10 mile time trial - Killyleagh Road (map)
24 May 2012
Round 9 of the club's league took place on Thursday 24 May 2012 and it was a beautiful warm evening with blue skies and barely a breeze. An evening for shorts and short sleeves jerseys! This round saw the riders gather at the Killyleagh Road just outside Downpatrick. This course was not used in 2011 but had been in previous years. With the good weather there was a big turn out of riders, 42 in total with 8 club members volunteering to marshal or timekeep. This was a fast course, reasonable flat but there was the tricky Quoile's bridge near the start and a busy location in Killyleagh for the turn.
With sign on complete the riders were set off at 30 second intervals to complete the 10 mile circuit. The first rider, Gavin Magowan, set off around 7 pm. The fastest rider on the night was visitor Ivan Robinson from Ards CC who completed the distance in 22 minutes and 27 seconds. Gavin was 3rd fastest on the night with Phil O'Neill continuing to improve his time trialling finishing 8th fastest on the night.
When these results were compared to each rider's average for the same distance we are able to see who has made the biggest improvement on individual time. This week it was Bryce Hetherington who was over 2 minutes faster than his average and gains the maximum 40 points for this round. Next best improver was Phil O'Neill making use of he advantage his new time trial bike is providing. Davy Robb had the third best improved time with Noel Gibson 4th. Richard Cowan and Barry Kane both gained 1 minute 16 seconds on their average time for the same distance which left them both as 5th best improvers.
Unfortunately a few of the riders were seen riding on the wrong side of the road near the Quoile's bridge. As this is against road traffic laws the riders were made aware of this and this round would not count towards the overall league for them.
Well done to all riders and many thanks to the timekeepers and to the marshals for keeping the riders safe.
Next Thursday night (31 May 2012) will be a 10 mile time trial on the Spa to Seaforde Road. See website for details (www.dromaracc.co.uk).
Timekeepers: Peter Bryson and Paul Gick
Marshals: David Chambers, David Young, Ivan Bradford, Stephen Wallace and Ted McKibbin. Also help from Gavin McConvey and Daniel McClean.
Photographs & report: Martin Grimley
