10 mile time trial, Crossgar Road, Ballynahinch (map)
21 April 2011
Thursday 21 April 2011 was a super spring day with temperatures up to 19oC. It remained warm into the evening when riders from Dromara Cycling Club gathered on the Crossgar Road just outside of Ballynahinch for a 10 mile time trial which formed round 4 of the club's league. These were ideal conditions for this hilly circuit which saw slower times than last week's circuit at Annahilt. Thirty -five riders signed on for the event which got underway just before 7 pm. First up was the club's race secretary, Nigel Sudlow. He was followed 30 seconds later by our only youth member in attendance, Zak Hanna who was in turn followed 30 seconds later by the oldest competitor Raymund Martin.
Nigel was first back (third quickest on the night) but second to return was Gavin Magowan, who started 5th but was fastest on the night setting a time of 24 minutes and 45 seconds, which just beat his arch rival Ronnie Smyth's time from last year (24m 49s). Ronnie was acting as marshal this evening so could not try to better his 2010 time.
Second quickest was TVR's Damien McDonald, Gary Gray was 4th, just one second off Nigel's time of 26m 40s. John Clyde had another great night 5th fastest, six seconds faster than Noel Gibson (27m 5s). Rodney Stewart and Barry Kellett both finished on 27m 11s, joint 7th quickest, with the two Philips, Boyle and O'Neill taking 9th and 10th respectively. Youth rider Zak Hanna finished on 29m 21s, a time which was matched by club veteran Bob Patterson.
This round of the league was the first for the season to have time handicaps applied in order to determine who has improved their own individual times. The bigger the improvement the higher the points scored towards the overall club league. Top points (40) went to Zak Hanna for improving his time from his average set in 2010 by 21 seconds. Rodney Stewart scored 39 points when he improved his time from last week by 15 seconds. Gary Gray was third gaining 38 points after improving his time by 10 seconds.
Well done to all the riders.
Many thanks to the timekeepers and all the marshals. Round 5 is next Thursday (28 April 2011) and will be an individual 10 mile time trial on the Dundrum Road out of Dromara. Sign on from 6:15 pm - first away at 6:30 pm.
Timekeeper: Peter Bryson & Chris Magowan
Marshals: Ian Proctor, Neill Currie, David Young, Marcus Magowan, Ronnie Smyth, Stephen Wallace
Report & photographs: Martin Grimley
