Report of the action
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Second Weekend of the
2009
Road Racing Season Report of the action |
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| John Haldane
Memorial Race Sunday 8 March 2009 Report adapted from that written by Tommy Lamb, Cycling Ulster A record entry lined out on Sunday for the John Haldane Memorial Race in Hilltown. Promoted by Newry Wheelers. The A race was set off first with S2's, Supervets and strong Juniors getting a four minute advantage over the S1's. Promoted by Newry Wheelers there were two races down for decision. The A race was set off first with S2's, Supervets and strong Juniors getting a four minute advantage over the S1's. Mark Greer (Maryland) Gerard Heverin (Castlereagh CC) and Tommy Wilson (Ballymena RC) had opened up a 30 second gap by the end of the first lap but the bunch reeled them in. The scratch group were also working hard and had reduced the handicap to just over a minute in one lap. Now it was the turn of Jonny Cole (Team Madigan), Gordon Scott (East Antrim Audi), Liam Curran (Team Curran Racing) and Sam Craig (North Down) to make a move. They broke away from the bunch just as scratch joined it. David McCann(Phoenix CC), Fraser Duncan and Team mates Martyn Irvine and Adam Armstrong, (Curran Racing), Ryan Connor (Usher IRC), Shaun Gray (Juiced Orchard), Tommy Wilson (Ballymena), Darren Weir (Dromara CC) and Michael Murray (Clann Eireann) gave chase and joined the break. For the remainder of the race this group stayed away for the main part but were joined by Gary Cranston (East Antrim) Barry Monaghan (Newry Wheelers)and Brendan Graham (Castlereagh CC) in the last lap. Connor made valiant attempts to shake off the others but to no avail. Coming to the line at the end to the five laps it was Curran and McCann who fought it out in the sprint with McCann just edging Curran out. Irvine took third position some seconds down with Duncan, Monaghan and Graham taking the remaining places. Dromara's Darren Weir rode a very strong race staying away in the break with stronger riders than him. Darren was very pleased with his fifteenth place and is looking forward to riding in the Armagh to Downpatrick Classic on Sunday 22nd of March. Dromara's Ronnie Smyth was involved in a crash with a number of other riders when a tractor pulled across the road causing the lead vehicle to stop suddenly. Luckily he was uninjured apart from road rash. The B race saw vets over fifty and women getting a five minute advantage over the reaming vets, juniors and S3 riders. From the word go a small group comprising Finbarr Cummins (Phoenix CC) Davy Quinn (Apollo CT), Martin Gray (Cuchullain CC), Noe Boyce (North Down CC) and Lakeland's Kenny Boylan broke away from the limit bunch and began to increase their lead. Although the combined bunch behind worked well they did not take any real time out of the leaders. Three hundred metres from the line Cummins began to wind up for the sprint but Boyce was no dozer and was watching the moves. The two fought it out all the way up into Hilltown but on the line it was victory for Boyce. Cummins was second with Davy Quinn lifting third. As for the other Dromara riders, Gary Gray again rode with ease never far away from the front of the bunch, Derek Hanna and Nigel Sudlow got shelled out on the second lap. Nigel retired but Derek rode on to finish it out. Mark McKnight retired due to a sore knee at end of second lap while still in touch with the bunch. Paul Smyth lost contact very early on in the first lap but rode on to the finish the race. Despite the freezing conditions and inevitable hailstones it was an excellent event with a lot of aggressive riding. Congratulations also to the women who braved the conditions today. Once again Newry Wheelers pulled out all the stops and the yellow jacketed marshals were in evidence everywhere. Thanks must go to Hilltown GAA club for the tea and sandwiches. Next Saturday five Dromara riders will once again lock horns in the John Moore Memorial race in Carryduff, hosted by Castlereagh CC. |
Photos
courtesy of Marian Lamb (Cycling Ulster)
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