitia Sutter Home                     @ 30 sec

Stage 2 Portaferry Saturday

1          Padraig Marrey         Murphy & Gunn          55 miles in 2.04.19

2          C Murphy                    Usher – IRC

3          J Neill                          Phoenix CC

Stage 3 Time Trial Portaferry Saturday

1          A Armstrong              Northern – Dave Kane                      4.39

2          C Murphy                    Usher – IRC                                       4.44

3          P Marrey                    Murphy & Gunn                                  4.46   

Stage 4 Portaferry Sunday

1          Conor Murphy            Usher-IRC      36 miles in                 1.33.44

2          A Armstrong              Northern-Dave Kane                       same time

3          G Kinning                   Castlereagh – Mattest                      @ 3.54

Final Overall (Provisional)

1          Conor Murphy            Usher – Irish Road Club                   4.52.09

2          Adam Armstrong       Northern – Dave Kane                      @    58 secs

3          Matt Ward                  Usher – IRC                                        @ 4.24

4          Padraig Marrey         Murphy & Gunn                                   @ 5.18

5          Glen Kinning              Castlereagh-Mattest                          @ 5.29

Meanwhile the Tour de France ends its second week with Michael Rasmussen still in the leaders Yellow Jersey. He had been expected to lose out in yesterdays Time Trial, but held on to his lead, albeit with a reduced advantage of one minute over Australian Cadel Evans.

Yesterday in the Pyrenees, Rasmussen regained time on the Australian, finishing second on the stage to Spaniard Alberto Contador. Contador now lies second overall, and is the leader in the Young rider (Under 25) competition.

Stage 14  Mazamet - Plateau-de-Beille Sunday

1 Alberto Contador                Discovery Channel       

2 Michael Rasmussen           Rabobank

3 Mauricio Soler                     Barloworld                  @   36 sec

4 Levi Leipheimer                   Discovery Channel   @ 38

5 Carlos Sastre                      Team CSC                 @ 52

6 Andreas Klöden                   Astana                        @ 1.52

7 Cadel Evans                         Predictor-Lotto           same time

Overall Classification (Provisional)

1 Michael Rasmussen                Rabobank

2 Alberto Contador                     Discovery Channel            2.23

3 Cadel Evans                            Predictor-Lotto                   3.04

4 Levi Leipheimer                      Discovery Channel             4.25

5 Andreas Klöden                      Astana                                 4.38

cycling notes fri 20 july

Peninsula Stage Action this weekend

This evening sees the popular Portaferry 3-day stage race get underway, with the opening stage taking place at Kirkistown race circuit, starting at 7pm.

This year the route has altered slightly, with no short hop across on the Strangford Ferry for a stage in the Strangford-Downpatrick area. This year all the action will be on the `Portaferry` side of the Lough.

Tomorrow sees a 55 mile stage, covering 6 laps of a 9 mile circuit around Portaferry, followed in the afternoon by a 2-mile Time Trial that includes an ascent of the short, sharp Windmill Hill in Portaferry.

Stage 4 on Sunday is a short 36-mile affair, covering 6-laps of a 6-mile circuit that takes in the climb on the Mountain Road outside Portaferry.

Again, the Ards Club have secured increased sponsorship from the Fiddlers Green pub in Portaferry, and the points competition will be held in memory of Brian Marshall, the North Down CC rider who sponsored the points competition for 6 years.

Last year the event was won by Banbridge man Tommy Evans, who took victory in two of the four stages. A top field has been assembled, with riders from the South making their way to the scenic Ards Peninsula for three days of top racing.

Also this weekend, Banbridge CC promote the National Mountain Bike Championships, to be held in Tollymore Forest Park, Newcastle on Sunday. The course will be open tomorrow from 2 – 4pm for practice, with the events proper getting underway on Sunday morning.

There are full camping facilities at the venue and with shower facilities in the main forest car park.

The promoting club must be hoping for a top result from their Junior rider, Sean Downey. He will be out to take the Junior gold medal in an effort to be selected for the Ireland squad for the forthcoming World Championships in Fort William in September. Other Ulster Youths in with great medal opportunities include Newtownabbeys Jack Wilson, dominant in the Under 14 category throughout the year. Johnny Beers (XMTB) is a tip for the top in the Under 16s, and top female XMTB club-mates Jessica Laird from Bangor and Claire Oakley from Newtownards will be hopeful of top placings in their events. Some of the Ulster youths are taking part in a round of the British National Points series in Plymouth tomorrow, and flying back for Sundays championship event. 

Sundays action starts at 11.30am for the under 8s, 10s & 12s followed at Noon for the Under 16s followed by the Elite event at 1.30pm.

Sunday also sees the NSPCC`s `Big Bike Ride` take place, starting from Larne. This leisure event will cover either a 40 or 75 mile route through the stunning Glens of Antrim. The Venue is Larne Leisure Centre, with registration from 9am, and the event starts at 10.

Meanwhile Stuart Henry (North Down CC) and Peter Williams (Orchard Whs) are in Belgrade for the 2007 European Youth Olympics. They are part of Irelands 3-man cycling squad that also includes Charles Prendergast (Mayo). They flew out on Wednesday, and will take part in the opening ceremony on Sunday, before competing in three events next week. Each will ride the individual Time Trial on Tuesday, a Criterium points race on Wednesday and a Road Race Thursday.

The European Youth Olympics is a mirror image of the `big` Olympic Games, with opening and closing ceremonies, an athletes village etc. The Games has attracted teams from 49 countries, 104 of which will take part in the Cycling events.

cycling notes Monday 16 July

Peninsula Stage Action this weekend

Friday evening sees the popular Portaferry 3-day stage race get underway, now in its 7th year promoted by Ards CC.

This year the route has altered slightly, with no short hop across on the Strangford Ferry for a stage in the Strangford-Downpatrick area. This year all the action will be on the `Portaferry` side of the lough with the first stage on Friday evening taking place on the Kirkistown motor racing circuit.

Saturday sees a 55 mile stage, covering 6 laps of a 9 mile circuit around Portaferry, followed in the afternoon by a 2-mile Time Trial that includes an ascent of the short, sharp Windmill Hill.

Stage 4 on Sunday is a short 36-mile affair, covering 6-laps of a 6-mile circuit that takes in the climb on the Mountain Road outside Portaferry.

Again, the Ards Club have secured sponsorship from the Fiddlers Green pub in Portaferry, and the points competition will be held in memory of Brian Marshall, the North Down CC rider who sponsored the points competition for 6 years.

Last year the event was won by Banbridge man Tommy Evans, who took victory in two of the four stages.

Entries are still open, and can be phoned through to Bronagh Kirk on (028) 9146 8990.

Also this weekend, Banbridge CC promote the National Mountain Bike Championships, to be held in Tollymore Forest Park. The course will be open on Saturday at 2pm for practice, with the events proper getting underway on Sunday. The promoting club must be hoping for a top result from their Junior rider, Sean Downey. He will be out to take the gold medal in an effort to be selected for the Ireland squad for the forthcoming World Championships in Fort William in September.

Meanwhile, the Tour de France is warming up, with yesterdays stage 165km stage from Le Grand Bonard to Tignes not being a successful one for the T-Mobile squad. They started the day with their German rider Linus Gerdemann in the Yellow Jersey, holding a 1 minute 24 second advantage over Euskaltel rider Inigo Landaluze Intxaurraga. Yesterday, however was the day top climber Michael Rasmussen from the Rabobank team decided to make his mark, with 6 climbs including 3 1st category ascents. He came home alone with 2 minutes 47 seconds to spare over Iban Mayo with Alesandro Valverde 3.12 down.

For the T-mobile squad, Gerdemann lost the overall leaders Yellow Jersey to Rasmussen, their top tip for the overall, Australian Michael Rodgers retired following a crash where he sustained a suspected broken collar bone, and the teams young sprinter, Manxman Mark Cavendish also withdrew, although this was not unexpected as the 22 yearold was competing in his first Tour to gain experience. He was disappointed not to shine in the London-Canterbury stage where a crash and puncture in the closing moles put him out of the running in the finishing sprint, however in the firts week he recorded two top 10 finishes in the hectic bunch sprints that are the traditional end to the first weeks stages.

Result Stage 8 Sunday 15 July Le Grand Bornard-Tignes

1 Michael Rasmussen                     (Den)                 Rabobank                                             165km in      4.49.40

2 Iban Mayo                                      (Spa)                 Saunier Duval                                                            2.47

3 Alejandro Valverde                       (Spa)                 Caisse d'Epargne                                                     3.12

4 Christophe Moreau                      (Fra)                  AG2r Prévoyance                                                       

5 Frank Schleck                                (Lux)                Team CSC                                                                              

6 Cadel Evans                                  (Aus)                 Predictor - Lotto                                            all         3.13

Overall after 8 Stages

1 Michael Rasmussen   Rabobank                                                                                39.hours 38minutes 02seconds

2 Linus Gerdemann       T-Mobile Team                                                                                     @ 0.43 secs

3 Iban Mayo                    Saunier Duval                                                                                            2.39

4 Alejandro Valverde     Caisse d'Epargne                                                                                     2.51

5 Andrey Kashechkin    Astana                                                                                                         2.52

6 Cadel Evans               Predictor - Lotto                                                                                          2.53

88 David Millar            (GB) Saunier Duval - Prodir                                                               @ 41.58

104 Charlie Wegelius (GB)    Liquigas                                                                                        50.43

M Donnelly 6-day Junior Tour of Ireland

Final Results

1 Neik Van Geffen        Tempo BMV Veldhoven                13.00.35

2 Sam Bennett              Stenna Ireland                                   @ 29 secs

3 Sam Webster             Dave Raynor GB                              @ 36 secs

4 Bennson Ruan           Tempo BMV Veldhoven                  @ 49 secs

5 Florent Boyer             Usher-VC La Pomme                      @ 2min 35 sec

29 Allister Fiddes         Ulster                                                  @ 8.37

39 Andrew Hunter        Ulster                                                   @22.06

Cycling Notes Friday 13 July.

Cyclists gear up for stage race test

With some riders enjoying their summer holidays, others will be gearing up for two consecutive weekends of stage racing, with back to back 3-day events taking place in the province towards the end of this month.

First up is the Ards Clubs popular Portaferry 3-day that takes place next weekend (20-22), getting underway next Friday evening with a 30 mile circuit race around the Kirkistown motor racing circuit.

Saturday sees the action based around Portaferry, with a 56 mile road stage in the morning followed by a short time trial in the afternoon. The finale next Sunday is a short 36 mile stage, again starting in Portaferry. Last years top 3 were Tommy Evans, Adam Armstrong and Peter Hawkins, and riders are urged to get their entries in ahead of Mondays closing deadline.

Just a week later, (27-29) Phoenix CC are holding the second Bobby Crilly 3-day. Last years inaugural event was a huge success where Peter Hawkins (Usher Irish Road Club) ran out the winner with less thsan half a minute seperating the top three.

Meanwhile this Sunday the All-Ireland Mountain Bike Cross Country Championships are taking place in Rostrevor, promoted by Banbridge CC. This event is a huge undertaking, and will attract the top monutain bikers from across Ireland.

Local interest will be with Lewis Ferguson (Team BHB) and Conor McConvey (XMTBCC) both are in the hunt for Olympic selection and a National Championship medal would do their chances no harm. McConvey is the current Irish Junior Champion and Ferguson will have his work cut out against defending champion Robin Seymour. A full programme of events is planned with Championships for all categories.

On the Leisure front, on Sunday Emyvale CC are hosting the 1ookm Sliabh Beagh Border Challenge. HQ is the Emyvale Leisure Centre and the event starts at 10am. Next Sunday (22nd) sees the NSPCC Glens of Antrim Big Bike Ride, this will cover either 40 or 75 miles and event HQ is Larne Leisure Centre

Cycling Notes Friday 6 July.

Youngsters on medal trail.

This weekend sees the All-Ireland Youth championships, this year taking place in Ballinrobe, Connacht. Northern Ireland youngsters are again among the favourites to lift medals in the three disciplines. Top tip will surely be Bangor rider Stuart Henry (North Down CC) who, along with Richhills Peter Williams, is gearing up for the European Youth Olympics in Belgrade at the end of the month.

