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| Dromara CC Club
League - Round 20 Road Race - Harry Ferguson Cup (map) 13 August 2009 Thursday 13 August 2009 saw the final road race of the Dromara Cycling Club 2009 League and it was a return to the Magheraconluce Road to the site of the Harry Ferguson Memorial Garden. This is the third year that the club have competed for the Harry Ferguson Cup and again some members from the Harry Ferguson Celebration Committee had turned up to spectate. Thirty six riders had turned up among them were six guests from other clubs including Fergus Rooney and Cathal Smyth from Phoenix Cycling Club who were present at the event last year, three members from the Banbridge club, William Mulligan, Mark Downey and Scott Daly, as well as the strong young rider Noel Doyle from West Down Wheelers. The evening's weather was ideal for racing, overcast but with hardly a breeze. Racing got underway just after 7 pm with Trevor Annett and Nigel Sudlow looking after the timekeeping and setting the various time handicaps. There were five groups on the night with the first containing four of the club's youth riders who had four laps of the almost three mile course to complete with the senior riders having nine laps to complete. The course was far from flat with Raffertys Hill testing the riders each lap. The scratch group contained the club's top road riders including David McKnight, Ronnie Smyth and last year's winner Darren Weir. They had a time handicap of 19½ minutes to make up on the first group with Antje Otto their biggest threat. The timekeepers had worked out the handicaps perfectly with the scratch group having to work hard to catch Antje which they did just before the final lap to lead the race after the bell. The spectators and photographers gathered at the finish line waiting to find out who would win the cup this year and it wasn't long before a flash of white could be seen in the distance. With a repeat of last year it was Darren Weir who was first up the final hill but as opposed to last year there was no bunch sprint with Darren a good 30 yards ahead of nearest pursuer Fergus Rooney (Phoenix). Behind Fergus came Ronnie Smyth (Dromara) repeating the 1, 2, 3 we had in 2008. David McKnight finished fourth before a small group of riders appeared lead by new club member Brian Steele then Matthew Patterson with a close finish between Paul Mawhirt and William Mulligan with Paul getting ahead by half a wheel. Brian McGrath and Cathal Smyth completed the top 10. In the four lap junior race we had the closest finish all year with Zak Hanna finishing just half a wheel ahead of Christopher Weir who has improved his form all season. Finishing third was Connor Mallon with Nathan Proctor coming fourth having only taken part in one other road race before. When all competitors were back there was a quick photoshoot before Darren was presented with the cup by Eric Jess from the Harry Ferguson Celebration Committee. The club wish to thank the members of the Committee for their support and wish them good luck for their event this weekend. Well done to all the riders and a special thanks to all the marshalls and timekeepers. Also our appreciation goes to Jim McMaster who returned home to get a leaf blower to clear the hedge cuttings from one of the roads. Next Thursday we have another 10 mile time trial on the Downpatrick Road just outside Ballynahinch.
In the 4 lap junior race
List of those who did not finish (with number of laps completed)
Timekeeper(s): Trevor Annett and Nigel Sudlow Marhalls: Dennis McMullan, Jim McMaster, Kieran Thomas, Tony Mallon, Sharon Weir, Alan Reid, Stephen Wallace. Photography & Report: Martin Grimley Report from the 2008 event here |
 Photos by Martin  Harry Ferguson Cup  Group 1  Group 2  Group 3  Group 4  Group 5 |
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 Darren repeats his win |  Fergus and Ronnie finish 2nd and 3rd |
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 Memorial Garden |  Trevor and Nigel timekeeping behind the flower tractor |
 Eric Jess from the Celebration Committee presents Darren Weir with the Harry Ferguson Cup |  Darren with Fergus Rooney to his left and Ronnie Smyth to his right |
