25 or 16 mile time trial - Banbridge Road, Castlewellan (map)
15 July 2010
Round 16 of Dromara Cycling Club's Thursday night league took place on the Banbridge Road just past the horseshoe bend outside of Castlewellan. This round had to be rescheduled from earlier in the season and it was touch and go whether it was going to go ahead this time round with heavy showers threatening all day. Thankfully the weather held with just a few spots of rain as the riders were getting signed on which then dried up once they got started. On offer tonight were two distances, a 25 mile time trial and the lesser 16 mile time trial. As in previous years the most popular distance was the '25' with 18 entries and just 6 for the 16 mile course.
Riders got underway just after 7 pm with the ones doing the '25' going first. Caroline Patterson was the only woman who entered the '25' and she set off first followed 30 seconds later by David McClurg then Alan McMullan 30 seconds after David. Bernie Monaghan was the first of the '16 milers' to set off and she was followed 30 seconds later by Johnny McBride then Mary Hunter 30 seconds later.
To add to the interest this evening medals for the '25' were being introduced for the first time with Gold for those who finished under one hour, Silver for those who finished under 1 hour 5 minutes and Bronze for those who finished under 1 hour 10 minutes. Timekeepers Derek Hanna and Simon Welby had fun predicting who was going to get the medals as well as predicting the order the riders were going to return.
Three men attained the 'Gold standard' in the 25 with Ronnie Smyth the fastest of the three finishing in 59:00, David McKnight in 59:13 and Darren Weir in 59:16. Finishing in the Silver medal positions were 5 riders, Gavin Magowan, Chris Magowan, Marcus Magowan, Damien McDonald and Phillip Boyle. There were also 5 winners of the Bronze medal, Neill Currie, Stephen Heasley, David McClurg, Noel Gibson and Peter Bryson.
The fastest of the 16 mile time trial was Jonathan McBride who completed the distance in 43 minutes 21 seconds well over a minute and a half ahead of Stephen Wallace who was 3½ minutes faster than Massimo Manganaro. Mary Hunter was 4th with Raymund Martin 5th and Bernie Monaghan 6th.
As in all other rounds time handicaps were applied to see who had individually improved. The times for the 25 and 16 were converted to 10 miles and the individual time handicaps were applied. Getting maximum points for this round was road racer Darren Weir with Massimo Manganaro second, John McGuigan third, Mary Hunter fourth, Chris Magowan fifth and David McKnight sixth.
Many thanks to the timekeeper and all the marshals. Round 17 is next Thursday (22 July 2010) and will be a road race at Donaghcloney starting at 6:50 pm.
Timekeeper: Derek Hanna & Simon Welby
Marshals: Brendan Monaghan, Nigel Sudlow, Gary Gibson, Phil O'Neill, Stephen Younge, Paul Jess, Geoff Brown, Michael Pyper, Brian McGrath, Nigel Sudlow, Ryan Mallon, Mervyn Cantley
Report & photographs: Martin Grimley
* note for next year, get at least 8 marshals.
Jonathan McBride
Mary Hunter
Massimo Manganaro