Henry is supreme against the clock, and should lift the gold medal in the Time Trial discipline. Williams on the other hand is a bunch sprint specialist, and should the road event come down to a dash for the line, he could well produce the goods. Mountain bikerJonny Beers (XMTBCC) has been showing good form lately and took a fine silver medal in the Ulster time trial championships a week ago and Madigan man Jonny Cole has also progressed under the guidance of coach Gary McKeegan. He lifted the Ulster Time trial crown at Portadown last week, and will be hoping to carry that form forward to the national stage.

In the Under 14s jack Wilson will be hoping to repeat his success of last year when he took Gold in the Time Trial, and along with Banbridges Michael Runciman and Nathan Mehaffy (Orchard Whs) will lead the Ulster contingent. Ciara Mulholland also returned victorious last year, and will be hoping to be top girl in 2007. In the overall Under 12 events, Banbridge lad Mark Downey will be expected to return with some silverware.

On the domestic front, tomorrows scheduled Red Hand Trophy has been postponed until the end of the season, however Sundays 4-Masters event will take place in Ramelton, Co Donegal starting at Noon. The event is the round 5 in the season long Classic League, and it sees Ballymena`s Ryan Connor head the table on 97 points. Next to him is Junior sensation Sean Downey (Banbridge) who won round 4, the Tommy Givan memorial to put him second on 62 points. Dubliner Neil Delahaye is third on 50.

Cycling Ulster, in conjunction with the NSPCC have announced details of the Glens of Antrim Big Bike Ride. This will take place on Sunday 22nd July, with routes of either 40 or 75 miles. Start venue is Larne Leisure Centre, and the route promises to be a testing one. More details are on Cycling Ulster, or contact 028 9035 7970.

Competitors are reminded that there will be no track league this Tuesday (10 July) but racing will resume on 17th.

Meanwhile on Tuesday the highlight of the Junior calendar gets underway, the 6-day M Donnelly International Junior Tour of Ireland. Again local riders will be to the fore, with Sean Downey (Banbridge) and Thomas Martin (Clann Eireann - Line Green)  heading the Ireland challenge along with Peter Wilson (Maryland Whs) with Allster Fiddes(Orchard Whs) and Leo McAllister (Ballymena RC) also expected to take part in this showcase event that celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, and gets underway on Tuesday with a 2km Mountain Time Trial on the Windy Gap.

Cycling Notes Friday 29 June

Big guns in action in championship weekend.

The great and the good of Irish Cycling will be in action with the National Road and Time trial titles to be decided over the weekend.

Tonight sees the National 40km Time Trial Championship for Seniors, Under 23s, Juniors Women & Veterans take place at Dungarvan, whilst tomorrow the Womens and Veterans Road Championships take place in Tipperary, and on Sunday the Elite, Under 23 and Junior title races are being held in Waterford.

Last year Ulster picked up a raft of medals in these events, and this year should be no different, with Belfast`s David McCann defending his Elite road Championship crown, although he will have his work cut out with Navigators duo Ciaran Power and David O`Loughlin and Giant Asia`s Paul Griffin all expected to feature in the 168km event that will also see Newtownards man Adam Armstrong (Northern CC) make the step up from Under 23 competition. Ballymena`s Ryan Connor has entered only the Time Trial event, and will be looking to match last years performance where he lifted the Under 23 crown.

  Martyn Irvine (Ards CC) will be among the favourites in the Under 23 Road & Time Trial events and Heather Wilson (Maryland Wheelers) who took Bronze in the Road Race and Silver in the Time Trial last year will be hoping to improve in both. Banbridge lad Sean Downey will be hoping to make an impression in the Junior events, where he heads a strong Ulster entry that includes Thomas Martin (Clann Eireann-Linen Green), Peter Wilson (Maryland Whs), Leo McAllister (Ballymena RC) and Allister Fiddes (Orahcrd Wheelers). Simon Williams brought the Junior crown North last year, and Downey could well make it two-in-a-row for the Ulster region.

Meanwhile the Red Hand Trophy, scheduled for next Saturday has been postponed until later in the season partly due to the exodus expected from the province next weekend to watch the Tour de France get underway from London. Next Sundays event, the 4-Masters open Road Race will take place as scheduled in Co Donegal. This new event as been included in the Cycling Ulster – NICF Slane Cycles classic series, that sees Ballymena`s Ryan Connor hold a decisive advantage over Tommy Givan Memorial winner Sean Downey.

Martyn Irvine (Ards CC) and Michael Murray (Clann Eireann-Linen Green) have been confirmed on the Ireland team for the European Track Championships in Germany starting next weekend. Along with Isaac Speers they will ride in the Team Pursuit event, with Adam Armstrong (Northern CC) in the running for the final berth.

Results

Ulster Hillclimb Championship (Wednesday) Newtownards

1    Glen Kinning    Castlereagh CC

2    Kirk Sloan        Ards CC

3    Paul Robinson Ards CC

Ulster Youth Time Trial Championships (Wednesday ) Portadown

Under 14

1          Jack Wilson               East Antrim – Agnew Audi

2          Nathan Mehaffey       Orchard Whs

3          Michael Runciman    Banbridge CC

Under 16

1          Jonny Cole                 Team Madigan

2          Jonny Beers               XMTBCC

3          Stuart Henry               North Down CC

Monday 25 June

Golden Girl Rachel heads Ulster medal haul.

North Down CC girl Rachel Mitchell came back from Dublin on Saturday as the new Under 14 All-Ireland Track Time Trial champion, leading her Ulster colleagues to an impressive medal haul at the National Youth Track Championships at Sun Drive.

She also took Silver in the Sprint final, the closest event of the day, and just missed out on a complete set of medals, ending up 4th in the Scratch event.

  For Northern Ireland the Under 14s were the stars of the show, with three of our riders coming home in the medals. In the first event, the 250 Metre Time Trial, Rachel was off first and set the fastest time of the day. Ailbhe Ivory (Bray Whs) gave the Girls Silver and Enda Ryan (Sorrento) had to settle for Bronze.

  Rachel won her heats in the Sprint event to make it in to the 3-rider final again with Enda Ryan and Ailbhe Ivory. This was the closest fought event of the day, with half a wheel seperating the medallists, with Ryan taking the win, with Rachel and Ailbhe Silver and Bronze.

The final event of the day was the Scratch race, and by now there were some tired legs among the youngsters. Rachel Withers (Fintona CC) siezed her opportunity with two laps remaining, going for a long solo effort. It almost paid off, however Enda Ryan and Nial MacAree (Emyvale) came past her in the final 100metres with Enda taking Gold, Nail Silver and Withers hanging on for a well deserved Bronze.

Saturdays Emma McMullan trophy event promoted by Dromara CC at Hillsborough saw Castlereagh`s Gerry Heverin take victory in a rain soaked finale to the 100km event. The race had been split apart on lap one by a nine man break that stayed away for several laps, but they were reeled in and on the penultimate circuit John Heverin (Clann Eireann-Linen Green) opened up a significant 45 second advantage. He `blew` on the final lap to see his brother Gerry take a fine win, just holding off the bunch in the closing sprint. Ross Blayney (Ards CC) was runner up ahead of North Down`s Neil McKenna.

With two time trials on offer over the weekend. Ards CCs Martyn Irvine, home from Belgium, was victorious in both. On Saturday he won the Eric Maxwell Memorial 10 mile event, setting an event and course record on the Rathfriland Rd, and also beating Ryan Connor for the first time. On Sunday he repeated the formula, this time lifting the Northern Ireland 25 mile Championship at Woodgreen with a time of 52.55, with over a minute to spare over runner up John Madden (Bann Wheelers) 

All Ireland Youth Track Championships

(Dublin Saturday)

Under 14 250m Time Trial

1. Rachel Mitchell      (North Down)             23.51

2. Aoibhe Ivory           (Bray Wheelers)        23.94

3. Enda Ryan             (Sorrento CC)            24.47 

U14 Sprint

1. Enda Ryan             (Sorrento CC)

2. Rachel Mitchell      (North Down)

3. Aoibhe Ivory           (Bray Wheelers)

U14 Scratch Race

1. Enda Ryan             (Sorrento CC)

2. Niall McAree          (Emyvale)

3. Rachel Withers      (Fintona CC)

Emma McMullan Trophy

(Hillsborough Saturday)

1. Gerard Heverin     (Castlereagh CC)     2.29.58

2. R Blayney              (Ards CC)                  @2 secs

3. N McKenna            (North Down)            

4. M Orr                      (Phoenix CC)            

5. G Scott                   (East Antrim Audi)

6. M Millar                  (Castlereagh CC)     all same time

E Maxwell Memorial `10`

(Saturday Banbridge)

1 Martyn Irvine                       Sean Kelly Team 20.51    

2 R Connor                            Giant Asia           21.19

3 S Bennett                            Phoenix              21.34

4 T Martin                               Clann Eirean      21.57

5 C Hendron                          Apollo                  22.37

6 S Stockton                          Madigan             22.43

Northern Ireland 25 Mile TT Championship

(Woodgreen .Sunday)

1          Martyn Irvine               Sean Kelly Team      52.55

2          J Madden                   Bann Whs                  54.17

3          S Bennett                   Phoenix CC               54.27

4          M Greer                      Maryland Whs            54.28

5          K McKenna                East Antrim                55.45

Fri 22 June

Hawkins takes Ulster title

Reigning Northern Ireland road champion Peter Hawkins (Usher Irish Road Club) was top of the class in Tuesdays Ulster Criterium Championship, promoted by Phoenix CC and held in Ormeau park as part of Belfast City Council`s week of cycling. This was Hawkins second win in a row, having been victorious in the `crit in the park` last year.

He was part of a four man breakaway that went clear from the start. The quartet steadily rode clear of the field, and although Adam Armstrong (Northern CC) fell in the closing laps of the race, he was allowed to rejoin, following a lap out, to fight it out for the medals.

Hawkins was the strongest in the sprint, taking a clear victory with Armstrong taking second and Glen Kinning (Castlereagh CC) taking the bronze medal, just edging out Hawkins team made Matt Ward.

In the supporting youth events, XMTBs Johnny Beers took the under 16s, Banbridge lad Michael Runciman the Under 14s and Keria Mulholland (Clann Eireann-Linen Green) the Under 12s.

On Wednesday  Kinning turned the tables, taking the win in the Ards Town Centre races in Newtownards. Hawkins finished runner up, with Ward 3rd. Johnny Beers again won the Under 16 event, with Jack Wilson (East Antrim – Audi) the Under 14s and Claire Oakley (XMTB) the Under 12s.

This weekend Mountain Biking takes centre stage, with Orchard Wheelers promoting racing this evening at Richhill Castle for local school kids, followed by a full programme of events tomorrow. Under 8s & 10s kick off the action tomorrow at 11.30am followed by the remaining Youth classes at Noon, and the feature event at 1.15pm. The course in the grounds of the 17th century haunted castle, with events starting in Richhill`s main street.

For road racers, Dromara CC promote their first Open race tomorrow for the Emma McMullan Trophy  at Hillsborough, sponsored by KJM Electrics of Ballynahinch. 

The race route of Hillsborough - Annahilt - Ballycrune - Annahilt, will ensure a fast open race with little in the way of climbs to break up the rhythm. The race will be 100km, starting in Hillsborough then heading to Annahilt for 7 laps of the 14km circuit. The finish will be on the Glebe Road Annahilt. Race headquarters will be at Hillsborough Village Centre / Primary School, on the Ballynahinch Road, Hillsborough. The event does not cater for first category riders.

Also, for the `testers` Whirline-West Down Wheelers are running the Eric Maxwell Memorial `10` tomorrow on the sporting Rathfriland course. Start is just off the A1 Banbridge by-pass at the creamery, and the event starts at 11am.

On Sunday the action moves to Castle Park, Bangor in a change from the scheduled Lead Mines. XMTB are hosting round 3 of the Ulster cross-country series. Again the Youth classes will commence at 11.30am, and the feature event will be at 1.30pm. 

Also on Sunday, the NICF promote the Northern Ireland 25 Mile Time Trial Championship at Woodgreen. Stuart Bennett (Phoenix CC) was the winner last year, but local man Ryan Connor (Giant Asia) may spoil a repeat win for the Belfast man.

