Road Race - Kinallen Circuit (map)
8 July 2010
Round 15 of Dromara Cycling Club's Thursday night league was a road race around the Kinallen circuit. This is only the second time that the club have used this hilly circuit and is probably the toughest race of the season. Adding to the challenge this evening was some strong winds and threatening rain, sharp contrast to the weather we had at this venue last year.
Forty riders signed up for this event and were sorted into five starting groups by Trevor and Nigel. With the nature of this circuit the club had to use 12 marshals to cover all the junctions. Racing started around 7:15 with the first two groups separated by only 30 seconds. All riders had to complete 4 laps apart from our youngest competitor Connor Mallon who rode his two laps strongly. Group 3, which had 7 riders, started 5 minutes after Group 2 and in this group were two visitors from the Banbridge club, Stephen Hanna and Mark Downey. Group 4 had 9 riders including another two Banbridge visitors, Kevin McAlinden and Scott Daly and they started 4 minutes behind Group 3. Group 5 contained the fastest riders and among these 9 riders were visitors Tony Hare (Apollo CT) and Stephen Baines (East Antrim) and they started 4 minutes behind Group 4, 13½ minutes behind Group 1.
By the end of lap 1 groups 1 and 2 had joined up with the remaining groups staying together but each gaining time on the group in front. Unfortunately Gavin Magowan suffered a puncture on his first lap. At the end of lap two the 4 groups were still together although the tough circuit had forced Owen McManus to stop and Peter Swann also suffered a puncture. By the end of lap 3 the first group were still together and 3½ minutes ahead of group 2 with Mark Downey trying to bridge the gap. Ian Proctor was finding the course tough and Paul Jess had also pulled out. Going into the final lap it was John McGuigan and Adrian Cunningham with John Cylde holding onto the leading two. At the finish John and Adrian battled it out for the line with John finishing a good 4 bike lengths ahead of Adrian, John Clyde held onto third, Trevor Wright came in on his own in fourth, with lone rider Craig McDowell finishing 3 seconds behind him before Caroline Patterson and Kevin McDonald crossed the line together. Caroline was the only women riding tonight. The juniors rode a strong race with Christopher Weir taking the win well ahead of Zak Hanna. The original Group 4 had caught Group 3 by the line with Group 5 not working well together tonight and coming in at the end.
Thirty five of the original forty finished the race and with the rain starting to come on the riders dispursed quickly. Many thanks to the timekeepers and marshals. Next Thursday (15 July 2010 - Round 16) there will be a choice of 16 or 25 mile time trial on the Banbridge Road, Castlewellan starting at 6:50 pm. The 25 mile time trial will have medals awarded based on the times achieved.
Timekeepers: Trevor Annett & Stephen Phillips
Marshals: Massimo Manganaro, Peter Bryson, Stephen Younge, Andrew Wilson, Bernie Monaghan, Mary Hunter, Jim McMaster, Philip Boyle, Tony Mallon, Raymund Martin, Sharon Weir, Anne McNamara.
Roving marshal: Nigel Sudlow
Report & photographs: Martin Grimley
* note for next year, get at least 12 marshals.
