Close finish at Broughshane proves Taylor-made for Karl

Ballymena Road Club – Chain Reaction Cycles – held their annual Sammy Connor cup road race, as part of the Northstone sponsored club race series, at Broughshane last Wednesday night.
14 June 2014; Billy Collins, Monasterevin, Co. Kildare, Team Leinster, right, hands the shuttlecock to Scott Fell, Bray, Co. Wicklow, Eastern Region, during their Division 8 Badminton match. Special Olympics Ireland Games, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick.  Picture credit: Diarmuid Greene / SPORTSFILE14 June 2014; Billy Collins, Monasterevin, Co. Kildare, Team Leinster, right, hands the shuttlecock to Scott Fell, Bray, Co. Wicklow, Eastern Region, during their Division 8 Badminton match. Special Olympics Ireland Games, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick.  Picture credit: Diarmuid Greene / SPORTSFILE
14 June 2014; Billy Collins, Monasterevin, Co. Kildare, Team Leinster, right, hands the shuttlecock to Scott Fell, Bray, Co. Wicklow, Eastern Region, during their Division 8 Badminton match. Special Olympics Ireland Games, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. Picture credit: Diarmuid Greene / SPORTSFILE

Thirty two riders lined up at Houston’s mill and they were all set off together in a mass start, non-handicapped group.

There were numerous attacks during the three laps of the “Sheddings” circuit with veteran Tommy Wilson in the lead for over one lap before being re-caught.

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Simon Taggart led narrowly after the climb from the Sheddings on the last lap but he too was re-caught at the Beech trees on the final approach to the Broughshane finish, where Karl Taylor came past decisively and held off the sprinting pack to win the race.

This was Karl’s first club road race win and he picked a great event to register that first victory in, as he will wear the Ballymena Road Club road race champion’s jersey next season.

Ryan Bankhead, who dominated the club’s scratch road racing three race mini-series earlier in the season, had to be content with second place this time out while veteran Alan Blair registered an excellent third place. Best of the ladies was Eileen Burns, who rode strongly throughout the 33 miles event, and finished seventh.

Results (1) Karl Taylor 1 hour 18 minutes 42 seconds (2) Ryan Bankhead (3) Alan Blair (4) Quinton McFall (5) Gary Reid (6) Stephen Smyth (7) Eileen Burns (8) Simon Taggart (9) Ryan Shaw (10) Hall Booth (11) Stephen Dempsey (12) Claire Gillespie (13) Martin Ruddy (14) Richard Reid (15) George Graham (16) Jason Burns (17) Nigel Kernohan (18) Neil Millar (19) Adam Torrie (20) John Shaw (21) Clifford Grant (22) Colin Scullion (23) Daryl Sempey (24) Breandan McCavana (25) Ryan Currie (26) Matthew Brennan (27) Tommy Wilson (28) David Dougan (29) Emma Smyth (30) Derwood Ritchie all same time 1 hour 18 minutes 42 seconds.

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Youth race result (1) Shaun Byrne (Bann Valley) (2) T McDonald (BV) (3) F Byrne (BV) all 32 minutes 03 seconds (4) Joel McCavana (BRC) 35.08

ROAD RACE LEAGUE

Ryan Bankhead leads the club’s road racing league series after the first three rounds. Ryan, despite not winning a round yet, has amassed a score of 26 points from two second and one third place.

He has a commanding lead of 8 points over second placed Karl Taylor who has 18 points. Gary Reid is third with 16 points while there is a three way tie for fourth with Quinton McFall, Stephen Smyth and Jason Burns all on 11 points.

The league, for the William Smyth cup, has eight rounds with a rider’s best score from seven rounds to count.

WICKLOW TRIP

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Several Ballymena Road Club riders took part in last weekend’s Wicklow 200. One of the participants – Maria Shannon – from Ballymoney road gives an account of the event.

“I took part in the event along with fellow BRC riders Alice McClean, Raymond McClean, Tommy Douds and Steven Courtney. We travelled down on Saturday afternoon and stayed overnight at The Royal Hotel in Bray.

“We started our ride from Shoreline Leisure Centre in Greystones on Sunday morning at 7-15am. The route took cyclists northwards from Greystones to Kilmacanogue and into the hills turning southwest through Roundwood to Laragh. From there the Wicklow 200 route crossed the Wicklow Gap to Hollywood and south to Baltinglass before turning east and returning to Laragh via Tinahely. We then went on to Avoca before turning north and back to Greystones.

“We stopped at two food stations during the event; firstly at Baltinglass, at the 50 mile point, and then at Rathdrum. The hot tea and coffee was a very welcome sight for the cyclists who were all very cold and wet from miles of riding in the lashing rain and high winds.

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“We tackled the hardest climb, 228 metres up Slieve Mann, with 80 miles in our legs. There were also a couple of steep climbs out of Avoca which took us by surprise, as these were very severe.

“Alice and I far exceeded our expectations in getting round the course in just over 8hrs 15mins, despite the appalling weather conditions on the day.

“It was the hardest days cycling we have ever encountered and pushed us to our limits and we were very glad we had put in the training prior to the event, which we found helped enormously with regard to pace and nutrition. “It was an incredible feeling when we crossed the finish line, exhausted and elated at the same time. Our certificates and medals will definitely have pride of place in our homes, it was the biggest challenge of our lives and we did it!

“A big thank you from us goes to Raymond, Tommy and Steven who supported and encouraged us throughout the day,” added Maria.

CALENDAR

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Wednesday 18th June 2014. Grand Prix of the Glens 42 miles time trial for the Tommy Talbot cup. This event starts from the Ecos roundabout at 6.45pm. The marshalls rota includes Colin Scullion, Mark Gordon, George Graham and Harold McKinney.

Monday 23rd June. NI Children’s Hospice, Charity Partner Information Evening in Montgomery’s Restaurant, Ballymena.

We warmly invite all cyclists and friends to attend this evening event to hear more about the important work of Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice tea and coffee will be served. They are the only service of its type within Northern Ireland caring for children and young people with very complex needs. Ballymena Road Club plan to make a donation to this charity from the entry monies collected for the Billy Kerr Sportive in August.