Monday 18 June

Downey victorious in Mournes 3-day

Banbridge Junior rider Sean Downey ran out victorious in the weekends Newry 3-day, hotly contested by a full field of 2nd, 3rd & Junior competitors from both sides of the border.Downey again turned in an impressive display of riding, as did his fellow Cycling Ulster Junior squad team mates who dominated the results.

The opening stage on Friday evening, a town centre race in Warrenpoint, was won in fine style by Bangor man Ross Blayney (Ards CC) who immediately dedicated his win to fellow Bangor Cyclist Brian Marshall, whose funeral he had attended earlier in the day.

Stage 2 on Saturday took the riders over a hilly 55 mile route, centered in Hilltown, where Phillip Lavery (Usher Irish Road Club) took the stage victory just ahead of Downey. They had been part of a 4 man breakaway group that had gained a maximum of half a minute lead, but were closed down on the line, with Lavery and Downey just holding on to take the stage spoils.

Saturday evenings short time trial again saw Downey impress, taking the stage win in a time of nine minutes 23 seconds, with 16 seconds to spare over runner up John Heverin (Clann Eireann-Linen Green)

Following the time trial Downey held a 21 second lead with fellow Ulster team mates Peter Wilson second, 21 seconds back and Thomas Martin 3rd, a further 2 seconds adrift.

The final 70 mile loop yesterday saw a major break go early in the stage, with some of the provinces top Veterans including Shaun Grey (Orchard) and Gordon Scott (East Antrim-Audi) determined to wrest the lead from the young guns. It was not to be, as despite gaining a maximum lead of 1 minute 30 seconds, the break was pulled back on the final climb at Spelga, leaving the scene set for a bunch sprint.

At the line the verdict went to XMTB`s Tim Edgar with Sean McGreevy (Phoenix) runner up. Race Leader Downey took 4th place on the stage to wrap up the overall, leading his Ulster Junior squad to a 1-2-3 and the overall Team prize.

This was a fitting end to young Downeys GCSE exams, and he is now off to Belgium this week for some track racing before returning for the All Ireland Junior Time Trial Championships on June 29th.

Newry Wheelers 3-day Final Overall

1          Sean Downey            (Ulster Juniors)                      6hrs 38min 21 sec

2          Peter Wilson              (Ulster Juniors)                                  @ 21 seconds

3          Thomas Martin          (Ulster Juniors)                                  @ 21 seconds

4          Phillip Lavery             (Usher-Irish Road Club)                  @ 28 sec

5          Richard Watters        (Harps CC)                                          @ 30 sec

6          Kirk Sloan                  (Ards CC)                                             @ 32sec

This week is yet another busy one, with two short-circuit Criterium events to chose from. Tomorrow evening sees

Phoenix CC promote the Ulster Criterium championships in Ormeau Park. The `Crit in the Park` will kick off with Youth racing, starting at 6.30pm, and the feature Championship event getting underway at 7.

On Wednesday evening the Ards CC are holding their popular Town Centre races, again catering for all categories, the action starts in Newtownards town centre at 7pm.

On Thursday the Dave Kane Time Trial League continues with a 10 mile event at Woodgreen on the A26 near Ballymena, at 7pm.

Friday 15 June

Cycling world mournes death of popular figure.

The Cycling world is in mourning at the tragic death of a well known figure in the sport and business world. 51-yearold Brian Marshall was killed whilst out cycling on Monday evening when he was in collision with a motor vehicle.

He was a well known businessman in Bangor where he ran the family cycle & toy shop. He was also a senior member of North Down Cycling Club, and was the key organiser of tomorrows 100km Bangor Coastal Challenge event. The family have asked that the event goes ahead as planned.

Brian had been around the cycling world for many years, and was a tough veteran competitor, having helped the club lift the team prize at the 2005 Ulster Veterans championship. But it was the mile-eating cyclo-sportif events that he enjoyed most, travelling the length of the country to enjoy the craic and camaraderie of these events, and only last weekend participated in the Wicklow 200km event.

His Abbey Street shop in Bangor was a well known haunt for local riders and Brian was well respected for his mechanical skills in setting up racing machinery.

He leaves his wife, Vera and children Phillip and Gemma and he will be much missed as a family man, businessman, sportsman and – gentleman.

His funeral takes place today at Conlig Church at 10am, followed by a service in Roselawn.

The Ulster Cycling calendar continues this weekend with the popular Newry 3-day stage race getting underway this evening.

Sponsored by Noel McKinley Building Contractors, the event is now in its 20th year and is based in and around Warrenpoint, and takes in the Mourne mountains.

This evenings stage is a town centre criterium in Warrenpoint starting at 7pm. Tomorrow sees a 55 mile stage starting in Hilltown at 10.30am, followed by a short time trial at 4pm. Sundays final stage covers 70 miles starting in Warrenpoint at 11am.

Cycling Ulster has entered a strong Junior squad for the event comprising Sean Downey (Banbridge) Thomas Martin (Clann Eireann) Dane Dunlop (Lakeland) Peter Wilson (Maryland Whs) and Leo McAllister (Ballymena RC)

As mentioned above, over 600 leisure cyclists are expected in Bangor tomorrow for the 100km Coastal Challenge that starts at 10am. On Sunday Leisure riders are again catered for with the 100km Tour of Innishowen in Buncrana starting at 9.30am.

Brian Marshall

Tuesday 12 June

It is with great sadness that we report the death of North Down CC member Brian Marshall. Brian was killed on Monday evening out training when he was in collision with a motor vehicle.

The NICF Executive & membership extends its sympathies to his wife Vera, Daughter Gemma and Son Phillip.

Brian was well known in cycling circles, running a cycle shop in his home town of Bangor. He was on the Committee of NDCC, and was the key organiser of the forthcoming 100km Coastal Challenge event.

In line with family wishes, the Coastal Challenge will go ahead as planned this Saturday, as a tribute to Brian.

His funeral will take place on Friday (15th) from Conlig Church at 10am, and afterwards to Roselawn.

Family flowers only, with donations being made to the Coastal Challenge charity, the Ulster Hospital Diabetes unit.

Champions weekend

Monday 11 June

The cream of Ulsters Youth talent lined up in Donaghadee on Saturday for the North Down CC prompted NortherIreland Youth Road Championships.

Held on the hottest day of the year, the racing was close all the way with the Under 16 event taking the judges some time to decide.

The youngsters in the Under 12 event covered 10km, and at the finish on the top of Orlock hill on the Donaghadee coastline Banbridge lad Mark Downey took the verdict from defending champion Ciara Mulholland with local girl Claire Oakley (XMTB) 3rd.

The Under 14s stayed pretty much intact until the last ascent of Orlock in the closing mile where  Michael Runciman (Banbridge CC) made his move to shake off his rivals. Defending champion Jack Wilson was familiar with the long drag to the finish, timing his counter move to perfection to run out the winner by a comfortable margin.

The Under 16 feature event was even closer, with, as expected, some cat and mouse tactics employed by the pre-race favourites. With the Championship providing a welcome break from GCSE study, Bangor lad Stuart Henry was expected to shine on home ground. Despite his efforts to shake off sprint specialists Peter Williams (Orchard Whs) and Jonny Beers (XMTB) they approached the line in close formation. It looked like Williams had it in the bag, with Henry making an all-important lunge for the line which was enough to give him the title by the narrowest of margins. Ballymena`s Phillip Bremner took the Bronze medal, with Beers 4th.

Result Northern Ireland Under 12 Road Championship

1st        Mark Downey                        Banbridge CC

2nd       Ciara Mulholland                   Clann Eireann-Linen Green

3rd        Claire Oakley                         XMTBCC

4th        Declan Mulholland                 Clann Eireann-Linen Green

Under 14s

1st        Jack Wilson                           East Antrim-Isaac Agnew Audi

2nd       Nathan Mehaffey                   Orchard Wheelers

3rd        Andrew Turner                       Orchard Whs

4th        Jessica Laird                         XMTBCC

5th        Rachel Mitchell                      North Down CC

Under 16s

1st        Stuart Henry                           North Down CC

2nd       Peter Williams                       Orchard Whs

3rd        Phillip Bremner                      Ballymena Road Club – Scott Rooftiles

4th        Jonny Beers                           XMTBCC

5th        David Neill                             Team Madigan

Also on Saturday the Senior riders had their Ulster Championship warm-up with the Audi GP at Ballynure.

Over sixty riders turned up in glorious sunshine for East Antrim CC promotion to face eight laps of a tough eight mile circuit.

By the end of the first lap Matthew Ward (Usher IRC) and Glen Kinning had moved clear, and were quickly followed by more chasers. Eventually a group of about eleven riders went clear of the main field and began to open a gap. The group included Adrian Hedderman (myhome.ie), Paul Vaughan and Peter Wilson (Maryland), Ryan Connor (Giant Asia) Kieran Downey (U/A), Ben Morrow and Kieran McKenna(East Antrim/Audi) and Connor Murphy and Peter Hawkins of the Usher squad. They kept the pressure on throughout although some cat and mouse between Murphy and Connor saw them lose the break, leaving them to chase in the closing laps.

Leading the chasers was Thomas Martin (Clann Eireann/Linen Green), Richard Watters(Harps CC) David Mulholland (Apollo CT) and Peter McConville (Newry Wheelers) along with Henry McParland (Phoenix CC), Tony Boyle (Slane Cycles) and Jonathan Dempsey. The rest of the bunch stayed pretty much intact.

By the penultimate lap Kinning and Ward had gone clear and on the line Kinning just outsprinted Ward to take victory. Hedderman was ousted into fourth place by Peter Hawkins while Maryland Junior, Peter Wilson took fifth. Kieran McKenna and Paul Vaughan took the next two places while David Mulholland won the bunch sprint to take eighth place.

Result Audi GP Ballynure Saturday 105km

1. Glen Kinning          (Castlereagh CC)

2. M Ward                  (Usher IRC)

3. P Hawkins             (Usher IRC)                @59 secs

4. A Hedderman        (myhome.ie)                st

5. P Wilson                (Maryland Wheelers)st

6. K McKenna            (East Antrim/Audi)    st

7. P Vaughan             (Maryland Wheelers) @1.12

8. D Mulholland          (Apollo CT)                  @1.21

9. J Dempsey            (East Antrim/Audi)    st

10. R Watters            (Harps CC)                st

Meanwhile yesterday at Limavady, Ballymena`s Ryan Connor (Giant Asia) picked up the Ulster Senior Road Championship and the newly presented George Wilkes Memorial trophy at a well run Roe Valley CC promotion. Covering three circuits of a 20 mile loop that included Cam forest, on the first lap a group had opened up a 50 second advantage on the climb. By the second ascent the group was down to four riders but the gap had widened to the chasers. On the final lap Connor made his move, shaking off his breakaway companions to solo home over three minutes clear. Matt Ward (Usher) took the runner up spot, with Paul Brady (Emyvale) picking up Bronze.

In the ladies event, Hillsborough girl Heather Wilson (Maryland Whs) also scored a fine solo victory coming home ahead of East Tyrone pair Ann McFarland and Ann Paul.

Result Ulster Senior Road Championships Limavady Sunday

1. Ryan Connor                     (Giant Asia)               2.24.46

2. M Ward                              (Usher IRC)                @3.04

3. P Brady                              (Emyvale)                       st

4. P Vaughan                         (Maryland Wheelers)    st

5. D McShane                       (Omagh Wheelers)    @6.0

6. T Wilson                             (Ballymena RC)         @6.02

7. KSloan                               (Ards CC)                   @6.04

8. W Francis                          (Ards CC)

9. A Hunter                             (Northern Dave Kane)

10. Al Fiddes                         (Orchard Wheelers)

Ulster Ladies Championship

1. Heather Wilson                 (Maryland Wheelers)

2. Ann McFarland                  (East Tyrone)

3. Ann Paul                            (East Tyrone)

4. Clara Cole-Hawthorne     (Roe Valley)

5. Kay Hack                           (Bann Wheelers)

6. Rachel Cole-Hawthorne (Roe Valley)

This evening sees the popular Waterfront criterium in Carrickfergus, with the action getting underway at 7pm, and tomorrow evening the action moves to Holywood for the Northern Ireland Hill Climb championship on the Creightons Green Road at 7pm

Champions weekend

Fri 8 Jun

This weekend will see a total of seven new champions crowned, with three Northern Ireland Youth titles being decided tomorrow, and the Ulster Senior, Junior, Veteran and Ladies championships being held in Limavady on Sunday.

