Gold and bronze for Road Club veterans Carroll and Grant

There was success for Ballymena riders Michael Carroll and Ronnie Grant in Sunday’s Ulster Road Race championships at Eglinton, where they won the Gold and Bronze individual medals in the veterans “over 60” category.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th Sep 2015, 16:30 BST
Ballymena Road Club's Michael Carroll (first) and Ronnie Grant (third) after the Ulster over-60 road race championship.Ballymena Road Club's Michael Carroll (first) and Ronnie Grant (third) after the Ulster over-60 road race championship.
Ballymena Road Club's Michael Carroll (first) and Ronnie Grant (third) after the Ulster over-60 road race championship.

Foyle Cycling Club were the hosts with the racing taking place over a new course to Ulster cycle racing.

Each lap was 45.6 kilometres long and started at the main street Eglinton village, and featured 524 metres of climbing each lap.

Ronnie Grant gives a brief account of the race.

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“The age 50’s and 60’s went off together on to a very hard circuit of about 50 km. Michael Carroll and Sean Hargan (Phoenix) finished with the lead group. The race was won by Chris McCann and I finished with a group of five about 2 minutes back.

“I was very happy to stand on the podium with Mike and Sean, two very strong guys.

“It was wonderful to see so much enthusiasm in veterans and masters racing” added Ronnie.

Michael Carroll said: “It was nice to get a win to close out the season as this year I did not race much.

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“Its time now to relax before starting into easy winter training.

“It was a very challenging hilly course and the racing was hard all the way. A great event organised by the Foyle club”

FUN TOUR

Conditions were very wet for the start of Saturday’s “Fun Tour” from Rex Bonar house.

Nevertheless there was still a turnout of 43 cyclists and they donated another £85 to the Chernobyl Children’s appeal NI charity fund which already stands at £480.

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The touring section ride took in Galgorm, Russelstown, Lisnahunshin to Rasharkin then on to Finvoy and right on to Mullan Road.

Next it was Aghill road Carclinty and Cullybackey where they visited Arthur Cottage and sampled the home baked soda bread. Saturday was “European Heritage” open day at the cottage.

Club Chairman John Maxwell’s 11 rider group went to Randalstown, Antrim, Templepatrick, Parkgate, Holybank Road, Connor, Kells and Liminary Road back to Ballymena.

This was a total of 40 miles at 16-9mph average.

Martin Ruddy’s group completed a 38 miles ride at 18mph, which took in Magheralane, Randalstown, Staffordstown, Toome, Bellaghy, Portglenone, Hiltonstown, Ballyconnolly and Galgorm.

CLUB MEETING

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All club members are invited to an informal discussion in BRC clubrooms on Monday 5th October at 7.30pm.

Please bring your ideas on how best to move the club forward in 2016.

Your club needs you to make changes for the better.

Please plan to come along if at all possible.

The road club’s AGM is scheduled for Monday 19th October when major changes to the club’s committee personnel are expected to take place.

Related topics:BallymenaUlster