13 September 2009
hosted by Phoenix CC
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Ulster Road Race Championships 13 September 2009 hosted by Phoenix CC |
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| Ulster Road Race Championships Saturday 13 September 2009 Report courtesy of Tommy Lamb, Cycling Ulster The Ulster Road Race Championships for Elite, Juniors and Veterans promoted by Phoenix CC saw a very competitive field take to the roads around Nutts Corner today. The Elite riders were set off first with the Juniors going off some ten seconds behind. It was not long before the Juniors had bridged the gap to the Elite riders and were able to hang in with them over the 67 mile race. Despite the fact that some of the bigger names such as Martyn Irvine and David McCann were on National duty in Aigle the race proved to be very fast paced. Dromara's Davy McKnight and East Antrim's Gary Cranston went from the gun and soon began to open a gap. However a chase began behind which included East Antrim's Kieran McKenna, Thomas Martin (Clann Eireann), Balllymena brothers Leo and Conor McAllister, Fergus Rooney (Phoenix CC), North Down's Stuart Henry, Darren Weir (Dromara CC) and Juiced Orchard's Peter Williams. By the end of Lap 1 this group had closed the gap to the initial duo. They worked well together and began to steadily increase the gap to a small group of chasers which included Marcus Christie (Usher IRC), Lakeland's Dane Dunlop and National 'B'Champion Mark Buchanan from North Pole. The gap remained steady for a lap or so at about a minute but gradually increased. The main peleton were a further two minutes in arrears but Lakeland's Raymond Dunlop attempted to break at times, chasing hard to make it to the leaders. In the penultimate lap the leaders began to put down the hammer and the group split with Cranston, Conor McAllister and Martin going clear. In the final 500 metres it was Clann Eireann's Thomas Martin who had the legs for that final kick and he romped home to a well deserved solo victory. In the sprint for the line it was McAllister who took the silver medal position with Cranston in bronze. McKenna came in in fourth position while Peter Williams (Juiced Orchard) just ousted Stuart Henry (North Down) for the Junior Award. Marcus Christie took third in the Junior competition. With Davy McKnight and Darren Weir coming in shortly afterwards, Dromara waited anxiously to see whether they could take the team prize. North Pole were pushing them for the honours but in the end a final kick by newcomer Damian McDonald gave Dromara the glory of the team medals. North Pole's Kieran Ecceles followed shortly showing a dramatic improvement in the short time he has been racing. I am sure we will hear more of him and North Pole next year. The Veterans race was handicapped with the older vets getting a two minute advantage over the rest of the field. However the main bunch reeled them in very quickly. This event proved very competitive with Kenny Boylan (Lakeland) and Tommy Wilson (Ballymena Scott Tiles) making early moves. However when Liam Curran (Team Curran) made a move a group were quickly on his wheel. These included, Ronnie Smyth (Dromara CC), Peter McConville (Newry Wheelers), Simon Curry (Banbridge), Tommy Wilson (Ballymena Scott Tiles) and Phoenix duo Peter Stewart and Jay Gault. Chase was given by North Pole's Jim Doyle and East Antrim's Jim McConnell while the peleton kept up the pace to minimise the gap. This led to the leaders being drawn back leaving John Madden, Liam Curran and Tommy Wilson with a short lead for a time before they too were pulled back in. Coming to the line it was all down to a bunch sprint which was taken in fine style by Curran with Dromara's Ronnie Smyth taking silver from Four Master's Daniel Logue. With John Madden in fourth position and Alan Lavery taking fifth the team medals were easily sorted with Curran Racing emerging as Team Champions. Cycling Ulster Treasurer, Oliver Hunter, was on hand to present the medals. In addition to receiving his gold medal, Thomas Martin was presented with the George Wilkes Trophy which had been donated three years previously by the Wilkes family in memory of their father. George Wilkes had been Honorary President of Cycling Ulster until his death and was a great supporter of promoting cycling to young people. The event was run in glorious sunshine, perhaps the nicest day of the summer. Phoenix CC had gone all out to ensure the safety of the riders with well placed warning signs, ambulance, good radio communication and lots of static marshalls and lead cars. The addition of more motorbike marshalls ensured a much more professional approach and many thanks are due to these bikers who came from Ballyliffen, Omagh and Enniskillen to help out on the day. Their efforts are very much appreciated by both Phoenix CC and Cycling Ulster. Results Ulster Road Race Championships 2009 Elite Men 110km 1. Thomas Martin (Clann Eireann) 2. Conor McAllister (Ballymena Scott Tiles) 3. Gary Cranston (East Antrim Audi) 4. Kieran McKenna (East Antrim Audi) 5. Leo McAllister (Ballymena Scott Tiles) 6. Fergus Rooney (Phoenix CC) 7. Davy McKnight (Dromara CC) 8. Darren Weir (Dromara CC) Junior Men 110km 1. Peter Williams (Juiced Orchard) 2. Stuart Henry (North Down) 3. Marcus Christie (Usher IRC) 4. Peter Lilley (Banbridge CC) 5. Jonny Beers (East Antrim) 6. Philip Bremner (Ballymena Scott Tiles) Veterans 90km 1. Liam Curran (Curran Racing) 2. Ronnie Smyth (Dromara CC) 3. Daniel Logue (Four Masters) 4. John Madden (Curran Racing) 5. Alan Lavery (Curran Racing) 6. Gordon Scott (East Antrim Audi) Elite Team Dromara CC (Davy McKnight, Darren Weir, Damian McDonald) Veteran Team Curran Racing (Liam Curran, John Madden, Alan Lavery) |
Photos
courtesy of Marian Lamb (Cycling Ulster)
 Darren  Damien  Damien  Damien finishing strongly  Winning team, Damien, Davy and Darren  |
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 |  Ronnie get silver |