North Down CC will play host to the Northern Ireland Road Championships for Under 12s, Under 14s and Under 16s, with the races being held over a 5.8 mile circuit in the Donaghadee/Bangor area.

Local lad Stuart Henry, recently selected for the Irish squad to contest the European Youth Olympics, must be one of the favourites to lift the Under 16 crown. He will have the local knowledge advantage, but will be pushed by Armagh rival and Youth Olympic team-mate Peter Williams and Antrims Jonny Beers. The promoting club will have a strong team entry with Gareth Boyle and Craig Swenarton, whilst the Carrick based Team Madigan challenge will be led Johnny Cole.

Newtownabbey`s Jack Wilson (East Antrim-Audi) is the hot favourite to regain the Under 14  title whilst Lurgan girl Caira Mulholland could also repeat last years victory in the Under 12 category, but will have to keep an eye in the rapidly improving Mark Downey from Banbridge. 

Racing gets underway at 11am, with sign-on on the main A2 Bangor-Donaghadee Rd on the approach to Doanghadee.

Sunday sees the Roe Valley club promote the Ulster Senior, Junior, Veterans and Ladies championship at Limavady.  This year's event will be extra special as a new trophy has been donated by Jonnie Wilkes as a tribute to his late father, George Wilkes who was President of Cycling Ulster until he died last year. Special tankards will also be presented to the medal winners by the family. The event begins at 10 am with sign on at 9 am in the Limavady United Football Club. The event is open to S1,S2, S3, Vets, Women and Juniors. All Ulster riders are eligible to compete and win the Championship.

Also over the weekend, the East Antrim club promote the Audi Grand Prix 100km event tomorrow at 11am in Ballynure, and tomorrow evening Dromara CC are hosting a Hillclimb in the village starting at 6.30pm.

Next week is also a busy one for local cyclists, with Team Madigans Waterfront Criterium on Monday night in Carrickfergus. There will be a full evenings programme, with events for local novice kids through to Seniors. Racing gets underway at 7pm. On Tuesday North Down CC are promoting the Northern Ireland Hill Climb championship, again at Creightons Green Road in Holywood (7pm)

Meanwhile earlier this week, unstoppable Phoenix CC rider Stuart Bennett took victory in the hotly contested Jimmy Devlin Memorial `10` at Woodgreen. He had a 17 second advantage over runner up Mark Greer, with 6 seconds separating the next 3 riders.

Result Jimmy Devlin Memorial 10 mile Time Trial

1. Stuart Bennett       Phoenix CC               20.44

2. M Greer                  Maryland Wheelers   21.01

2= P Vaughan           Maryland Wheelers   21.01

4  B Morrow               East Antrim-Audi       21.02

5.K McKenna             East Antrim-Audi       21.07

6.C Hendron              Apollo CT                   21.23

7.J Dempsey             East Antrim-Audi       21.24

8.M Rowan                 Ards CC                     21.34

9.G Cranston             East Antrim-Audi       21.36

10.S Stockton            Team Madigan          21.40

North Down CC have now received over 500 entries for next weeks 100km Coastal Challenge. This popular 100km `leisure` event always attracts a full field, and this year has changed to circulate the Ards peninsula in an anti-clockwise direction, heading from Bangor to Newtownards and via Portaferry for the lunch stop, and back via the Ballywalter Donaghadee coastline. Start venue is bangor Sportsplex on the old Belfast Rd. Bangor.

Downey `rains` supreme in Banbridge classic.

Monday 4 June

Banbridge junior Sean Downey took yet another major classic in winning his own clubs Noel Taggert memorial event yesterday.

Run off in atrocious conditions, the event was cut by one lap to cover five circuits of the Banbridge, Lawrencetown, Guilford, Scarva twelve mile triangle, totalling 60 miles. 

The 63 starters were split in to two groups, separated by five minutes. First year Junior Downey and Ballymena Veteran Tommy Wilson made their intentions clear early on, the pair gaining an advantage on the front group on lap one. Their lead peaked at around two minutes, with the scratch riders making no inroads on their deficit.

Ulster Classic Series leader Ryan Connor (Ballymena Road Club) started the event suffering from a tooth abscess, but failed to finish, although secure in the knowledge that his lead in the season long series is enough to see him carry the leaders jersey to the next round at Ballymena on the 7th July.

Hardest workers in the scratch group were Matt Ward (Usher-Irish Road Club) and Stephen McKenna (East Antrim) but try as they might they did not close on the leaders.

At the finish Downey took the verdict ahead of Wilson, still returning to peak form following his dislocated shoulder picked up in the Tour of the North, with Templepatrick veteran Jim McConnell next home in 3rd.

Maryland Junior  Peter Wilson held off the chasing bunch to take 5th, with Stephen Hanna from the promoting club winning the bunch sprint for 6th.

Result Noel Taggert memorial 60 Miles (Banbridge Sunday 3rd June)

1          Sean Downey (Jun)              Banbridge CC

2          Tommy Wilson (Vet)             Ballymena Road Club-Scott Rooftiles

3          Jim McConnell (Vet)             East Antrim – Agnew Audi

4          Finbar Cummings                 Phoenix CC

5          Peter Wilson (Jun)                Maryland Wheelers

6          Stephen Hanna                     Banbridge CC

Yesterday morning also saw the Old bleach club promote their Martin Kennedy Memorial 10 mile time trial on the A26 near Ballymena. Once again, phoenix man Stuart Bennett took the honours to add to his Ulster time trial title won last week. 

Martin Kennedy Memorial 10 Sunday Woodgreen.

1          Stuart Bennett            Phoenix CC               21.18

2          S Stockton                 Team Madigan          22.01

3          P McCreedy              Roe Valley                 22.08

4          C Hendron                 Apollo                         22.34

5          B McCourt                  Phoenix CC               23.20

6          S McFadden              Total Cycling              23.25

7          J Donnelly                  Bann Whs                  23.27

8          M Smyth                     Bann Whs                  23.41

9          C Armstrong              Apollo                         24.27

10        G Dempsey               Phoenix                      24.27

Bennett Champion of Champions

Fri 1 June

Phoenix CC`s Stuart Bennett scored a double this week, lifting the Ards Clubs Champion of Champions trophy, adding his names to such cycling luminaries as Chris Boardman and Graeme O`bree, and in the process taking the Ulster 25 mile Time Trial crown which was also part of the event.

Held on the tough Portaferry Road course in Newtownards, Bennetts time of 55minutes 55 seconds gave him a comfortable half minute victory over Templepatricks Jim McConnell (East Antrim-Audi) who was fastest Veteran on the night. Third was Maryland Wheeler Mark Greer, with Northern`s Andy Hunter taking the Junior title.

Meanwhile the weekend ahead sees a somewhat congested calendar, and consequently the NICF has agreed to postpone the scheduled Northern Ireland Road Championships listed for tomorrow. The title race for Seniors, Juniors, Veterans and Ladies will now take place in September. Also postponed is the Ulster Youth Time Trial Championships, originally listed for tomorrow. It will now take place on Wednesday 27th June.

There are two stage races on offer over the weekend, the Ras Donegal 3-day gets underway this evening in Killybegs and will cover 240km of racing over the weekend. This event does not cater for first category riders or Youth. Further South the Ras na Og 2-day starts tomorrow in Drogheda, again this event does not cater for first category riders, but does include Youths.

Closer to home, Old Bleach CC promote the Martin Kennedy memorial 10 mile Time Trial at Woodgreen on Sunday morning, getting underway at 9am.

Meanwhile the season-long Ulster Classic series hits the midway point with round 4, the Noel Taggert memorial taking place in Banbridge on Sunday.

Ahoghills Ryan Connor has a commmanding lead in the series, however Dubliner Neil Delahaye is expected to head a strong Irish Road Club entry and is keen to close the gap on Connor. The duo slugged it out in the Wallace Caldwell memorial in March, with Connor taking the verdict and repeating the win in the recent Tommy Givan memorial. Connor holds a 47 point advantage, but he is due to miss a couple of counters due to the demands of his Giant Asia squad. So there is still all to play for in the series, and the Taggert always enjoys a good turnout, with an A and B race on the cards.

Sign-on is at the Hockey club on the Lurgan road, Banbridge, with racing commencing at Noon. Again, youth racing at this venue has been cancelled due to the events listed above.

Result Ulster 25 Mile Time Trial Championship & Champion of Champions event

1 Stuart Bennett        Phoenix CC               55.55

2 Jim McConnell       East Antrim-Audi      56.26 (Veteran)

3 Mark Greer            Maryland Wheelers    56.49

4 Gary Cranston        East Antrim-Audi      56.57

5 Simon Stockton     Team Madigan          57.05

6 John Madden         Bann Wheelers          57.07

7 Kieran McKenna    East Antrim-Audi       57.14

8 Ivan Robinson         Ards CC                     57.55

9 John Heverin          Clann Eireann             58.06

10 Paul McCreedy   Roe Valley                   58.27

German victory in 8-day Ras thriller

Monday 28 May

German rider Tony Martin, riding for the Thuringer Energy squad secured overall victory in the 8-day FBD Insurance Ras that ended yesterday afternoon in Skerries following the final 174km stage from Newcastle.

Earlier on Saturday crowds lining the County Down seaside town were treated to 88 riders contesting the sprint finish after a gruelling 165km stage that had started in Derry and came via the Glenshane Pass and Castlewellan. On the line it was Canadian Dominique Rollin (US Kodak Gallery Seirra Nevada) who took his third stage win of the event, having previously been victorious in Sligo and Londonderry. He tightened his grip on the green points leaders jersey, with race leader Martin 12th across the line to hold on to a 17 second lead ahead of Irelands Paidi O`Brien (Murphy & Gunn / Newlyn Group)  

On the final day 126 of the original 150 starters were still in the race, with Bangor veteran Brendan Kirk (Co Down – Mar Properties) occupying the `lanterne rouge` position at the bottom of the leaderboard, but still gamely fighting on for his first Ras finish.

National Champion David McCann (Ireland – Subway Eat Fresh) saved his big effort until the final day, fitting an extra large 55 tooth chain ring, having taken note of the northerly tailwind assisting the riders from Newcastle to Skerries. He was part of a three man group that had gained a 1-minute 30-second advantage at the first King of the Hills prime at Lynch`s Hill after 21km and by the border crossing south of Newry they had a 2 minute 21 second advantage, making McCann leader on the road.

It was all change by Garristown where McCann was joined by Dermot Nally (Ireland) Brian Keneally (Meath) and Dutch man Alain Ven De Velde with this group holding on until the closing stages of the race, where McCann and the others faded and Keneally held on by himself to just pip the chasing bunch and  grab a stage victory on the line, holding off Andrei Mustonen (Estonia Kalev Chocolate) and Glenn Bak (Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group/M.Donnelly Sean Kelly) who took third.

Race leader Martin ended the stage in 10th position on the stage, securing the overall race victory following eight tough days and 1175 kilometres of racing.

Provisional Final Overall Positions

1          Tony Martin    (Ger)                           Thuringer Energy

2          Paidi O`brien (Irl)                               Murphy & Gunn Newlyn Group

3          Peter McDonald (Aus)                      FRF Couriers New South Wales

4          Jesse Anthony (USA)                       Kodak Gallery – Sierra Nevada

5          Dominique Rollin (Can)                    Lodal Gallery – Sierra Nevada

6          Chris Newton (GB)                            GB-Stena Line

Meanwhile last week East Antrim schoolboy Jack Wilson broke Stuart Henry`s 18 month-old Irish Under 14 10 mile Time trial record in the Dave kane League at Woodgreen. The second year Downshire High School lad followed up his win in the Northern Ireland 10 mile championship last Sunday by recording 24.13 to better Henry`s figures by 12 seconds.

