Bann Valley Classic race was a real Sizzler!

THE Sizzlers Wine Bar-sponsored Bann Valley Classic road race took place recently, with large numbers arriving for the sign on at Clady hall from before noon.

By the 1.45pm departure time arrived the was a jovial atmosphere in the bright sunshine making the occasion as colourful as any Pro tour start on the continent.

With the event being run as ‘A’ and ‘B’ races the two groups were started from the Downings Road with a small time gap.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The ‘A’ race over eight laps of the course developed rapidly with an 11-man group breaking away at about mid distance.

This was to be the move of the day as they managed to steadily increase their lead to a maximum of two minutes and 20 seconds and by the final lap it was clear that a bunch sprint would decide the race. At the line it was Niall Shannon (Phoenix CC) who took the sprint with Kyle Cromie (Bann Wheelers) in second and Darren Weir (Dromara CC) in third .

Meanwhile the ‘B’ race maintained the bunch all the way through until the last lap when with about 1.5km to go the was a major crash on a straight stretch of road when almost half the bunch were on the ground or at least severely held up, this led to a small and disintegrated sprint which was won by Stephen McAllister (Ballymoney CC) taking a first win for the reformed club. The home club were delighted with a superb second place for Dean McElfatrick with East Tyrone’s Brian McComb in third.

Apart from Dean's success, Martin Robb won the Bann Valley club prize, with John McElderry in second and Adrian McPeake third. Ellie Forrest was presented with a prize for second lady overall.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Bann Valley Road Club has thanked all of those club members and others who helped make the day run smoothly and safely.

George and all the marshals, Neil who provided medical cover and did an amazing job at the scene of the accident on the last lap of the A4 race, Pauline and those who organised the tea and refreshments before and afterwards, the DRD in Magherafelt who kindly filled the potholes on the course and of course all the competitors who took part in the races.

Meanwhile, the second round of Bann Valley’s AWT Refrigeration-sponsored ten mile time trial league took place last Tuesday.

On a cold and windy evening 24 competitors were pushed off at minute intervals into the strong head wind which severely tested the early season legs. Most of the riders returned times up to two minutes slower than the previous week.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The winner was Ballymena Road Club’s Stephen Workman, the only rider to get into the 23 minute period with a time of 23.48. East Tyrone’s David Barton a regular winner on the Kilrea Road came second with a time of 24.27, while Carn Wheelers’ Gerry Kelly took a good third place with a time of 25minutes and 2 seconds.

The remaining times were: John McElderry (BVRC) 25.02; Dean McElfatrick (BVRC) 25.14; Martin Robb (BVRC) 25.33; Michael Carroll (BVRC) 26.29; Trevor Reid (BVRC) 26.42; Mervyn Seffen (ETCC) 26.51; Darren Crawford (BRC) 27.24; N Smith (27.52); Aidan Donnelly (BVRC) 28.01; Elle Forrest (BVRC) 28.05; Sean McNicholl (BVRC) 28.29; Alan Donegan (BVRC) 28.33; David Strang (BVRC) 28.38; Martin McKernan (BRC) 28.51; Sean Kelly (BVRC) 29.08; W Convery (29.33); Sean Boardman (BVRC) 29.35; Eugene McGovern (BVRC) 29.55; Declan Maguire (BVRC) 30.34; Pat Ludlow (OB) 31.15; Martin Bradley (BVRC) 31.20.