Connor Cup success for Conor

BALLYMENA Road Club – Scott Roof Tiles – cyclists held their annual Sammy Connor cup "scratch" road race over two laps of the Broughshane, Buckna, Braid Sheddings course last Wednesday evening.

A total of 19 riders took part, which was somewhat disappointing considering the size of the club and the excellent weather conditions which greeted the entrants on the night.

The club's undisputed number one rider at the present time – Conor McAllister - lived up to his pre race favourite tag by breaking clear early on the opening lap and then effectively time trialling to the finish for a decisive solo victory.

The chasers closed to 11 seconds by the line but Conor was home and dry, winning in 51 minutes 32 seconds for the 21 miles race.

The club's top sprinter, Mark McCullough, led in the nine rider chasing group 11 seconds behind for second place with Sean Wright third.

Other placings were: 4. Leo McAllister; 5. Ryan Currie; 6. Matthew Brennan; 7. Martin Ruddy; 8. Steven Workman; 9. Sam Davidson; 10. Clifford Grant all at 11 seconds; 11. Adrian Kerr at 1.29; 12. Tommy Wilson at 3.37; 13. Gerry McCullagh (Bann Valley) at 6.18; 14. Bobby Currie; 15. Beresford Millar; 16. David Kennedy; 17. Tom Douds; 18. Sean Kelly (Bann Valley) all at 6.18.

There is currently a tie at the top of the club's road racing league series for the William Smyth cup. Round one's H&M Wilson cup winner David Dougan and Mark McCullough are equal first with 17 points each while round two's A. Bonar cup winner Matthew Brennan is third on 15 points.

Next it's Ryan Currie on 12 points, Alan Blair on 11 and sixth Conor McAllister, who has 10 points.

The next round will be the Star Trophy road race on the Broughshane, Carnlough, Waterfoot, Glenariffe circuit next Wednesday 30th June.

The chief marshall for this race is Tom Douds who will be assisted by Joe McAuley and Geoff Bell.

YOUTH ROUND-UP

Last Monday night's BRC youth section event was a 2.5 miles time trial from Michelin to the Ecos roundabout and back.

Adam Kerr was fastest with a time of 6 minutes 43 seconds which was just 10 seconds faster than Aaron Swan on 6.53. Chris Surgeoner was third with 8 minutes 00 seconds while newcomer Lauren Carruthers, who was riding her first race, was fourth with 9 minutes 12 seconds.

The next youth event will be a five miles road race from Glenariffe to Martinstown next Wednesday, June 30, at 7 pm.

Adrian Kerr has been organising the youth races this year and he has asked me to thank everyone who has assisted with timekeeping and marshalling etc.

CYCLING SNIPPETS

* Aaron Swan won the under-14 race at last week's Ards Town Centre races. In the A4 race, Ballymena's Steven Carruthers was fourth.

* David McClean, in 15th place, was the best of the Ballymena finishers in last week's 10 miles time trial league event at Templepatrick, which was won by Peter Wilson (Maryland Wheelers).

* Conor McAllister was a member of the Cycling Ulster team which raced to fifth place in the Halford's tour series during last weekend's two rounds in Belfast and Dublin.

* Philip Bremner raced to eighth place on the final stage of the Newry three day race on Sunday.

CALENDAR

Wednesday, June 23: Ballymena road club will hold their Sam McQuigg cup 50 miles time trial on the A26 Lisnevenagh road course.

This event will start at 6.45 pm from the junction with the Chapeltown road approximately 2 miles from Woodgreen.

Ballymena Road Club's senior time trial best all rounder championship requires riders to register times at 10, 25 and 50 miles to qualify.

The 10 and 25 miles times must be performed in a club race fixture.

However the club has only one 50 miles time trial on the calendar and this qualifying distance may also be done in a time trial league, championship or "open Race" event in NI.

There aren't too many 50 miles events on the calendar this year, in fact the only other one which I know about is the Tommy Givan memorial which is scheduled to be promoted by Maryland CC on Ballymena's Woodgreen course on Sunday 4th July.

The club's juniors and ladies have a 5 miles time trial on the calendar for tonight, while the Ulster women's association also has a 50 miles time trial on their schedule again at the same venue, although I can't see too big a queue of riders to enter that one!

Wednesday, June 23: Phoenix CC's Ormeau park criteriums from 6.30pm.

Thursday, June 24: National 25 miles time trial championships Sligo.

Saturday, June 26: National road race championships for women and veterans.

Sunday, June 27: National road race championships for category A*, A1 and A2 seniors also at Sligo.

New date for Slaght APR. The new date for the running of the Slaght Australian pursuit race will now be Saturday 3rd July starting at 10am. The race will start from Slaght corner and cover three laps of the Caddy circuit.