Tomorrow evening sees the Ards club promote the Ulster 25 mile Time Trial championships on the Portaferry road. The event incorporates the famous Champion of Champions event, with illustrious winners that include Graeme O`Bree and Chris Boardman. The event gets underway at 7pm.

Meanwhile on Saturday Ballymena Road Club promote the Northern Ireland Senior, Junior, Veterans & Ladies Road Championships followed by the Noel Taggert Memorial in Banbridge on Sunday. The Ulster Youth Time Trial Championships listed for Saturday has been postponed until later in the month.

Ras Finale heads North

Fri 25 May

The final three days of the FBD Ras 8-day international stage race take place over Northern Irelands roads this weekend, with the remaining 133 riders setting off from Buncrana this morning on the 6th stage that will finish this afternoon in Londonderry, the shortest stage of the race at 96 kilometres.

Yesterdays 131km stage from Dungloe to Buncrana again split the race apart, with three riders coming home slightly ahead of the chasers, with German rider Nico Graf (Thuringer Energy) winning the stage and Irelands Paidi O`Brien (Murphy & Gunn) taking second.

Graf`s team mate Tony martin finished fifth on the stage, 42 seconds back to move in to the race leaders Yellow Jersey. As has been a feature of the race, around forty of the top riders are fighting it out for the main stage and overall honours, with the remainder of the bunch losing around 20 minutes on the tougher stages.

Reigning National Champion, Belfast man David McCann made his move yesterday, and ended the stage in sixth place, 1.13 behind the winner, to move in to 8th overall 1.35 behind the race leader, and tieing on time with compatriot, Richhills Stephen Gallagher (Murphy & Gunn) who holds 9th spot.

Todays stage gets underway at Buncrana at 11am and goes via Ballyliffen, Carndonagh, Moville and Muff before ending up in Derry with the finish due at Shipquay Street around 1.15pm.

Tomorrows penultimate stage will see McCann and Gallagher on `home` roads when the route covers 165km from Londonderry via the Glenshane pass (King of the Hills-Noon), Moneymore 12.35pm, Cookstown 12.45pm, Dungannon 1.10pm, Portadown 1.50pm, Guilford 2.05, Katesbridge 2.35, Castlwellan 3pm (King of the Hills) before finishing in Newcastles main street at around 3.10pm.

Sundays final stage covers 174km, leaving Newcastle at 11am, going via Castlewellan, Hilltown and Newry and on to the finish in Skerries.

Ulster riders positions after Stage 5

8th David McCann (Ireland-Subway)

9th Stephen Gallagher (Murphy & Gunn)

24th Roger Aiken (Armagh-Big Picture Developments)

63rd Adam Armstrong (Usher Insulations)

87th Martyn Irvine (Ireland-Subway)

100th Paul Vaughan (Kildare-Murphy Surveyors)

104th Ronan McLaughlin (Down-Mar Properties)

120th Barry Mullin (Down-Mar Properties)

133rd Brendan Kirk (Down-Mar Properties)  

Meanwhile, with the cancellation of tomorrows scheduled Mayfair GP, the domestic racing action takes place on Sunday at Tydavnet near Emyvale in County Monaghan where the Emyvale-Champion Milk GP will cater for all categories. Youth racing gets underway at 11.30am, with the senior racing scheduled for 1pm.

For the Leisure riders, the Slieve Gullion Wheelers Tour of South Armagh takes place on tomorrow (Not Sunday as printed in the handbook) with sign on is at the Mountain House Inn 4 mile from Newry on A25, and getting underway at 10am, with routes of 60 and 140km to cater for all abilities.

Connor in Charge

Monday 21 May

Ryan Connor (Ballymena Road Club) strengthened his grip on the leaders yellow jersey in the season-long Ulster classic series, with a solo win in Saturdays Tommy Givan memorial 100km event in Hillsborough.

He finished with half a minute to spare over his nearest challenger, Gary Cranston (East Antrim-Audi) who in turn had another half minute over flying Junior Sean Downey (Banbridge CC)

Cranston and Downey had earlier been part of a nine-man group that had gained over a minute on the main field, with Connor missing the move and having to play second fiddle to two clubmates, flying brothers Conor & Leo McAllister from Glenarm who were part of the move.

On lap six of seven however, Connor made his move and, along with Gordon Scott, bridged the gap to the front of the race, proceeding to put in another attack that split the riders at the head of affairs. On the final hilly section in to Hillsborough he moved clear to carve out a healthy advantage at the finish.

Result Tommy Givan Memorial Road Race Saturday

1. Ryan Connor         (Giant Asia) 100km in 2-40-22

2. G Cranston            (East Antrim)             @ 32 secs

3. S Downey              (Banbridge)               @ 1-01

4. S Mckenna            (East Antrim)             @ 1-50

5. C McAllister           (Ballymena)

6. M Greer                  (Maryland)

7. L McAllister            (Ballymena)

8. T Martin                  (Clann Eireann)

9. D McKnight            (Dromara CC)           all same time

10. W Hamilton          (Usher IRC)                @ 3-34

NI `10` Championships

Connor was again on top form yesterday morning in winning the NICF promoted Northern Ireland 10 mile Time Trial Championship at Woodgreen.

It was a close run thing for the medal positions, with Connor only having thirteen seconds to spare over Phoenix man Stuart Bennett. East Antrims Ben Morrow took the Bronze a further three seconds back.

Result NI 10 Mile TT Championship

1 Ryan Connor          BRC                 21:18

2 S Bennett                Phoenix CC    21:31

3 B Morrow                East Antrim     21:34

4 T Martin                   Clann Eireann 22:18 (junior)

5 G Cranston             East Antrim       22:25

6 M Greer                   Maryland Whs 22:26

7 M Rowan                 Ards CC          22:28 (Vet)

8 K McKenna             East Antrim      22:29

9 P Wilson                 Maryland         22:35 (jun)

10 G Scott                  East Antrim     22:36 (VeT)

Junior

1 T MartinClann Eireann-Linen Green22.18

2 P Wilson      Maryland Whs  22.35

3 L McAllister Ballymena RC  23.40

Lady

1 Heather Wilson          Maryland Whs            24.31

2 K Hack                        Bann Whs                    26.59

3 F BrownBann Whs    27.06

Under 16

1 Mark RamsayTeam Madigan 24.37

2 R Alexander   Team Madigan36.03

3 J ColeTeam Madigan       37.01

Under 14

1 Jack Wilson            East Antrim                26.23

2 Rachel Mitchell       North Down                29.50

Carrickmacross Cup (Sunday)

1    Martin O`Loughlin    Carrick - Dan Morrissey

2    Sam Bennett (Jun)  Carrick-Dan Morrissey

3    Tim O`Regan           Myhome.ie

FBD Ras

Yesterdays opening stage of the FBD Insurance Ras took the 150 riders from the start in Naas to Templemore. Finishing in a bunch sprint, Mart Ojavee (Estonia – Kalev Chocolate) took the honours to put him in the Yellow Jersey. American Jesse Anthony (USA – Kodak Gallery) took the prime on the only climb of the day at `The Cut` to put him in the competition leaders jersey. Todays stage covers 147km from Templemore to Loughrea, with three climbs along the way.

FBD Ras comes North

Friday 18 May

Irelands biggest stage race, the 8-day FBD Insurance Ras gets underway in Naas on Sunday, and local cycling fans in will have an opportunity to catch the action close to home as a total of three stages will take place on Northern Irelands roads in the coming week.

A top class field of 150 riders from Ireland, Germany, Denmark, Australia, Estonia, Czech Republic, Iran, Netherlands, Britain and the USA will face the starter when race leaves from Naas on Sunday, with the opening 157km stage taking the riders to Templemore.

Stage 6 next Friday (25th) covers 96km when the event comes in to Northern Ireland with a short hop from Bunchrana to Londonderry, followed on Saturday with a 165km route from Londonderry to Newcastle, taking in climbs at Glenshane pass and Devils Elbow at Castlewellan. The final stage on Sunday covers 174km from Newcastle via Hilltown and Newry on its way to the overall finish in Skerries. 

Plenty of information has been made available on the foreign teams, but the organisers have remained tight lipped as to the make up of the Irish national squad for the race. Britains Chris Newton, winner in 2003 and 2005 is back leading a strong GB-Recycling.co.uk entry whilst former Olympic champion, and three time Tour de France rider Daniel Becke heads up a Gremany-Thuringer Energie entry. Estonias continental pro team Kalev Chocolate are also on the start list along with the national Denmark – team Vision Bikes squad. Coming from further afield are Australia-RFR Couriers and the USA-Team Kodak outfits.

Belfasts 2004 winner David McCann is expected to head the Ireland national team challenge. The American based Sutter Home professional has flew home for the event, and his form was underlined on Tuesday evening when he led a Phoenix CC team to victory in a 25 mile Team Time Trial at Woodgreen with an amazing time of 48.18, with the bulk of the work having been done by McCann. Newtownards man Martyn Irvine is also home from Belgium awaiting the national call-up, and the rumour mill suggests former world Junior champion Mark Scanlon, who left Europes AG2R squad for the American Toyota United outfit for 2007 is also to be included.

Other local riders taking part in the gruelling 8-day world ranked event include Newtownards rider Adam Armstrong and Bangors Brendan Kirk. Armstrong will guest for the Dublin based Usher Insulations-Irish Road Club, whilst Kirk, keen to complete the race at his second attempt is part of a County Down squad, with a Co Armagh-Big Picture Developments team also in the line-up.

Connor in Charge

Closer to home, tomorrow sees round three of the season-long Ulster Classic Series sponsored by Slane Cycles, Cycling Ulster and the NICF. The popular Tommy Givan Memorial takes place in Hillsborough starting at noon. Ryan Connor leads the series thanks to a win in the opening Wallace Caldwell Memorial and third in the Tour of Ards. He is disappointed at having to miss the Ras, as he has been called to the far East by his Giant Aisa squad for a stage race later this week. He will start favourite for the Givan, and is unlikely to be toppled from his overall lead in the series. Tomorrows race HQ is Lisnagarvey Hockey club in Hillsborough, and there is no Youth racing. The race will cover 7 laps of the Hillsborough, Annahilt, Legacurry circuit, covering 100km.

On Sunday the NICF promote the Northern Ireland 10 mile time trial championships at Woodgreen (9am) and also on Sunday the Carrickmacross Cup event takes place at 11.30am.

Also on Sunday, in a change to the Handbook, Team Madigan will promote round four of the Mountain Bike Cross Country national Points Series at a new venue at Magheramourne, near Larne. First of the Youth races are off at 11.30am.

Ulster lads for Ireland call up.

The waiting is now over, and the selection events ended, with the news that Northern Ireland will field two riders in the three-man Ireland squad for the European Youth Olympics in Belgrade at the end of July. Bangors Stuart Henry and Armaghs Peter Williams impressed the selectors throughout the month of April, and following last weekends racing in Belgium, the final line-up was announced. The local duo will be joined by Mayos Charles Prendergast.  First up for these guys is the small matter of their GCSE exams, followed by another spell in the Sean Kelly academy in Belgium at the end of Jun

Youngsters show class at Ulster Championships

(Monday 14 May)

Three new Youth Champions were crowned at Hamiltonsbawn on Saturday where the Ulster Youth Road Championships, superbly run by the Orchard Wheelers club, saw the latest young cycling talent take centre stage on the County Armagh roads.

Damp showery conditions did not deter the youngsters from putting on a top class show, with each of the three races providing some close scraps.

Clann Eireann wonder girl Ciara Mulholland lifted the Under 12 title for the second year in a row, finishing with a clear distance between herself and runner up Mark Downey (Banbridge CC), with his team mate Daniel Runciman taking Bronze ahead of the winners brother, Declan.

The Under 14 event saw a thrilling four-rider sprint, with the promoting clubs Nathan Mehaffey taking the verdict. Newry`s Cormac Clarke prevented an Orchard 1-2, relegating Andrew Turner to the Bronze medal position with his final lunge to the line.

The feature under 16 race saw some of the pre-race favourites absent on international duty in Belgium. That did not detract from an exciting 25 mile race that saw a close two-up sprint for the line. In the closing kilometre six riders were in contention, with Bangor`s Craig Swinnteron leading out the dash to the line. With 100 metres to go Team Madigans David Neill nipped through to take Gold by a bikes length. Swinnerton held on for Silver with Emyvales Padraic Kane taking the final podium position.

