Road Race, Kinallen (map)
21 July 2011
Round 17 of the Dromara Cycling Club's league took place on Thursday evening (21 July 2011) at one of the toughest circuits in the calendar at Kinallen. The start/finish was in the village of Kinallen and the circuit went along Kinallen Road, Leapoges Road to the tight turn back into Lagangreen Road, Black Bog Road and up the hill on Skeagh Road. Race secretary Nigel sorted out the 5 groups of riders for the 5 lap race with the first group getting underway around 7:20 pm. The evening was dry with some warm spells when the sun broke through the clouds and little wind.
Group 1 had 5 riders including father and son Mervyn and Mark Cantley. Group 2 started 2½ minutes later and had 7 riders including the only female entry Mary Hunter. Group 3 left 2½ minutes behind Group 2 and had 12 riders including two youth, Zak Hanna and Christopher Weir. Group 4 was a smaller group of just 7 riders and they left 2½ minutes after Group 3. The final and biggest group on the night was Group 5, 15 riders, who left 3½ minutes behind Group 4 which meant 11 minutes behind Group 1. Group 5 had the most visiting riders from other clubs, 11 out of the 15.
The club were very pleased to have the support of four motorbikers from Ghostriders who did an excellent job out-riding for the groups.
By the end of lap 2 Groups 1 and 2 had merged. By the end of lap 3 Groups 3 and 4 had merged with Davy McKnight (TVR) and Gareth Rogers (Banbridge) in a break off the front of Group 5. By the end of lap 4 Davy and Gareth were bearing down on the first two groups and by the finish Davy had powered off from Gareth to finish the clear winner. First three Dromara riders were Neill Currie, David Chambers and Barry Kellett. Group 3 had ridden tightly together and finished in a bunch together. 41 of the 46 starters completed all 5 laps.
Well done to all riders and many thanks to the timekeepers, marshals and outriders. Round 18 will be a 10 mile time trial on the Crossgare Road in Ballynahinch next Thursday (28 July 2011).
Timekeepers: Peter Bryson and Davy Robb
Marshals: Ronnie Smyth, Paul Gick, Andrew Wilson, Raymund Martin, Derek Hanna, Neil Fitzsimons, Martin Marner, Noel Gibson, Brendan & Bernie Monaghan, Anne McNamara (u/a) & Ann Johnston (u/a)
Report and photos: Martin Grimley
