Harry Ferguson Road Race (map)
11 August 2011
Round 20 of the club league was for the popular Harry Ferguson cup which starts at the memorial gardens on the Magheraconluce Road. Forty five riders gathered up for this event on a cool evening which had a slight breeze. This race always attracts a good crowd from other clubs with a big representation of 9 riders from Team Vision Racing in attendance. Race secretary Nigel Sudlow was on hand to sort out the groups and the time gaps between the groups. Five groups were organised with the biggest, Group 3, having 15 riders in it.
Racing got underway just after 7 pm with the first group of 5 riders heading towards the climb up Rafferty's Hill. Four minutes 15 seconds later Group 2 went, also with 5 riders. Group 3 was then lined up and they had to wait 3 minutes 15 seconds before they could start.
Group 4 were just lining up when a call came through that there had been a big crash on the first lap when 4 riders from group 2 fell on the Dromara Road.
FROM THE MESSAGE BOARD
"Dennis was the only one of the 5 to escape injury as he was out front. When I arrived John McGuigan was lying flat on the road, Mary was hobbling around, Stevie Younge was sitting on the verge as Alan McMullan was sitting but hunched over holding his arm. Mary had went into the hedge on the far side of the road and ended up with cuts and bruises. The other 3 lads hit the tarmac. It was said that Stevie pulled Mary out oft the hedge before the pain kicked in his arm. We moved him from a sitting position to a lying position after he tried to get up.
Group 3 and passing motorists were dealing with the lads. Lots of road rashes but the main injuries were to the shoulders. Collar bone injuries looks likely for all 3 with perhaps more injuries to be discovered once they get checked out in the hospital. 3 ambulances to take the 4 away.
Wishing all 4 a speedy recovery. I was very proud of the way the club members swung into action with directing traffic, calling ambulances, closing the road, calling relatives, gets bikes organised to be lifted, getting blankets from out of nowhere, helping the ambulance crews with moving the casualties and above all, comforting the fallen."
John broke his collar bone and two ribs, Stephen Younge his collar bone, Alan bad ligamen damage and Mary Hunter cuts and bruises.
Timekeepers: John Clyde, Jim Daly (Banbridge CC)
Marshals: Noel Gibson, Neill Currie, Barry Kellett, Andrew Wilson, Damien Kent, Gary Gibson, David Chambers, Eddie Doyle, David Montgomery (Banbridge CC).
Report: Martin Grimley
Photographs: Martin Grimley
