Mayor hosts Road Club ‘Fun Tour’ cyclists

CYCLISTS from the annual Ballymena Road Club – Northstone fun tour series were the guests of the Mayor Mr. Hubert Nicholl at the town hall last Wednesday evening.

Thirty-one of this year’s medal winners were present to receive the awards and also to make a cheque presentation to the Chernobyl Children’s appeal NI.

The Mayor welcomed all present and praised the work of the road club in the local community. He was pleased that the fun tours had a universal appeal and noted that both male and female had participated with all ages represented from schoolchildren to cyclists in their mid seventies.

Richard Wilson thanked the Mayor for once again supporting the series and hosting the reception. Richard outlined that there had again been a large number of medalists in this year’s series with eleven earning bronze, seventeen silver and thirty-two gold.

Six cyclists achieved full attendance, namely, newcomer Liz Carey, Christina Clarke, Alan Blair, Clifford Grant, Peter Smyth and founder member, from 1954, Sammy Kerr. The club’s other founder member, Joe McAuley completed twelve tours, missing just one, and he too achieved a gold medal.

The average weekly attendance was 54 with a total attendance of 701 across the thirteen weeks. The biggest turnout was 66 on week three.

The charity fund reached a healthy total too with £615 being collected over the series and this, when combined from the £247 raised during the nine glens challenge, meant that a cheque for £862 was presented to the Chernobyl Children’s appeal NI. (the 2010 total was £883)

John and Eleanor Duffin were present to receive the money and John outlined the work which the charity carries out and presented the club with a photograph album documenting their work.

He said that the money would be used to bring children from Belarus to Northern Ireland where a couple of weeks in our clean air would boost their immune system and greatly increase their life expectancy. The country is still suffering from the effects of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986.

Any cyclists who was unable to attend last week’s presentation should contact Richard Wilson to arrange to receive their medal and certificate.

These may be picked up at the club rooms on any Monday night.