Road Race Season finally starts and Ward scores his first points
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As the days get longer and instagram fills with pictures of fresh looking carbon speed machines you know that the road racing season must be upon us. This year we have a healthy bunch of road racers with some ready to cut their teeth at A4 and others more experienced in A2 and A3. The first road race of the season was the Annaclone GP hosted by Banbridge CC and Dromara CC had plenty of representation.
The A4 race would see plenty of Dromara CC riders have a go to break away from the peloton but with limited success. Only one rider managed to make a break and stayed away for the whole race to take the victory which left the main bunch to battle out for the rest of the placing. With a spill late in the race the bunch was split and only those lucky enough to be at the sharp end would make the final sprint. Johnny Ward who I hear has got a new bike and been putting of plenty of rubber down on the turbo trainer took an excellent 4th place, Davy Broome took 12th place and almost looked to be enjoying the road racing, Gerard Doyle would complete the top 20 in the A4 race.
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In the A1/2/3 race Dromara CC had young Aaron Watson moving into the junior category and therefore into the A3 race. The auld hans would of course be there to show that age is just a number and the youngsters get it easy these days with all their light weight bikes. Gavin and Ronnie would start in the A2 race with Gavin having a nasty spill on the last lap to take him out of contention – fingers crossed he is only bruised and ready to get racing soon. Jack Ferguson looked like a man enjoying getting back to racing again as he produced a strong showing and was unlucky to miss the break. Alas no one made the top 10 but plenty of strong performances suggesting it shouldn’t be long.
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The next day after Annaclone GP was the Phoenix GP which saw the long awaited appearance of Stephen Irvine at a road race. The wait would certainly be worth it as he took 10th place in the A3 race and clearly all that warm weather training is starting to pay off. Johnny Ward who raced Annaclone the day before must have added years to him as he managed to get himself into the Masters race instead of the A4 race… the less said about this the better. In the A4 race Neil Armstrong and David Henderson made their race debut’s and from what this reporter hears they put in a strong performance and no doubt will be looking a podium before long.
It wasn’t all racing this weekend with the VC Glendale Ride Out For CHILDREN’S CANCER being organised by Toby Watson. The Ladies of Dromara CC were just a few of the riders who would make the effort to support this great cause. From all the reports the ride was well marshalled and the route was very enjoyable. Cathy must have been taking the picture below but great to see everyone enjoying their bike.
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