Road Race - Drumaroad Circuit (map)
17 June 2010
This was the third year in a row that a warm sunny evening greeted the cyclists of Dromara Cycling Club to a six mile circuit based around Drumaroad, County Down. The race was four laps of the circuit and was held on quiet country roads. The Dromara Ghost Riders Motorcycle Club kindly supplied three of their members to marshal the bunches. Over 50 Dromara riders including women, juniors, marshals and time keepers were involved in the race.
The riders were split into four groups with a time handicap between each group. Group one included the junior riders and those who have less experience. This group was controlled by Darren Weir and Derek Hanna, who both were due to take part in the Newry 3 Day Road Race over the weekend.
Group two, which including two women, Mary Hunter and Caroline Patterson, (both of whom were entering a city centre crit race in Dublin on Saturday), started 4 minutes 30 seconds later.
Group three started after four further minutes, whilst Dromara’s “cat one” rider, David McKnight, lead the fourth group off the line like a rabbit out of the trap three minutes later.
Group four had closed down their handicap on Group three by the end of lap two leaving a number of riders in their wake. The two groups then combined and mounted a steadier pace on the quest to catch group two, who still had a two minute lead at the end of lap two. The end of lap three saw the main bunch closing to within 38 seconds of group two, with group one still 50 seconds further ahead. Under 14 rider Conner Mallon had a great ride completing his two laps with the first group.
Just over a mile into the final lap the combined Group three/four caught Group two and were most disappointed to find Group one were still ahead. However, within two miles the open race riders had the race under control. In a sprint to the line, contested by over twenty riders, Simon Welby claimed his first club victory from a strong ride by the Magowan brothers Gavin, who finished 2nd and Chris 3rd.
So many riders are now racing and with such large groups, Dromara Cycling Club now video the finish to place each of the riders. After a close study the remainder of the top ten were, 4th Brian Steele, 5th was Banbridge rider Scott Daly, 6th a guest English rider David Thorpe, 7th Gary Gibson, 8th Paul Mawhirt, 9th after a lot of time on the front of the bunch, David McKnight.
Many thanks to timekeepers, the static marshals and the three motorbikers for keeping the riders safe. Next Thursday (24 June 2010) Round 13 of the club league will take us to the Banbridge Road Castlewellan, for The Fine Foods sponsor trophies for a 16 and 25 mile time trials starting at 6:50 pm.
Timekeepers: Trevor Annett and Stephen Phillips
Marshals: John Clyde, Damien McDonald, Kevin McDonald, Phillip Wilson, David McClurg, Dennis McMullan, Ivan Bradford, Neill Fitzsimons, Craig McDowell, Ronnie Smyth
Report & photographs: Trevor Annett
