MTB Time Trial
Craigavon
hosted by Apollo CT
    

Thursday 1 January 2009
Tannaghmore Gardens, Craigavon

Day 1 of  2009 and already the cycling season was underway with Apollo CT hosting their annual charity mountain bike time trial in Tannaghmore Gardens on the shores of the Craigavon Lakes.  Twenty four riders showed up on a very cold and frosty morning some nursing hangovers from the previous night’s revelry.  There was no set sign-on fee with riders being asked for donations to the Children’s Hospice.  Derek King, secretary of Apollo CT, and the rest of the organisers, had been out early setting up the course of almost two miles which incorporated parts of the excellent cycle lanes around the lakes as well as stretches through the trees.  

With representatives from 7 local cycling clubs it was the stars from Banbridge CC who were setting the fastest times with Liam McGreevy in excellent form setting the only sub-5 minute time.  Liam had set the fastest time at this event last year and with a time of 4 minutes and 50 seconds on his first run and felt it was so good he did not need a second run!  Young Matthew Adair set two identical times of 5 minutes on each run.  He was followed by Masters rider Phil O’Neill and vet William Mulligan.  XMTB’s Kyle McEwan made up the fifth fastest and the fastest Apollo rider was Cathal Hendron (5:17) in sixth.  John Bogues was the only representative from Phoenix CC and set an excellent time of 5:24.  Dromara CC’s Martin Grimley managed to beat his XMTB rival Ronnie Ogilby for their first head to head of the year.  The fastest female rider was Val O’Neill who was also the fastest this time last year.  Under 8 rider Shenna McKiverigan enjoyed her ride around the shorter course.  

The hardworking Apollo CT are gearing up to host this year’s Irish Cyclo Cross Championships on Sunday 4 January 2009 in Lurgan Park. 


Rider
 Club
 Time
Liam McGreevy
 Banbridge CC
 4:50
Matthew Adair
 Banbridge CC
 5:00
Phil O'Neill
 Banbridge CC
 5:02
William Mulligan
 Banbridge CC
 5:03
Kyle McEwan
 XMTB
 5:15
Cathal Hendron
 Apollo CT
 5:17
John O'Neill
 U/A
 5:20
John Bogues
 Phoenix CC
 5:24
Martin Grimley
 Dromara CC
 5:25
John McAuley
 Apollo CT
 5:30
Ronnie Ogilby
 XMTB
 5:31
Valerie O'Neill
 Banbridge CC
 5:35
Liam McKiverigan
 Banbridge CC
 5:36
John Ruddell
 Ards CC
 5:38
Campbell Armstrong
 Apollo CT
 5:45
Stuart Ballantine
 XMTB
 5:46
Dwyer Lavery
 Clann Eireann/Linen Green
 5:54
Keith Abraham
 U/A
 5:56
Davy Quinn
 Apollo CT
 6:22
Alan Reid
 Dromara CC
 6:36
Caroline Patterson
 Dromara CC
 6:40
Aimee Ogilby
 XMTB
 7:16
Nichola Oldham
 Banbridge CC
 7:31
Shenna McKiverigan
 Banbridge CC
 3:59



  
 Photos by Martin Grimley
   
Nichola, Val and Sheena 

Sign on and soup tent
 
Derek King timekeeping with Campbell Armstrong ready for the off

Waiting for their 'go'
 



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