Wright produces perfectly-timed attack to claim Wilson Cup win

There was a field of 38 riders for the three lap 26 miles event, held on the Caddy circuit, which forms part of the club’s Northstone sponsored club race series.

They were set off in three groups spanning four minutes. Groups one and two came together very early in the race with just 8 miles covered, but the scratch group had to work much harder to reel in the leaders.

One of the scratch riders – visiting Phoenix rider Mike Millar, who had just finished the Ras Tailteann the previous weekend, was carrying good form. He broke clear of scratch and then caught the leading bunch.

He was to attack again and go into a solo lead for the last lap.

At one point it looked as though he had done enough but the scratch group were closing in. They reached the front of the race on the Caddy road on the last lap and a short time later also caught Millar.

Then, late on, veteran Wright made his, what proved to be, winning move, decisively drawing clear of the amalgamated field.

He held on to win the race by 4 seconds in 62 minutes 58 seconds.

Ryan Bankhead finished second just piping Karl Taylor on the line.

(4) Ryan Shaw (5) Stephen Smyth (6) Neil Millar (7) Gary Reid (8) Mark Wright (9) Quinton McFall (10) Jason Burns (11) Richard Reid (12) Matthew Brennan (13) Noel Bradley (Bann Valley) (14) Nigel Kernohan (15) John Shaw (16) Tommy Wilson (17) Eileen Burns (18) Emma Smyth (19) Daryl Sempey (20) Alan Blair (21) Mike Millar (Phoenix) (22) Simon Taggart (23) Claire Gillespie (24) Clifford Grant (25) Ryan Currie (26) Bann Valley (27) Colin Scullion (28) David Dougan all same time 63 minutes 02 seconds.(29) Andrew Dempsey (30) Colin Deane (31) John Maxwell (32) Laura Blair (33) Beresford Millar (34) George Graham.

Afterwards Sean gave a brief account of the finish.

“We caught Mike (Millar) roughly 3 miles from the finish David Dougan tried to get away immediately but was reeled in just before Tommy Wilson attacked.

“I made my effort with about half a mile to go and managed to hold off the chasing bunch to the line. I really enjoyed the race. It is my first race win in a very long time.”

The 10 miles youth race on the same circuit was won by Shaun Byrne of Bann Valley from his club mate Thomas McDonald and his brother Fergus Byrne. (4) Eoin Mellon (5) Ciaran McIlvar (6) Isaac McAuley all Bann Valley (7) Joel McCavana (BRC) (8) Brian McAuley (BV)

ROAD RACING LEAGUE

Ryan Bankhead, who has already won the “scratch” road racing league this season, now leads the road racing league after the first two rounds.

Ryan has amassed 17 points having taken third place in round one’s Rex Bonar cup event at Brougshane and second at Slaght.

Bonar cup winner Jason Burns is second overall with 11 points while Sean Wright and Gary Reid are equal third with 10 points each. (5) Richard Reid 9 points. (6) Karl Taylor 8 points.

The next round is the Sammy Connor cup scratch event on the Shedding’s circuit at Broughshane on Wednesday 11th June. This race is also the club’s road racing championship event and entry is restricted to BRC members only.

The chief marshall for the race is Derek Dougan and he will be assisted by Ronnie and Iris Grant, John Hunter, Adrian Archibald and Owen McLaughlin.

RAS DHUN NA NGALL

Ballymena Road Club _ Chain Reaction Cycles – riders were in action last weekend in Co Donegal for the 24th Edition of Rás Dhun na nGall which got underway on Friday evening in the bustling Donegal Heritage Town of Ardara.

There were 130 starters for Friday night’s 32 miles stage which took in the Frosses and Dunkineely.

102 of them were still together at the finish where the winner was Joseph Breheney of UCD in 1 hour 13 minutes 21 seconds.

BRC riders Clifford Grant, Matthew Brennan, Ryan Shaw and Simon Taggart all finished in this leading pack on the same time as the winner. The other BRC finishers were Nigel Kernohan at 43 seconds, David Dougan at 2.49 and Hall Booth at 11.50.

Saturday morning’s time trial may only have been 1.8 miles long but it finished at the top of Glengesh so it was extremely tough!

Daire Feeley won in 7 minutes 41 seconds and he took over the race lead.

Best for BRC was (47) Simon Taggart in 8.52 (49) Ryan Shaw 8.56 (54) Matthew Brennan 8.58 other times were Nigel 9.26, Clifford 10.04, Hall 10.36 and David 11.05.

Ballymena Road Club - Chain Reaction Cycles - riders Ryan Shaw and Matthew Brennan finished in second and fourth places respectively in the under 23 section of the Donegal Ras at the weekend.

Ryan was just 8 seconds adrift of u23 winner M McBride of team Belgain project while Matthew was a further 50 seconds back. Congratulations.

CALENDAR

Wednesday 4th June. Ballymena Road Club Northstone club race series Combat Cancer cup 25 miles time trial at Woodgreen from 7pm. The observers for this event are Lori Phillips and John McKillop.

Also on Wednesday evening Ballymoney Cycling club will host the second round of the inter-club road racing league. BRC rider Stephen Smyth finished third in the opening round at Magherafelt which was hosted by Spires CC.

East Antrim CC will promote the Audi Grand Prix this coming Saturday 7th June 2014.

The event is for A1, A2 & A3 riders with the field limited to 60 riders in total.

The race is 100kms on the Ballynure circuit with the Race HQ and signing on in the Ballynure Presbyterian Church Hall BT39 9TU.

Sign on is 9.30am to 10:30am with the race starting at 11:00am.