Road Race - Annahilt triangle (map)
20 June 2013
It was a dry evening at Annahilt for Round 12 of Dromara Cycling Club's league which was a 3 lap road race around the triangle going in a clockwise direction. The winner of the race would get their name on the esteemed Wallace Shield, put up by Stephen Wallace who actually won the race last year.
There were only 3 groups tonight with a total of 25 riders. One reason for this is the burden of marshalling that is required for this race with 12 marshals covering 3 corners as well as two timekeepers. The first group set off just after 7 pm and contained 6 riders: Graham Beckett (who won the last road race), Brendan Doyle, Noel Gibson, Richard Cowan, Paul Jess and Alwynne Shannon, the only female rider tonight. The next group contained 10 riders and set off 3 minutes 15 seconds behind the first group. This group contained: Ivan Bradford (who pulled out after lap 2), Gareth Kirkwood, Tommy Downey, Gary Bailie, Bryce Hetherington, junior rider Zak Hanna, Stephen Wallace, Jonathan McBride, Gary Gibson and, always welcome, guest rider Nigel Sudlow. The 'scratch' group set off less than 3 minutes later, 6 minutes 5 seconds behind the first group. There were 9 scratch riders, brothers Chris and Gavin Magowan, Anthony Quinn, Ronnie Smyth (who will be entering the national veterans road race this weekend), Nathan Mullan, Ryan Mallon and guest riders Aaron McGrady and Jeffrey Torrens-Spence (both from Phoenix CC) and Dan Gordon.
At the end of lap one the groups had all taken time out of each other, the gap between groups 1 and 2 had dropped from 3:15 to 2:09 and between groups 2 and 3 it had dropped from 2:50 to 1:31. The groups were all working well together with no stragglers on the road. At the end of lap two groups 2 and 3 had merged together and were bearing down on group 1 (27 second gap when they passed the finish line going into their final lap.
After 66 minutes of racing the bunch appeared in the distance. There was going to be a sprint finish. Gavin was leading out the head of the bunch and within site of the finish line pulled to one side to launch his brother Chris Magowan to the line. Anthony Quinn came through strongly to take second with Gavin third and Gary Gibson fourth. Jonathan McBride had another good finish taking 5th with Stephen Wallace 6th, Zak Hanna 7th and Ronnie Smyth 8th.
After the race there was a decision to be made to sort out the fourth rider for the team for the Newry 3 day race. The two riders vying for the place were Chris Magowan and Nathan Mullan. Club secretary Martin Grimley flipped a coin in the air, Chris called 'tails' and it was tails therefore Chris became the fourth rider. Chris and Nathan shook hands and both headed off for an apres race refreshment along with a bunch of other riders.
Well done to all the riders. A big thanks again to the timekeepers and to all the marshals.
Timekeepers: Barry Kellett and Colin Roy.
Marshals:
Annahilt crossroads - Alan Corry, Gary Gray, Bernie Monaghan and Davy Young
Pheasant - David Chambers, Raymund Martin, Marcus Magowan, Marty McAnulty, John Heaney
River Road - Paul Gick, Paul Mawhirt, David Hawthorne
Report and photographs: Martin Grimley
