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| Dromara CC Club
League - Round 8 16 mile TT - Hillsborough -> Ballynahinch 21 May 2009 Round 8 of the Dromara Cycling Club's Thursday night league and it was the first of the 16 mile time trials. The course was the 8 miles from Hillsborough to Ballynahinch and back and posed a new challenge for those riders who were just getting the hang of the 10 mile time trials. Twenty seven Dromara riders and one guest signed on this evening with an additional complement of two time keepers, four marshalls and some spectators. This was twice the number we had at this venue last season. In Hillsborough at the sign-on, the evening's weather was great, dry with no wind but the threatening grey clouds overhead meant that the riders had to keep a watchful eye looking skywards. Just down the road towards Annahilt there was very heavy rain which seemed to sit over the Annahilt to Ballynahinch area for most of the evening. The riders were able to start in the dry but had to face both the distance and the rain before returning to the dry at the finish. The timekeepers only saw a few minutes of the heavy rain that the participants were getting the full force of. First away this evening was Anne Maguire who was one of five female cyclists out this evening. One minute later Davy Robb set off followed by the young Dromara stars Matthew Patterson and Ryan Mallon separated by the same one minute interval. Behind Ryan was Stephen Young attempting only his second time trial. Long distance rider Bernie Monaghan took a little convincing from fellow club mates to give time trialing a go while her husband watched from the pavement. Late arrivals Dennie McMullan and Stewart Moore were the last to set off at around 7:45 pm. Darren Weir was quickest on the night with a superb time of 37.09 and an average speed of 25.8 mph. Darren was not able to make either of the two occasions at this venue last year. Darren was 1 minute 16 seconds ahead of closest rival, vet Ronnie Smyth. Surprise performance tonight was from Nigel Sudlow who set the third fastest time, just 35 seconds slower than Ronnie but over a minute faster than Paul Smyth. John Ruddell from Ards CC was fourth. The average times were then used to calculate a 10 mile time trial equivalent and these times were then added to the rider's time handicaps to see who had surpassed themselves. Darren's time tonight was good enough to secure him maximum points after the time handicaps were applied. Behind Darren was Anne Maguire who seemed to have preferred the longer event. The up and coming Damien McDonald, who has only started with the club this year, was third with Nigel's great time setting him up for fourth place in the adjusted time table. Many thanks to the marshalls Stephen, Paul, Andrew and Alan and for Bob Patterson's help. Next week we are at Annahilt for a club road race.
The table below shows a new adjusted times with handicaps based on an equivalent 10 mile distance based on the average speed.. Well done to Darren Weir for getting maximum points this round (40).
. Timekeeper(s): Gary Gibson and David McKnight Marshalls: Stephen Wallace, Paul Jess, Andrew Wilson, Alan Reid Photography & Report: Martin Grimley |
Photos by Martin
 Stephen Young  Brian McGrath  Paul Mawhirt  Ronnie Smyth  Dennis McMullan
 Bernie Monaghan I |
 Davy Robb |
 Ross Galway |
 Nigel Sudlow |
 Damien McDonald |
 Neill Currie |
 Bernie |