Road Race, Annahilt Circuit (map)
27 May 2010
The 9th round of Dromara Cycling Club's League was a road race held at Annahilt on Thursday 27 May 2010. There had been some heavy showers across Northern Ireland with dark clouds looming overhead and light rain falling but this didn't put off the 52 cyclists who had gathered for this popular event. Race secretary Nigel Sudlow had prepared the groups in advance of the event with time handicaps decided. The event organisers were kept busy signing all the riders on and then getting them started.
A minimum of 9 static marshals are required to run the race safely and race organisers were very pleased when 13 volunteers appeared on the night. Also helping out was Stewart Moore on his motorbike as well as the 5 motorbikers who had helped out at our recent leisure cycling event, the Coastal Tour. Peter Bryson got the riders going just after 7:30 with one motorbiker leading each of the five groups and one motorbiker following. This proved very worthwhile as the heavy clouds made for poor visibility. The smallest group on the night was the first group away and it contained 3 junior riders who had to complete two laps of the 8 mile course. All other senior riders had to complete 3 laps. The groups were separated with 3 minute gaps which meant that the "scratch" group, who had 11 riders in it, started 12 minutes behind the first group.
The timekeeping team set up outside the garage on the Glebe Road and had decided to time keep, sheltered from the elements, from the car. By the end of lap 1, group 2 had caught group 1 and all other groups were gaining on each other. The strongest group on the night was group 3 who managed to hold off groups 4 and 5 and it was from this group that the winners came. Veteran racer Stephen Wallace attached early on the final run in and finished well clear of Paul Jess who in turn finished well ahead of Stephen Heasley. The scratch group finished almost a minute behind Stephen Wallace and it was Darren Weir who clinched the sprint finish to the line. Behind these 3 were 3 finishers from group 2, Alan McMullan, Val O'Neill and Ivan Bradford. Finishing 7th was Glenn Cobain (Team Madigan) with Jonathan McMullan 8th, Geoff Brown 9th and James Gilpin 10th (all from Dromara CC). In the youth race it was Christopher Weir who narrowly beat Zak Hanna by less than a bike length.
The winner of the Annahilt race is awarded the Annahilt Shield at the prize giving ceremony at the end of the year. This shield has been awarded over the past number of years and was originally kindly sponsored by Stephen Wallace. Therefore, this year, Stephen has effectively won his own trophy!!
Well done to all the riders and to all the static marshals who had to stand out in the rain. Many thanks as well to the timekeeping team, Stephen, Laurene and Peter, and to all the motorcycle outriders who helped keep the riders safe. The next round is a 10 mile time trial on Thursday 3 June 2010 starting at 6:50 pm, from Downpatrick Road, Ballynahinch.
Timekeepers: Stephen and Laurene Phillips, Peter Bryson
Marshall: Massismo Manganero, Michael Pyper, Sharon Weir, Tony Mallon
Neill Currie, Anne Maguire, Peter Swann, Raymund Martin, Andrew Wilson, Bernie Monaghan, Roisin Boyle, Damien Kent, Alan Reid
Motorcycle outriders:
Stewart Moore + the 5 guys from Ghostriders
Report & photographs: Martin Grimley
