Time for Stew and a Final Club CX race

[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

A slightly delayed report on the Stew run due to the fact that this reporter needed to get some Christmas shopping done. The good news is that the Christmas shopping is done so on with a quick report. It was the night before Christmas……no hang on it was actually the 18th December….anyway as tradition holds the Dromara CC collective appeared in a range of glittery tinsel, santa suits and reindeer antlers to take part in the famous Stew run. With the clash of the Cyclocross Ulster Champs it looks like the commissionaire was sadly missed as people managed to sneak in Carbon bikes, no mud guards in fact there might have been a suggestion that a few had summer bikes out with the good wheels. Personally I cant believe it as it is only a relaxed club run from Dromara to well Dromara where you get a free bowl of stew.

As always the groups are split into 3 and everyone sets of for the enjoyable cycle. The A group are not allowed to show off their speed until a mythical start line when there will be a charge to see who will be the first to reach the 30 sign in Dromara. An early morning decision was taken to neutralise the start of the race…..i mean slighty faster speed….. to the final climb before Guinness. With everything together Nathan attacked early only to find out there was no planks to jump over or steps to run up. However he wasnt the only one full of winter promise as Johnny Ward showing his early form by covering every move on his new winter bike. Several attacks later and it was all back together coming around the lake with Graham McConnell putting in a great shift on the front. David Dickson was left on the front as the final lead out man(rumour is he thought he would attack and blind everyone with his new collection of rear lights that he can control with his mobile….pfft kids). Nathan stuck to Davy’s wheel perfectly positioned for the sprint finish and made sure not to ease up with young Wallace skulking about the group. If Nathan had of looked behind instead of show boating to the camera he might of seen a young Johnny Ward leading the rest over the line. The good news is that the new road race committee member was on hand to note performances as he decides who will be in Scratch this year. He tells me it could be a large group.

Once everyone made it back to Dromara and the free bowl of Stew Nathan managed to find time to go and meet Santa to give him his long list and inform him that he really had been a good boy all year.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”http://www.dromaracc.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/15621608_1305507732854968_3032196109628755727_n.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”http://www.dromaracc.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/15589816_1305507679521640_6211858144172966394_n-1.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”http://www.dromaracc.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/15492199_1305507702854971_4476747014884397399_n.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

After much negiotation with agents/media/pit crews it was decided to run the first Cyclo-Cross Club Championship. This would be run by the Broome Collective and as expected the course was professionally set up with floodlights provided. The handicap fairy was clearly in the festive spirit or at least drinking plenty of it. Wannita shot off at the start using her knowledge of this course to her advantage, next off was Dromara CC’s poster boy of 2016 Bryce who managed to get a gap in his new modelling career schedule to take part. Robert, Ben and John went next with several wanting to know what they had given to the handicap fairy to get into this group…anyway the next group off was Wilson and Kellett…..hang on Kellett I hear you say….indeed brother Brian has joined the Dromara fold and clearly was given a favourable handicap for now. Alas not being in charge of the handicaps meant i got to go off in my own group just ahead of the final bunch of Nathan, Davy B and BVK.

To say the course was challenging was an understatement….throw in quite a bit of muck and the course was a perfect CX championship course. I believe every rider was down at least once and several debating to stay down. Speaking from myself I can confirm that it is one of the toughest courses I have done with no rest. Once the muck had settled and everyone had made it back to the finish having completed their 7 laps with Graham S and Gibson C taking charge of timing and commissionaire duties it was time to crown the first winner of the Club CycloCross Champion. With some awesome riding yet again young Ben showed that he is getting better and better at this cyclocross lark as he took the trophy ahead of Barry Kellett who had the fastest lap of the night and John Shanks completed the podium.

Finally everyone was delighted to head back for the highest quality tea/coffee and baked delights as Nathan attempted to prove his worth as a pit crew helper. Many thanks to the Broome Family for organising, course design and most importantly the feed at the end. Results are below:

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”http://www.dromaracc.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/WhatsApp-Image-2016-12-22-at-21.38.27.jpeg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”http://www.dromaracc.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/WhatsApp-Image-2016-12-22-at-21.38.49.jpeg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]