Against the clock, three Irish 25 mile Time Trial records were broken in last Thursdays Dave kane-Ulster Time Trial League event at Woodgreen on the A26, with Hillsborough girl Heather Wilson (Maryland Wheelers) slicing a huge three minute chunk off the previous record set in 1991, recording an impressive 56.50. At both ends of the scale, Junior Thomas martin (Clann Eireann-Linen Green) reduced his own record to 53.58, whilst Veteran Gordon Scott (East Antrim-Audi) took team mate Jim McConnells record with 53.53.

Meanwhile in yesterdays Tour of the Mournes, Veteran Shaun Gray took a well deserved win following a hard 65 miles of racing around the undulating South Down roads. The full field stayed pretty much intact in the early stages, with a four man group gaining a small advantage after Banbridge. Pre-race favourite Conor McAllister moved across to join them, but the field were back together on the Cup and Saucer climb in to Castlewellan. Exiting the town, a 7-man group moved clear that included Veterans Tommy Wilson (Ballymena RC) Gray, Davy McCall (Maryland Whs) and first year senior Conor McAllister. By Rathfriland they had built an advantage of thirty five seconds, and the lead hovered at around the half minute mark for the loop round Hilltown and Kilcoo. Approaching Hilltown for the second time, with seven miles remaining, the bunch were bearing down on the leaders, and Gray, sensing the danger, took off on his own and held off the chasers in the closing miles with only metres to spare on the line back in Newry.

The sprint for second place went to Brendan Graham (VC Glendale) ahead of Lennie Kirk (Slane Cycles) and the promoting Club`s Peter McConville taking fourth.

Results

Ulster Youth Road Race Championships

Under 12     

1 Ciara Mulholland    (Clann Eireann-Linen Green)

2 Mark Downey         (Banbridge CC)

3 Daniel Runcieman             (Banbridge CC)

4 Declan Mulholland             (Clann Eireann- Linen Green)

5 Ryan Orr                  (Old Bleach)

Under 14

1 Nathan Mahaffey    (Orchard Wheelers)

2 Cormac Clarke      (Newry Wheelers)

3 Andrew Turner        (Orchard Wheelers)

4 Niall McAree           (Emyvale)

5 Rachel Mitchell       (North Down CC)

Under 16

1 David Neill              (Team Madigan)

2 Greg Swenarton     (North Down CC)

3 Pauric Kane                       (Emyvale)

4 Clive Lindsey          (East Tyrone)

5 Brendan Meenan   (Roe Valley)

Tour of the Mournes 65 miles (Sunday)

1          Shaun Gray (Orchard Wheelers)

2          B Graham (V.C. Glendale) @ 3 secs

3          L Kirk (Slane Cycles)

4          P McConville (Newry Wheelers)

5          B Kirk (Ards CC)

6          T Edgar (XMTB)

7          R Watters (Harps CC)

8          G Scott (East Antrim-Audi)

1st Junior Ronan Byrne (Newry Wheelers)

1st Unplaced Veteran Uel Cunningham (Team Bibsports)

Young Guns to Shine

(friday 11 May)

Yet another busy weekend is in prospect for Northern Ireland`s cyclists, with a host of events to chose from both `home and away`.

The scheduled Northern Ireland Senior Road Championship has been postponed until Saturday 2 June due to the congested roads expected in conjunction with the North West 200 around the proposed route in County Antrim. Unfortunately that leaves no events for first category riders in Ulster this weekend, a disappointment to those preparing for the FBD Ras 8-day stage race that gets underway in Naas next Sunday.

Tomorrows feature is the Ulster Youth Road Championships at Hamiltonsbawn, however with a number of top riders missing it will make for some interesting racing. Stuart Henry (North Down CC) and Peter Williams from the promoting Orchard Wheelers are both absent form the feature Under 16 event, both part of the six man squad off to Belgium today for a weeks final selection training for the Youth Olympics in July. Also missing from the Under 16s is XMTBs Johnny Beers; he and a number of other Youth riders, including Under 14 hot favourite Jack Wilson are off with the Ulster Mountain Bike squad to a British Championship series event in Nottingham.

That leaves the way open for a new Under 16 Champion to emerge, and that could be in the shape of new kid on the block, Johnny Cole from Team Madigan. He showed impressive form and tenacity in last weekends Corkman 3-day by getting in to a stage winning move with Eamon O`Neill from Fermoy. Unfortunately both were brought down by a stray dog on the circuit, however Cole remounted to win the stage in fine solo fashion.

Henry once again dominated the 3-day race in Newmarket, holding the leaders Yellow Jersey until the final stage where arch rival Charles Prendergast nipped through to pip him on the line. Six riders are now off to Belgium for a week in the Sean Kelly house, where the final three for the Ireland Youth Olympic team will be selected. The six are Henry (North Down CC) Peter Williams (Orchard Wheelers) Charles Prendergast (Connacht) Axel O`Connor (Leinster) Mark Fitzsimmons (Leinster) Conor Campbell

Tomorrows Youth Championships start at 1pm from Hamiltonsbawn and will take in an undulating seven mile circuit. 

The Seniors get their turn on Sunday with the Tour of the Mournes 100 km event starting at noon from Newry Hocky Club. Not open to first category riders, it could be a chance for some of the young guns to shine yet again.

Banbridge Junior Sean Downey will be pretty much on home ground as the race takes shape from Newry through Poyntpass, Scarva, Gilford, Banbridge, Castlewellan, Kilcoo, Rathfriland, Hilltown, Kilcoo, Rathfriland and Hilltown, before ending back in Newry. He could be challenged by first year senior rider Conor McAllister (Ballymena Road Club), the Glenarm rider showing some fine form this season, with wins already in the Sean McGreevy Memorial at Dromore and the John Moore Memorial in Carryduff. It could be a family affair, with Conors younger brother Leo, a first year Junior, also keen to get in on the action, having already finished fourth in the recent Bann Valley Classic. An expected full field will all be keen to get their hands on the £100 first prize, accompanied by the Jim Traynor Memorial trophy.

For the off-roaders, the third round of the National Points Series takes place on Sunday at Carlingford, with the HQ at the Sleive Foy forest park on the Omeath Road. The Youth event will get underway at 11.30am.

For the leisure cyclist, there are two events on offer on Sunday, the Island Wheelers Four County Tour at Coalisland, and Dromara CC`s Coastal Tour.

The four county tour covers 90 miles and takes in the climbs of Saint Patricks Chair and Well. The start time is 10am and the HQ is Gortgonis sports complex in Coalisland.

The Dromara coastal event participants have a choice of either 90 or 125km, leaving Dormara FC ground at 9.30am. The route takes in most of the South Down coastline and shores of Stangford Lough

King Connor of Ulster

(tue 8 May)

Ahoghill`s Ryan Connor (Giant Asia) ran out winner of the weekends Omagh Sports Forum Tour of Ulster 3-day stage race, despite being part of a major spill on the final stage yesterday (Monday).

Connor took over the leaders Yellow Jersey following Sundays second stage when he and Banbridge`s Roger Aiken (Armagh – Big Picture Developments) decimated the field to take over two minutes out of their nearest challengers.

Earlier on Saturday, Ardsman Martyn Irvine took the opening 90 mile stage having been part of a nine rider break that finished two minutes twenty three seconds ahead of the field. Most of the pre-race favourites were in the decisive move, with Manxman Andy Roche finishing runner up and Connor seventh across the line.  

Sunday mornings sixty mile hilly route saw Connor and Aiken attack the field, and forge a two minute advantage going in to the final climb at Gortin. On the final one-mile climb, Connor moved ahead and on the line had a twenty two second advantage over Aiken, who took over the lead in the King of the Mountains competition.

Later on Sunday the remaining one hundred competitors tackled a two point five mile Time trial on the Dromore road, with Armagh`s Stephen Gallagher (Orchard Wheelers) taking the stage win with an impressive 31.37mph average speed. Connor finished third on the stage to go in to yesterdays final stage with a comfortable two minute forty three second advantage over the Isle of Man`s Roche and Gallagher a further nine seconds back.

The wheels almost came off for Connor, literally, when he was one of several riders who came down in a spill yesterday outside Castlederg following a torrential downpour that saw a motorcycle marshall fall, bringing down a number of riders, including the Yellow Jersey, who damaged his bike. Being a professional, Connor had a spare bike on the service car, and remounted to give chase to the bunch. Fellow professionals in the bunch, marshalled by Richhills Stephen Gallagher,  eased the pace to sportingly allow the crash-affected riders to regain the bunch, where the racer was once again on.

A group of nine riders finally moved clear,  but none were in contention for the overall classification to cause Connor any further worries. On the run in to the finish at Omagh, Conor Murphy (Usher IRC) and Paul Griffin (Giant Asia) moved ahead with Murphy taking the stage victory on the line. Emyvale’s Paul Brady led in the remainder of the break for 3rd spot edging out Paddy Moriarty (Dublin Wheelers) and Stephen O’Sullivan (myhome.ie). Connor was safely in the chasing bunch to secure the overall win with a two minute thirty six second advantage over Giant-Asia team mate Paul Griffin with Manxman Andy Roche dropping to third spot.

The King of the Mountains classification went to Aiken, with the Under twenty three jersey going to Dubliner Derek Burke ahead of Northern CC`s Adam Armstrong, with early Yellow Jersey wearer Martyn Irvine third.

Connor was jubilant after the race, praising the organisers, PSNI and in particular his fellow riders who did not capitalise on his misfortune on the final stage. He went on to add,

“I am privileged to join an elite group of riders - Billy Kerr, Phil Cassidy and Tommy Evans - who have won both the Tour of the North and the Tour of Ulster. However, those three also have the Ras and the Irish Road Race Championships on their palmares and these will be my next targets". A clear reference that the diminutive Ballymena man intends to be in contention for the FBD Insurance Ras that gets underway from Naas on the 20th of this month.

The organisers of this event recently announced that teams from USA, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Denmark, Germany, Australia and Iran will be taking part.

OMAGH Sports Forum Tour of Ulster

Stage 1 (Omagh-Omagh Saturday)

1 Martyn Irvine   Ards C.C.     90 miles in   3hrs  18min  24sec

2Andrew Roche Isle of Man          @01"

3 Adam Armstrong   Northern/Dave Kane @ same time

4 Stephen Gallagher        Orchard Whs.                s.t. 

5 Sean Lacey    Murphy & Gunn

6 Derek Burke   Murphy & Gunn 

7 Ryan Conor    Giant Asia  

8 Scott McDonald    myhome.ie `A` 

9 Daire McCaughley Armagh -  Big Picture Dev. @ 8 sec

10 Paul Griffin Giant Asia             @02min 23sec

Stage 2 (Omagh – Gortin Sunday)

1 Ryan Connor 60 miles in 2hrs-21min 06sec

2 R. Aiken                 @ 22”

3 P Griffin              @ 2’15”

4 A Roche             @ 2’23”

5 C Murphy           @ 2’31”

6. P Moriarty            @ s/t

Stage 3 (Omagh Time Trial Sunday)

1 Stephen Gallagher Orchard Whs. 4.46.

2 R McLaughlin   Total Cycling   4.50

3 R Conor     Giant Asia   4.53

4 P Brady Emyvale/McQuaid       4.58

5 N DelahayeUsher/Irish RC. A Team       5.00

6 A Armstrong Northern/Dave Kane 5.01

Stage 4 (Omagh Monday)

1. Conor Murphy 65 Miles 2.30.09

2.  Griffin     same time

3. P Brady     @ 35sec

4. P Moriarty s.t.

5. S O’Sullivan     s.t.

6. S Lacey     s.t.

Final Overall General Classification

1. Ryan Connor    (Giant Asia)         8hrs16min 53sec

2. Paul Griffin         (Giant Asia)     @ 2-36

3. Andrew Roche (Isle of Man       @ 2-43

4. Stephen Gallagher (Orchard Wheelers)      @ 2-52

5. Derek Burke    (Murphy & Gunn)   @ 3-18

6. Miceal Concannon (Kerry- Earl of Desmond)    @ 3-40

7. Conor Murphy (Usher IRC)      @ 4-16

8. Adam Armstrong    (Northern-Dave Kane Cycles) @ 4-34

9. Paddy Moriarty       (Dublin Wheelers) @ 4-50

10. Sean Lacey   (Murphy & Gunn)   @ 5-20

Under 23

Burke

King of the Mountains

Aiken

Tour of Ulster comes to the West

(friday 4 May)

The West of the province will play host to this weekends big stage race, the UCPC promoted Tour of Ulster. The three day-four stage event will be based in and around Omagh and boasts a full field of 120 riders that will line up for the 220 mile event.

