TOWN'S 'TOUR' HONOUR

The annual Easter event - the flagship race for the sport in Northern Ireland - begins with the prologue at Stormont on Good Friday.

Ballymena has traditionally hosted the Easter Saturday stage but this year organisers have revamped the formt and instead the town will play host to the crucial final stage on Easter Monday.

The Ballymena stage leaves Seven Towers Leisure Centre at 9am on Monday and finishes at Frays Road at approximately 12.30pm. Alan Mark appeals to any BRC member who can assist on Monday’s stage to contact him on 028 2564 8774.

Ballymena Road Club will be represented by Chris Beattie, Philip Bremner, Mark McCullough, Leo McAllister and guest Paul Vaughan.

Other local interest comes in the Cycling Ulster-David McCall Foundation Team, which includes Ahoghill’s Ryan Connor as rider/manager (see back page) and Conor McAllister.

RYAN FOURTH AT ARDS

Ryan Connor had to settle for fourth place in Saturday’s Tour of the Ards Peninsula road race when his Irish Road Club team mate Conor Murphy took the honours after going clear of the field along with Johnny Cole (Madigan) and Simon Williams (Orchard).

They escaped on the approach to Portaferry and built up a half minute lead on the Loughdoo circuit.

Williams punctured but the other two were able to stay clear to the finish where Murphy took the win by half a wheel.

Adam Armstrong (Eurocycles) came in 18 seconds behind the winner with Ryan Connor 26 seconds back in fourth.

Leo McAllister was best of the Ballymena Road Club–Scott Roof Tiles riders 1 minute 11 seconds behind in eighth position.

PHILIP FASTEST AT BALBRIGGAN

Philip Bremner was unable to get entered for the tour of Ards, which had a full field, so he traveled to Balbriggan for the Harry Reynolds Memorial Road Race.

Philip outlines his race “The race was short at just 50 kilometres and completed seven laps of a tough wee circuit. The roads and wind conditions made the race hard.

“The event was handicapped and I started with the A2s and A1s in the scratch group. We had to make 5 minutes up to be in with a chance of winning, and with such a small distance it would be hard.

We caught the A3 riders with 2-3laps to go. But we were unable to catch the big leading group, which finished less than a minute ahead of us.

“I won the sprint from our group, which meant I was first from the scratch bunch and I was declared fastest rider in the race, which I was pleased about as average speed was 24 mph.

“I tried to break away several times during the race but wasn’t successful, but I was happy enough as we had good weather and the race was safe with no crashes.” Added Philip

AGHAGALLON CUP

Sunday’s action was at Bartin’s Bay on the shores of Lough Neagh where Clan Eireann promoted their Aghagallon cup road races.

Craig Crawford and Aaron Swan were first and third in the under 14 youth race, while brothers Dylan and Adam Wilson took first and fourth in the youth novice event.

Louise Fullerton finished fourth in the ladies event which was the third round of the Ulster women’s road racing league.

There was more action in Balbriggan on Sunday with the Ben McKenna memorial 72 miles road race. Conor and Leo McAllister finished fifth and sixth at 42 seconds and 62 seconds respectively behind “A” race winner Adam Armstrong.

DUO SELECTED

Conor McAllister, who is the reigning Ulster Criterium champion, has been selected for the Cycling Ireland ten rider squad which will contest this summer’s Halfords UK Tour Series.

There are five Ulster riders on the team, who have been picked from the CI under 25 development panel.

There will be two rounds in Ireland, with the Belfast event on Friday 18th June followed the next day by the Dublin round.

These televised races will be a major attraction and will feature many top teams during the 2010 tour series which will see ten events take place in ten cities during May and June.

This is a great opportunity for Irish riders to show how they match up to their UK counterparts. The 2009 series was a great success and it is hoped that this year’s series which is sponsored by Halfords will be even better.

Matthew Brennan too has made the Irish panel. He explains: “I recently got picked for the Irish Development Squad for road and track. To be selected for this I had to go to training camps during winter.

“This initially got me short listed and then, following a watt bike test for fitness, which was carried out at Belfast Met, the panel was announced. This is a great boost for me and my season,” added a delighted Matthew, who represented Ulster at last year’s UK schools’ games.

WALLACE CALDWELL MEMORIAL

Ballymena Road Club’s Wallace Caldwell Memorial road race will take place on Saturday 11th April at 11 am. Entry forms, which are now available for the event, may be down loaded from Cycling Ulster’s web site. These forms and fees, 10, should be returned to Tommy Wilson by 4th April.

Sponsorship has been received from Ben Morrow of Woodside’s Chemists, Church Street, J&R Keys Castle Street and the Caldwell family.

SYMPATHY

BRC officials and members were saddened to learn of the death of the brother of their fellow club member Derek Dougan last week. Mr. George Dougan was buried on Sunday following a service at the Cunningham memorial church in Cullybackey.

The sympathy of the club is extended to Derek, his son David and the entire family circle at this very sad time.