Sean McGreevy Memorial Road Race - Saturday 8th April
There was a large turnout for the Sean
McGreevy Memorial Road Race last Saturday, an event well promoted
and organised by Banbridge Cycling Club. The race on one of
Ulster's toughest courses, was open to Senior 3, Veterans, Juniors
and Women saw an amazing 9 Dromara men take to their bikes, on a day
when the weather was not favourable, with one major hail shower
taking its toll of the peloton.
Impressive displays from Peter
McConville (Newry Wheelers) and Thomas Simmons (North Down) allowed
this duo to break clear and by the end of the 80 kilometre race were
over 4 minutes ahead of the chasing pack. McConville used his
experience over newcomer Simmons to take the uphill sprint for the
line while Gordon Scott (East Antrim) led in the remainder.
Dromara Cycling Club's Ronnie Smyth and
David Mckinght finished 9th & 10th in the main pack as it charged
across the line, with Stephen Baines, 16th and David Zwahlen and
Marcus McGowan finishing the top twenty, with this a baptism of fire
for Marcus in his first race. The other race virgins of Nigel Sudlow
and Richard Bell found the step up to road racing a tough ladder to
climb and retired from the race, by vowed to fight another day.
Darren Weir's chain snapped at Ballykeel Hill on the second lap
putting paid to his chances and Bob Patterson found that newly
married life and cycle racing just do not mix.
A six strong team of Ronnie Smyth,
Darren Weir, David Mcknight, Stephen Baines, Ian Mason And Tim Edgar
will be taking part in this Easter weekends Tour of The North. The
opening prologue time trial starts at 7pm on Good Friday the 14th on
the Main drive at Parliament Buildings Stormont. On Saturday there
is a 60 mile road race around Ballymena, on Sunday a 7.2 mile time
trail followed by a mile road race around the Ards Peninsula and
Mondays tough finish with a 74 mile road race around County Down,
including to major Mourne climbs and the finish at Dundonald Ice
Bowl.
Pictures courtesy of Cycling Ulster.