Getting underway tomorrow from Omagh Leisure Centre at 11.45 the 90 mile stage goes via Fintona (Sionfin) Fivemiletown, Augher, Aughnacloy, Dungannon, Cookstown anf Gortin Glen before finishing back at Omagh Primary School.

Sunday sees two stages, starting with a 60 miler again leaving from Omagh Leisure Centre at 11am with a route that includes four climbs, all within the final the final 30 miles and finishing with a hill top finish at Gortin. The stage passes through Drumquin, Castlederg, Strabane, Artigarvian and Donamana, Plumbridge and on to Gortin with the finish just outside the town on a tough climb. The afternoon will see the riders tackle a 2.5 mile individual Time Trial on the Dromore Road starting at 5pm.

The finale on Monday from Omagh to Omagh is relatively flat stage with only two climbs. At 65 miles should be a fast stage, and from the HQ at Omagh Leisure Centre the route passes through Drumquin and Castlederg to the first climb of the day at 16 miles then through Killen to the last climb of the race at 22 miles, then onto Ederney, Kesh, Ballinmallard and Dromore,, with the finish just outside Omagh on the Dromore Road. Start time is 11am.

There is a top class field headed by last years winner Ray Clarke (Dan Morrissey – Carrick Whs) He will be up against a tough Manx team squad by Team Pinarello RT rider Andrew Roche, with the local challenge being led by Ballymena`s Ryan Connor and Ards man Martyn Irvine, back from a stint with the Sean Kelly squad in Belgium. Also from South of the Border, Brian Keneally is on top form, and heads the myhome.ie squad. Neil Delahaye, no stranger to racing in the North having finished runner up in the Wallace Caldwell Memorial and third in the Tour of the North at Easter, leads the Usher Insulations Irish Road Club entry.

There will be a hotly contested Under 23 category, with Irvine and fellow Ards man Adam Armstrong (Northern CC), third in last weekends Coombs Connor classic also in the running along with  Lurgans Michael Murray (Clann Eireann-Linen Green)  Emyvale’s Paul Brady and Meath pair Ciaran Cassidy and Tim O’Reagan

Main Sponsors for the 2007 event include Omagh Sports Forum, the Sports Council for NI, Gallen Vehicle Hire, The Irish News, and NIE Your Energy.

For those not involved with the Tour of Ulster, the Corkman 3-day in Kanturk is a popular alternative with youth riders in contention for the Youth Olympic squad riding this as the final selection race for places on the Ireland team.

Two other top Youth competitors are heading to the Isle of Man this weekend for the International Youth Tour which gets underway this evening with a prologue along Douglas Promenade. Jack Wilson (East Antrim-Audi) will be one of the pre-race favourites in the Under 14 category, whilst Rachel Mitchell (North Down CC) will be in a unique girls only category that sees over 40 girls from around the UK entered.

For the non-competitive, on bank holiday Monday the Castlereagh Club are holding their sixth annual Tour of the Glens Leisure ride which leaves Belfast City Hall at 8am to cover 200km around the Antrim coast.

Track action gets underway for 2007 at Orangefield in Balfast on Tuesday evening. The opening fixture will be for accreditation & training with the Belfast Track League commencing a week later. Start time is 7pm.

Dromara Destroyer.

(Monday 30 April)

One of the youngest Clubs in the province had cause for celebration at the weekend when Dromara CC`s s David McKnight claimed the first ever Open race victory for his club when he won the Groucho`s Bar Grand Prix at Richhill on Saturday.

This inaugural event, superbly organised by Orchard Wheelers, attracted a large field and with no first category riders allowed, it made for a tough days racing. The East Antrim-Audi squad were active in a number of early attacks, with veteran Gordon Scott, Ben  Morrow, Kieran McKenna and Jim McConnell all putting in big efforts, but despite the rolling nature of the course all breaks were pulled back by the main bunch who rode consistently hard all day to stay together.

It was on the final run in to Richhill that the race really broke up, with riders faced two long climbs before crossing the finishing line in the middle of the village. In the end it was McKinght who broke away in the closing miles to solo home to a well deserved victory.

The thirty-six year-old vehicle technician from Dromore has been looking strong and riding aggressively all season, and on Saturday his efforts finally paid off. Dubliner Aidan Yates (Usher IRC) finished runner up some 20 seconds later edging out Tony Hare (Apollo RT) Shaun Gray (Orchard Wheelers), Kieran McKenna (East Antrim) and Mike Millar (Castlereagh - Mattest) who completed the top six.

On Sunday Ballymena Road Clubs Liam Nelson claimed a superb victory in the Bann Valley Classic at Clady. Nelson along with team-mate Tommy Wilson, back in action after his Tour of the North spill, attacked from the start and rode clear of the 80 strong field. The pair stayed out in front for over 40 miles at one stage had opened up a one minute advantage. However, in the closing 10 miles the duo were reeled in by a small chasing group but Nelson still had the strength to win a close sprint from Phoenix CC`s John Neill and John Scott (Orchard Wheelers). Glenarm teenager Leo McAllister (Ballymena) finished 4th and was first Junior edging out Veteran Jim McConnell (East Antrim) and Kirk Sloan (Ards CC).

Meanwhile at Drogheda yesterday, the country`s top youth were in action again competing for places in July`s European Youth Olympics. Northern Ireland again had a good day, scoring a 1-2 in a bunch finish.

Orchard Wheeler Peter Williams took the verdict ahead of Bangor`s Stuart Henry (North Down CC) and Charles Prendergast (Mayo Whs) third. The final event in the selection process takes place this coming weekend with the Corkman 3-day in Kanturk. Local hopes must be high with Henry finishing no lower than third in any event, winning one with Williams also victorious in two counters.

RESULTS: Groucho`s Grand Prix – Richhill (Saturday)

1.         David McKnight (Dromara CC)

2.         A Yates (Usher IRC)

3.         T Hare (Apollo CT)

4.         S Gray (Orchard Wheelers)

5.         K McKenna (East Antrim-Audi)

6.         M Millar (Castlereagh CC – Mattest)

Bann Valley Classic Clady, Portglenone (Sunday)

1.Liam Nelson (Ballymena - Scott Tiles)

2.J Neill (Phoenix CC)

3.J Scott (Orchard Wheelers)

4.L McAllister (Ballymena-Scott Tiles)

5. J McConnell (East Antrim-Audi)

6. K Sloan (Ards CC)

Henry on Olympic Trail

(Friday 27 April)

Bangor lad Stuart Henry continues his quest to make it on to the three man Ireland team for the forthcoming European Youth Olympics in July when he competes in the fourth selection race at Drogheda at the weekend.

The Coombes Connor memorial will see the cream of Irelands Youth Cyclists compete for the three places on the Olympic squad, and so far the sixteen year-old North Down CC rider has finished third, second and first respectively in the three selection races. Last week he scored an emphatic solo win in the John Beggs memorial event, acknowledged as one of the toughest courses in the country. Things are looking good for the Regent House GCSE student, and after Sundays event the selection procedure moves to Cork next weekend for the Corkman three-day stage race following which the selectors will choose six candidates to stay at the Sean Kelly academy in Belgium for a week where the final three man selection for the trip to Serbia at the end of July will be made.

Other Northern riders in the running include Armagh rider Peter Williams (Orchard Wheelers) and XMTBs Johnny Beers from Antrim. Mayo rider Charles Prendergast would appear to be their biggest rival, having won at the Stamullen GP and finished runner up to Henry at Dromore last week.

Meanwhile with only a week to go to the off in the three day Tour of Ulster, entries have closed with a full fieldfor the Omagh based stage race.  Last years winner Ray Clarke from the Dan Morrissey/Carrick Wheelers squad is back to defend his title, and Former Ras winner Andrew Roche, third in last weekends Shay Elliott Memorial, will be competing on the Isle of Man team. Murphy & Gunn/Newlyn Group professional Stephen Gallagher from Richhill, recovering from a broken wrist sustained from a crash at Grand Prix Lillers in France, is riding for Orchard Wheelers and will also be in contention for overall victory.

The first stage next Saturday will be a 90-miler around the events base in Omagh followed by two stages on Sunday, a sixty mile road stage and a 2.5 mile time trial on the Dromore road ending with a sixty five mile stage on Bank Holiday Monday.

Locally this weekends action gets underway tomorrow with the Groucho`s Grand Prix promoted by the Orchard Wheelers, sponsored by and starting at Groucho`s bar in Richhill. The 55 mile race starts at 1pm and caters for all categories except Youth. There is a £100 first prize up for grabs, and prizes for the first 8.

Sunday sees the Bann Valley Classic. Starting at 2pm, the event excludes first category and Youth riders and starts at the Ballymacombes Rd / Downings Rd junction.

Round one of the Irish MTB Cross Country Points series takes place on Sunday at Glenarm Forest, promoted by the East Antrim-Audi Club. Youth races get underway at 11.30am, with the first Senior event at 1.30pm

Roger & Out !!

(Monday 23 April)

It was a case of pre-fancied home rider, former Giant Asia professional Roger Aiken, using home ground knowledge to his advantage in Saturdays John Beggs memorial race at Dromore. And what an advantage ! the Banbridge man decimated the quality field to solo to victory with six and a half minutes to spare over his nearest rival, Stamullens Frank O`Connor.

In the early stages of the one hundred and ten kilometre race, over seven laps of a gruelling nine point two mile circuit, the red and silver Audi train dominated the proceedings with no fewer than five riders in a decisive eight man break that seemed to have the race sewn up. Jonathan Dempsey (East Antrim – Audi), making a belated start to the season, moved clear of the break, and for a time it looked like the big Draperstown man would stay away, but in the closing three laps Aitken made the move across to the break, catching them through the finish line and riding straight through in pursuit of Dempsey. The pair stayed together briefly before Aiken took off on his own and set about building up an unassailable advantage.

At the line Aiken had a huge margin to spare before Stamullens Frank O`Connor came through six minutes thirty six seconds later. The remainder of the original breakaway came through in ones and twos, with Gary Cranston (East Antrim) taking third.

There was cause for family celebration in the supporting Sean McGreevy event, with first year Senior rider Conor McAllister taking the verdict, having ridden strongly with seasoned Veteran Jim McConnell for much of the race. McAllister stormed away in the closing miles to win by almost half a minute, with McConnell almost falling in to the clutches of first year Junior duo Peter Wilson (Maryland Wheelers) and Conors younger brother Leo. McConnell just held them off to take second with Wilson and the younger McAllister brother taking third and fourth respectively.

In the European Youth Olympic selection race for under sixteens, Bangors Stuart Henry edged closer to taking one of the three places on the Ireland team with a dominant display that saw him finish alone with half a minute to spare over Mayo rival Charles Prendergast. The pair had carved out a decisive lead together, but Henry showed his superior form to leave Prendergast on the final lap to win by a comfortable thirty seconds. Third place went to Orchard Wheelers Peter Williams.

Sundays John Moore Memorial event at Carryduff again saw the young guns to the fore, with Ballymena`s Conor McAllister completing a weekend double when he headed a trio of youngsters that clipped off the front in the closing mile to secure victory. They had been part of a limit group that received a three minute handicap, which the first category riders never looked like closing. McAllister, a first year Senior rider outsprinted Junior Peter Wilson (Marylland Wheelers) with Thomas Martin (Clann Eireann – Linen Green) taking third.

With the Youngsters jubilant `up North` it was the turn of the Veterans `down South` with class Yorkshireman Malcolm Elliott (Pinarello RT) taking the win in Irelands biggest one-day classic, the Shay Elliott Memorial. The former top professional, a sprightly 45 and still mixing it on the British domestic scene took victory in a sprint finish over Paddy Griffin (Giant Asia) with 2006 winner Andrew Roche (Pinarello RT) third. Ulster`s Ryan Connor took fourth place, with Australian Nathan Jones riding for Ocrhard Wheelers taking 8th.

