Personal best time for Steven in 25 miles time trial

Steven Workman was fastest with 52 minutes 37 seconds – This represented an average speed of 28.508mph over the Woodgreen, Dunsilly, Ballee, Woodgreen A26 course. His previous best was set back in July 2012 when he clocked 52.49

Steven’s performance on Wednesday beat his best from last season by 2 minutes 16 seconds.

Conditions were warm with a slight breeze on the return leg from Dunsilly to the Woodgreen finish on a favourable evening, which proved to be perfect for time trialling.

Jason Burns, despite suffering from a head cold all week, took 4 minutes 41 seconds off his previous best to record 53 minutes 30 seconds for second place.

Daryl Sempey, who only started taking part in time trials at the end of last season, finished third fastest with another PB – 58 minutes 23 seconds, while Maxine Surgenor was taking part in her first ever “25” and clocked a very respectable time of 69 minutes 24 seconds.

The other placings were (4) Jon Hilditch 61.05 (5) Gary McCappin 62.16 (6) Martin Ruddy 64.03 (7) John Maxwell 65.34 (8) Maxine Surgenor 69.24 (9) Beresford Millar 75.40

Handicap result (1) Gary McCappin 52.12 (2) D. Sempey 52.52 (3) B Millar 53.35 (4) Jason Burns 55.19 (5) J Hilditch 56.37 (6) S Workman 57.44

Jason Burns still leads the time trial handicap league with 30 points but his advantage has been cut to just 3 points with Daryl Sempey creeping ever closer. Eileen Burns is third with 24 points.

Just two rounds remain including this Wednesday’s 10 miles event at Woodgreen and – hopefully, weather and light permitting, the postponed Combat Cancer cup 25 miles time trial at Woodgreen, for which no date has been advised yet.

MATTHEW IN ACTION

Meanwhile Ballymena Road Club’s RR champion, Matthew Brennan, was racing at the John Beggs memorial 71 miles road race in Dromore where he finished eleventh.

The race was won by the recently crowned National road race champion Damien Shaw (Team ASEA)

Shaw was part of a five-man break that got away early on and they were never seen again until the finish.

In this break were runner-up Connor McConvey (Team 3M), Wallace Caldwell memorial winner Bryan McCrystal (ASEA), Mark Dowling (DID Dunboyne) and Sean McKenna (Aquablue).

One commentator said that this group must rank as one of the best quality breakaways of the season.

The Beggs memorial race was the penultimate round of the National Series (of which the Caldwell was also a round) which sees Bryan McCrystal lead from Dowling.

Afterwards Matthew said “There was a break of five riders. I was in the chasing group, two minutes down, with a further minute from us to the main bunch.

“I am pleased enough with my race as I’ve been winding down on training during the past week.

“I have been training hard for the past four months so definitely due a break.

“I’mo happy with that result and that I’m still holding some form!” added Matthew.

CHANGE OF COURSE

This week’s event in the Northstone backed club race series was scheduled to be a 10 miles circuit time trial at Teeshan.

However the ongoing A26 road works, the contra flow system and the closure of the Station Road at Glarryford have caused a change of venue.

The event will now take place at Woodgreen on Wednesday 19th August at 7pm.

This will be music to the ears of the club’s testers as they will be given a final opportunity for a season’s best performance on the ultra-fast Woodgreen to Dunsilly A26 Lisnevenagh road course.

ROAD RACE LEAGUE

Ryan Bankhead continues to lead the club’s road racing league series which will be concluded at Glarryford when the Will Henry cup race takes place on 26th August.

The chief marshal for this race is Hall Booth.

The eight race league is very close this year between Ryan Bankhead and Matthew Brennan.

Ryan has 56 points while second placed Matthew has 52.

Connor Young is third on 38.

A rider’s best seven scores from the eight rounds counts for the overall league positions

Friday 28th August Sherdan Caldwell memorial Crebilly hillclimb

TOURING

Ballymena Road Club’s touring section will travel to Westport on Friday 28th August for a four day tour in the area, they will return on bank holiday Monday 31st August.

One week later on Sunday 6th September the final “away for the day” tour takes place when the “Last Resort” tour of the harbours will start from Ramore head car park in Portrush at 10am.