Ben riding for Ulster/Podiums at the CX/Mckibben Sportive completed/Ulster Hill Climb Smashed
Its been a busy weekend of cycling for Dromara CC and who knows where best to start. Lets start with young Ben Wilson getting picked to represent Ulster at the Junior MTB Inter-Regionals which involves several stages from skills to racing. From what I hear he has been doing Dromara CC proud with a savage performance as always. Here is Ben showing how to the skills course with ease
The Ulster Hill Climb Championships were on this weekend and Jack Ferguson managed to pop down and show he is still holding on to his form with an excellent third place.
Jack Ferguson taking third at the Ulster Hill Climb Champs
The leisure crowd managed to enjoy the Paul McKibben Sportive although the rain didnt stay away it didnt stop everyone enjoying a very well organised sportive.
Rain doesnt stop the smiles
This would lead us finally to the first round of the Ulster CycloCross Series held by Apollo CC in Lurgan Park. The day started off with success and would also finish with more success for Dromara CC. As always it was Aoife Kellett who would start the ball rolling with a superb effort in the Under 8’s race and claim second place in a very closely fought race. Nothing breeds confidence in Dromara CC than a bit of early success and Lexi Broome would show that all that training over the summer has paid off with an excellent third place in the Under 10’s girls race. Not to be out done James Armstrong was mid table last year in the Under 10’s but this year has showed that he is ever improving as he would claim a third place in the Under 10’s boys race. Fraser Harrower took the lead for Dromara CC in the Under 16’s race with Ben Wilson away representing Ulster and Fraser certainly put in a tremendous performance to claim 8th place in a very competitive field.
Medal Success in the Under 10s
Aoife taking second in Under 8’s
With this sort of start the senior members would have their work cut out to compete with Junior DCC. First up in a play about with the times were the ‘A’ Racers with six Dromara Men putting their wheel on the start line it was a fast and frantic race with the rain earlier in the week making parts of the course a swamp. The Pit crew were in for a tough day and Bryce, Niamh and young Gibson would keep the pits running smoothly. As with every Cross race the important think is to get your bike all the way around to the finish line but with bad luck we would see half the team fail to make the finish however Barry Kellett under pressure to produce after Junior DCC’s performance would show great determination to work his way through the field to claim 2nd place. Richard Cowan would take 29th and Adi Booth completing the team in 63rd.
Barry Kellett on his way to the podium
This would leave the ‘B’ Race and MTB Support race to finish and Neil Armstrong who has been in great form all year took off from the start carving through the mud and obstacles to claim a famous victory for Team Dromara. Bryce Hetherington who is back in full training mode showed his new found skills as he completed the tough course in 41st place and is surely one to watch for the future races. In the MTB Support Race Michael Foley would just miss out on a top ten finish by the width of a tyre as he showed some great early form.
Finally the secret is out as Dromara Junior have two more recruits in training. The future is bright…..
The Future Stars
All in all it was a great weekend for all Dromara CC and looking forward next weekend. Many Thanks to the Belgium Project for the photos – more can be found here.