Result John Beggs Memorial 65 miles (Sat)

1          Roger Aiken              Banbridge CC           2 hours 56min 56 seconds

2          Frank O`Connor        Stamullen-M Donnelly                       @ 6.36

3          GaryCranston            East Antrim-Agnew Audi                  @ 7.08

4          J Dempsey                EA-Audi                                             @7.56

5          P Mulligan                  Usher-IRC                                          @8.24

6          B Morrow                   EA-Audi                                             same time

7          K McKenna                EA-Audi                                             s.t.

8          S Mulvaney                Stamullen                                           @14.31

Result SeanMcGreevy Memorial 48 miles

1          Conor McAllister       Ballymena Road Club-Scott            2.10.06

2          Jim McConnell           East Antrim-Audi                               @28 sec

3          Peter Wilson              Maryland Whs                                    @30 sec

4          L McAllister                Ballymena RC                                   same time

5          David McKnight         Dromara CC                                      @1.20

6          Tony Boyle                 Slane Cycles                                     @1.35

Under 16s

1          Stuart Henry               North Down CC

2          C Prendergast           Mayo Whs

3          P Williams                  Orchard Whs

4          S Carolan                   Covey  Whs

5          M Fitzsmmons           Newbridge

6          A O`Connor               Laois

Under 14 - Jack Wilson    East Antrim - Audi  

Under 12 - Ciara Mulholland Clann Eireann - Linen Green                               

John Moore Memorial (Sunday) Carryduff 70km

1          Conor McAllister       Ballymena RC-Scotts           1 hr 45min 27 sec

2          P Wilson                     Maryland Whs                        same time

3          T Martin                      Clann Eireann-Linen Green s.t.

4          D McCall                    Maryland Whs                        @ 12 sec

5          G Scott                       East Antrim-Audi                               s.t.

6          M Brown                     Phoenix CC                                       s.t.

Murphy & Gunn Shay Elliott Memorial (Sunday) 161 Km. Bray

1          Malcolm Elliott           Pinarello RT                           3 hrs 57min 50sec

2          P Griffin                      Giant Asia                              @ 3 secs

3          A Roche                     Pinarello RT                           @ 13 sec

4          R Connor                    Ulster                                      @ 1.46

5          S McDonald               Myhome.ie                             same time

6          N Delahaye                Usher-IRC                              @1.57

Busy weekend for racing cyclists

(Friday 20 April 2007)

One of the big events on the Northern Ireland  cycling calendar, the John Beggs Memorial takes place tomorrow at Dromore promoted by the Banbridge CC, in yet another busy weekend of racing for Ulster cyclists.

Last years winner, Ryan Connor (Ballymena Road Club) is  home from his triumph in the Tour of Malta, but is saving his efforts for Sundays Shay Elliot Memorial International, where he will head a five-man Ulster team.

Another big name absent tomorrow is 2006 runner-up Adam Armstrong off on International duty with the Sean Kelly squad in the amateur Liege-Bastogne-Leige and Tour of Picardy.

That could leave the way open for last Sundays McCann Cup winner, John Neill (Phoenix CC) to take the honours, but he will have to keep an eye on the young guns, with first year Senior rider Simon Williams (Orchard Wheelers) showing good form. Local man Roger Aiken (Banbridge CC) may have the advantage of local knowledge in what should be a full field race, with some Southern clubs making the journey to Dromore. The A race for first and second category riders will cover seven laps of the undulating nine mile circuit, whilst the third category, Junior and Veteran riders will race over five laps for the Sean McGreevy trophy. Local lad Sean Downey (Banbridge CC) lives on the circuit, and following his superb showing in the Tour of the North, must start as favourite in this event.

The Under 16 Youth event will see Bangor’s Stuart Henry continue his quest for Ireland selection for the European Youth Olympics in July. Tomorrows event is the third counting selection race, with Henry having finished third and second in the first rounds. Also in the running are Orchard Wheelers` Peter Williams and XMTB rider Johnny Beers.

All tomorrows events get underway at Noon, with sign-on at the Scout Hall on the Ballynahinch Rd, Dromore opening at 10am.

One of the biggest one day events in Ireland takes place on Sunday when Bray Wheelers promote the Shay Elliott memorial event. Named after the first Irish man, and first English speaker, to wear the Tour De France’s Yellow Jersey, the `Elliott` is the biggest single day event in Ireland. For the 50th running of the event, formerly known as the Ruute de Chill Mhuain, the organisers have provided a 2,000 Euro prize funds, and top UK squads Pinarello Racing Team, led by 2006 winner Andrew Roche and Sportscover-Planet X have announced their participation.

Ryan Connor will head an Ulster squad that includes Paul Brady (Emmyvale CC), Paul Vaughan (Maryland Whs), Glen Kinning (Castlereagh CC) and Tim Edgar (XMTBCC) The action in the 160km event gets underway at 10.30am from Bray in Co Wicklow.

Also on Sunday Castlereagh CC promote the John Moore Memorial, being held over a new course at Temple. Covering five laps of an 11.5 mile circuit, HQ is the Lough Moss Leisure Centre at Carryduff. Start time is Noon.

The final round of the K-Capital Mountain Bike Series takes place on Sunday, with XMTB promoting at the excellent Castlewellan Forest venue at Noon.

On the leisure front, on Sunday Slieve Gullion Wheelers are holding their 80km Carlingford Tour starting at 10am from Silverbridge GFC Clubrooms at Fords Cross, 16 miles from Newry on the B30  

Ward leads Usher to Cicli 1-2

(Monday 16 April 2007)

Teamwork was the order of the day at Saturday`s Cicli Grand Prix promoted by the East Tyrone Club at Moneymore. Two local lads riding for the Dublin based Usher Insulations - Irish Road Club dominated the proceedings, with Antrim`s Matt Ward taking his first win of the year.

Split in to three groups, the Scratch riders had a 7-minute defecit to make up, and with two laps remaining they had made contact with the front runners. On the penultimate lap, Ward and team mate Peter Hawkins made their move, and having opened up a gap, worked well to the finish where they had opened up a one minute advantage over California-based Gary Scott. First year Junior Peter Wilson (Maryland Wheelers) led the chasers home to take the sprint for 4th place.

Meanwhile over the weekend all eyes were on Under 16 Youth riders at Stamullen competing for three places on the Ireland squad for the forthcoming European Youth Olympics in Serbia. Saturdays Monie Nolan Memorial event was the first selection race, followed by yesterdays Stamullen GP.

On Saturday the Ulster lads dominated the proceedings, taking a 1-2-3 in a bunch finish. Sprint specialist Peter Williams (Orchard Wheelers) took the verdict ahead of Johnny Beers (XMTBCC) with Stuart Henry (North Down CC) third.

Yesterdays event saw more attacking, with Henry instigating a move that split the field on the second lap. Initially seven riders moved clear, with this quickly brought down to four. At the finish Connaught lad Charlie Prendergast (Mayo Wheelers) edged the sprint from Henry, with Mark Fitzsimmons (Remax) third and Axel O`Connor (Laois CC) 4th. Simon Williams led the chasers in two and a half minutes down for fifth spot.

The selection hunt now moves to Dromore this Saturday for the Sean McGreevy Memorial event, with the Ulster lads well placed for at least one of the three places on the Ireland squad for July.

Further afield, Cycling Ulsters squad dominated this weeks Tour of Malta, with Ballymena`s Ryan Connor leading from start to finish, having decimated the field in the opening 18 mile Time Trial. He took the lead by a massive two and a half minutes, and was dominant throughout the race, also taking a solo win on stage two and three. Maryland Wheelers rider Paul Vaughan rode a strong race to end up second overall, despite finishing stage two on foot, having broken his pedal !

Results -

Cicli Sport GP (Moneymore Saturday) 56 miles

1    Matt Ward                Usher - Irish Road Club         2 hrs 21min 55 sec

2    P Hawkins               Usher -IRC                                same time

3    G Scott                    Team Velocity USA                 @ 1 minute

4    P Wilson                  Maryland Whs                           @ 1.13

5    A Armstrong           Northern CC - D Kane                  s.t.

6    T Martin                   Clann Eireann-Linen Green         s.t.

Cicli Sport Youth races

U 16

1    Clive Lindsay        East Tyrone CC

2    R Magwood          East Tyrone CC

U14

1    Jack Wilson        East Antrim - Audi

2    Rachel Mitchell   North Down CC

U12

1    Ciara Mulholland        Clann Eireann

2    Lauren Elliott              Orchard Whs

Beginner Youth

1    Declan Mulholland     Clann Eireann

2    G Burns                       East Tyrone CC

Monie Nolan Youth Selection Race - Stamullen (Sat)

1st Peter Williams, Orchard Whlrs.

2nd Johnny Beers, XMTB

3rd Stuart Henry, North Down CC

4th Charlie Prendergast, Mayo Whlrs.

5th Benner Maguire, Drogheda Whlrs.

6th Mark Fitzsimons, Ena Loakman Remax

Stamullen GP Youth Selection Race (Sun)

1    C Prendergast        Mayo Whs

2    S Henry                   North Down CC

3    M Fitzsimmons      Remax

4    A O`Connor            Laois CC

5    P Williams              Orchard Whs

McCann Cup (Coalisland) Sunday

1    John Neill    Phoenix CC

2    S Williams  Orchard Whs

3    L Kirk          Slane Cycles

4    D McCall    Maryland Whs

5    A Hare        Apollo RT

6    R Dunlop    Lakeland CC

Armstrong on form for weekend win

(Fri 13 April 2007)

Racing cyclists  are spolied for choice this weekend, with two events in the `North` and two in the `South` to whet their appetite.

The Cicli Sport Grand Prix is the big race tomorrow, and folliwing last weekends P&O Tour of the North, tomorrow will see who has come out of it with any form.

Adam Petrie-Armstrong (Northern CC-Dave Kane Cycles) could be a tip for the top, the 19 yearold Newtownards man undertaking a busy period, riding the Cicli tomorrow, heading to the Stamullen GP on Sunday and off to Belgium on Monday to compete in the amatuer Leige-Bastogne-Leige & Tour of Picardy in France for the Sean Kelly squad, alongside fellow `Ards man Matryn Irvine.

Tomorrows race will be a handicap, which may work out in favour of either the Veteran or Junior riders. Should the top men fail to make up the defecit, Banbridge teenager Sean Downey could well take the honours, repeating his win at the start of the season at Annaclone. Top Veteran Shaun Grey, a withdrawl from the Tour of the North due to a family bereavement, is also on form and may be the man to watch.

With Ryan Connor heading an Ulster team in the Tour of Malta, and last years Cicli winner Martyn Irvine in Belgium, there is all to play for in this popular 90 mile handicap event. The action gets underway at Noon, with sign-on at CNC components on the main Coagh-Loup B181 road. Youth racing will get underway with a beginner event at 10am.

Sunday sees Omagh Wheelers promote the McCann Cup event that excludes first catrgory riders.  Racing gets underway at 1pm, with sign-on open from Noon at the Halfway House, Carnlea Rd. Last years event was won by South African visitor, Adrian Pretorious, riding for the Murphy & Gunn squad.

South of the border the action will be at Stamullen,  just South of Drogheda where on Saturday the Monie Nolan memorial getting underway at 11am for Youth and 12.15pm for Seniors. On Sunday the same club promote the Stamullen Grand Prix for all categories.

Both these events will form part of the selection for the upcoming European Youth Olympics in Serbia in July, with local riders Stuart Henry (North Down CC) Johnny Beers (XMTB) and Peter Williams (Orchard Wheelers) all in the running. The three man squad is likely to be selected following the Corkman 3-day event next month, however so far this year Henry has ran out the winner of two time trial training events.

For cyclists seeking a more leisurely pace, with a chance to take in the beauty of the area, then The Four Masters Club have the Knockalla Tour on Sunday, beginning at 9.30 am. Sign on is at the Letterkenny Community Centre from 8.30 am.

Cycling News 2007...

Home

Home

Home

Read all the Cycling News in the News Letter every Friday & Monday