Sportactive Ulster Women's League
Juiced Orchard hosted the penultimate round of the Ulster Women's League sponsored by Sportactive. Fourteen women lined up for the event today and were broken into three bunches separated by a total of eleven minutes from back to front groups. The women were doing four laps of the Groucho Grand Prix course and had the advantage of finishing on the circuit and not facing the up hill finish that the other category riders had to complete. 

Dromara cycling club’s Caroline Patterson and Therese Smyth started in the second group with three others, six minutes behind the first group containing the other Dromara rider Antje Otto.  Caroline, Therese and Louise Fullerton (BallymenaCC) worked well together and soon caught up with the limit group. Scratch were unable to bridge the gap to the leaders despite hard riding by Ciara Mulholland (Clann Éireann), Cathy Thompson (U/A) and Julie Mulligan (Omagh Wheelers).

In the end it came down to a two up sprint between Louise Fullerton (Ballymena Scott Tiles) and Therese Smyth (Dromara CC) with Louise getting the verdict on the line. Caroline Patterson took third to give Dromara CC two of the top three positions.  Bann Wheelers' Nicky McBride came in fourth just ahead of Antje Otto (Dromara CC). Ciara Mulholland was the best of scratch coming in at sixth. It was down to a sprint finish for the next two places with Hannah Francis of Ards CC just pipping Julie Mulligan (Omagh Wheelers).
All in all the women thoroughly enjoyed the event and would like to thank Juiced Orchard for hosting it for them. The final round takes place in Emyvale on the 24th May hosted by Emyvale CC.

Caroline’s comment

“We didn’t think we could have stayed away from the scratch group as in the other races they caught us on the last lap but they didnt have Kay Hack as she would have been at the front most of the time and i think they didnt work as well as we did and there were six of them and three of us. We stayed together to the finish but my legs had no more energy so it was between Therese and Louise and it was Louise got the win. You heard this big scream from Therese as she was gutted not winning, but we both did well and i was very pleased to get third. There is one more race at Emyvale in two weeks time hopefully we do well again for the club.”

Results Sportactive Women's League Round 6
1. Louise Fullerton (Ballymena-Scott Tiles) 1-09-11
2. Therese Smyth (Dromara CC) ST
3. Caroline Patterson (Dromara CC) ST
4. Nicky McBride (Bann Wheelers) @ 1-38
5. Antje Otto (Dromara CC) ST
6. Ciara Mulholland (Clann Éireann CC) @ 3-49
7.Hannah Francis (Ards CC) ST
8. Julie Mulligan (Omagh Wheelers) ST
9. Tonya Moran (Phoenix CC) ST
10. Cathy Thompson (U/A) ST
11. Orlagh Duddy (Harps CC) ST
12. Gillian Orr (Ards CC) @ 3-59
13. Jacqueline Mallett (Foyle CC) @ 7-06