TOUR OF THE NORTH
2008



21 - 24 March 2008
The Tour of The North
 
The tough 70 mile final stage of the P&O Tour of the North from Carryduff, saw local team Castlereagh CC rise to the top. It began with the first King of the Hill (KOH) climb of Boiling Well when Roger Aiken, riding for the Castleragh side, broke clear of the peleton with Adam Armstrong (Team Pezula)and Gregory Demunster (De Cock Capino) to take the first points. However Sean Downey (Ireland Juniors) along with team mate Sam Bennett were hot on their heels followed by the first of the big bunches. Dromara Cycling Club rider David McKnight lost time on Sundays very windy stage around the Ards Peninsula, with mechanical problems with his bike. David was determined to ride well on his home ground and the cheering of the Dromara club as they marshalled the roads around Dromara seemed to have the correct effect with David leading the 2nd group over the major climb of The Boiling Well, closing the gap to the leaders.

The riders headed into Castlewellan before turning back to tackle the climbs from the opposite side. It was then on to Ballynahinch where Aiken was again clear of the pack by forty five seconds although being chased hard. He was reeled in however and in the final mile to the finish it was Glen Kinning (Castlereagh CC/Mattest) who decided to go it alone. With the pack breathing down his neck he managed to maintain his lead to take the stage. In the bunch sprint it was Belgian rider, Gregory Demunster (De Cock Capino)who piped Peter Hawkins of Usher IRC and a former Castlereagh rider to take second place with Matthew Ward (Usher) in fourth spot.

The Ireland Junior squad must surely be happy tonight as in what had been a highly competitive event throughout that local lad Sean Downey held on to his third position overall and Carrick-on-Suir's Sam Bennett emerged as King of the Mountains.
In the overall standings, it was Ryan Connor who emerged as the overall winner. wearing the Yellow Jersey since Saturday's TT Stage, he fought valiantly to hold onto it. He watched every break and ensured that they never threatened his overall lead.
 
David McKnight had a great opening to the four day race with an excellent 32nd out of 100 starters at the impressive prologue held at Stormont. With his strong final day performance David finished the race in a brilliant 44th overall. A great credit to this strong rider. David said it was a tough race overall, with so many British and European riders, it was great to see the local riders doing so well, especially Banbridge riders Sean Downey and Roger Aiken. David would also like to thank the four members of the club who followed the race over the weekend as team back up and to all those who cheered him on. The Dromara race team of David, Darren Weir and Ronnie Smyth, both of which are only one point away from cat 2, have gone to Majorca for a weeks warm weather training along with twelve others members of Dromara CC.

Videos
Taken by Bob
Stormont clip
Day 3
Day 4
Taken by Martin
Tour going through Dromara






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Final Results

Place Name  Team  Cat  Time Deficit
1 Ryan Connor Pezula Sen 08:07:44
2 Tom Vanbecelaere De thingy Capino Belgium Sen 08:08:21
3 Sean Downey Ireland Juniors Jun 08:09:53
4 Adam Armstrong Pezula U/23 08:10:07
5 Sam Bennett Ireland Juniors Jun 08:10:32
6 Glen Kinning Castlereagh CC-Mattest Sen 08:10:56
7 Peter Hawkins Usher-Irish Road Club Sen 08:11:05
8 Roger Aiken Castlereagh CC-Mattest Sen 08:11:57
9 Martyn Irvine Pezula Sen 08:13:37
10 Gerard van Dijk WV De Kannibaal Sen 08:15:02
11 Stuart McManus Glasgow Wheelers `A` U/23 08:15:15
12 Gregory Demunster De thingy Capino Belgium Sen 08:16:38
13 Michael Nicholson Glasgow Wheelers `A` U/23 08:16:51
14 Niki Devolder De thingy Capino Belgium Sen 08:17:17
15 Conor McAllister Ballymena RC-Scott Rooftiles U/23 08:17:30
16 Leo McAllister Ulster Juniors Jun 08:17:33
17 Matthias Landuyt De thingy Capino Belgium U/23 08:17:35
18 Bram Slager WV De Kannibaal Sen 08:17:53
19 Kevin Delie De thingy Capino Belgium U/23 08:18:20
20 Matt Ward Usher-Irish Road Club Sen 08:18:40
21 Linus Murphy Usher-Irish Road Club Sen 08:18:52
22 Geir BisGaard Usher-Irish Road Club Sen 08:19:07
23 Aaron Buggle Ireland Juniors Jun 08:19:07
24 Callum Wilkinson Edinburgh Bicycle Works U/23 08:19:45
25 Simon Kelly Usher-Irish Road Club Sen 08:21:30
26 Mattheu Langedock De thingy Capino Belgium Sen 08:21:46
27 Daniel Kirwan Lucan CC-Staggs Cycles Sen 08:23:32
28 Fraser Duncan Northern CC-Dave Kane Cycles Sen 08:24:49
29 Albert Schurer WV De Kannibaal Sen 08:25:20
30 James McMaster Northern CC-Dave Kane Cycles Sen 08:25:35
31 Thomas Martin Clann Eireann-Linen Green U/23 08:25:47
32 Kirk Sloan Ards CC Sen 08:26:38
33 Ryan Bankhead Ballymena RC-Scott Rooftiles Sen 08:26:38
34 Claude Vincendeau VC La Roche Sur Yonne Sen 08:27:27
35 Adrien le Mevel VC La Roche Sur Yonne Sen 08:28:13
36 Keiran McKenna East Antrim CC-Agnew Audi Sen 08:28:27
37 Craig Sweetman Stamullen-M Donnelly `A` Sen 08:28:29
38 Michael Duffy Ireland Juniors Jun 08:28:57
39 Jinne Osigna WV De Kannibaal Sen 08:30:27
41 Ard Aling WV De Kannibaal Sen 08:32:47
42 Steve McEwen WV De Kannibaal Vet 08:33:53
43 Gordon Scott East Antrim CC-Agnew Audi Vet 08:34:40
44 Ciaran Lewis McNally-Swords CC Sen 08:36:02
45 Davy McKnight Dromara CC Sen 08:36:04
46 Stephen Halpin McNally-Swords CC U/23 08:36:22
47 Liam Dolan Cuchullian CC Sen 08:36:22
48 Jimmy Rutherford Team SiS Vet 08:36:38
49 Kevin Donnagher McNally-Swords CC Sen 08:36:44
50 Graham McGarrity Scotland Track Juniors Sen 08:36:50
51 Keith Smith Glasgow Wheelers `A` U/23 08:37:18
52 Dean Martin Scotland Track Juniors Jun 08:37:26
53 Simon Mullany Stamullen-M Donnelly `A` Sen 08:38:21


















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