Club Road Race - Maze / Flatfields Circuit (map)
19 May 2011
The Dromara Cycling Club League continued in earnest on Thursday 19 May 2011 with a road race on the Maze / Flatfields route. This course was revived last year after a long period of being forgotten but for those who did remember the races then they could remember the small amount of riders who took part, usually less than 20. As a reflection of the popularity of the club's league and of this circuit we got a record turnout.
Permission had been kindly given by the Elim Church to park in their car park. At 6:15 pm there weren't too many around on this cold and windy evening. As the time went past 6:30 pm the riders started to arrive and arrive and arrive. By 7 pm there were riders everywhere. Race secretary Nigel Sudlow was hurriedly allocating newcomers to race groups. Marshals were briefed and racing got underway around 7:15. There were 5 groups on the night and altogether there were 67 riders with almost half as guests including a big showing from Team Vision Racing who had 13 at the event.
The first group had 10 riders in it which included Trevor Annett making his first appearance in the league this year and this was a good one to attend as the race circuit was right on his doorstep. At 5:00 on the clock the second group started, this group was the smallest on the night with just 7 riders including Gillian Burns (TVR). At 8 minutes on the clock group 3 started and they had 17 riders including the youth riders Zak Hanna and Christopher Weir and female rider Val O'Neill (Phoenix CC). At 10˝ minutes on the stopwatch group 4 set off. This group had 15 riders including Mark Downey (Banbridge CC) who has been selected for the European Youth Olympics. Two minutes after this group went the 17 strong final groups of 'scratch' riders which included pro rider Sean Downey (Cote D'Armor) who will be racing in the Rás this month, Peter Lilley (Slane Cycles) and 8 riders from TVR.
Riders had to complete 6 laps of the 4.1 mile circuit and a fast pace was being set by all the groups but most riders were able to stay with their groups. Around lap 4 the rain came on making both the riders and the timekeepers life more difficult. A group of five riders from Group 1 (Trevor, Martin Marner, Peter Swann, Peter Murtagh and Tommy Downey) were holding onto the lead until just before the end of lap 5 when a large train of riders (made up of groups 3, 4 and 5) came through. After the final lap bell was sounded the timekeepers moved from the car park entrance to the finish line further up the Moira Road. Motorcycle support was provided by club member Stewart Moore who alerted the timekeepers to the imminent arrival of the bunch. Peter Lilley was leading the bunch around the corner when Mark Downey made his move to come around Peter and power away from him to finish 2 seconds ahead of Peter and the rest of the bunch. Simon Welby and Davy McKnight (both TVR) took 3rd and 4th with first Dromara rider Gavin Magowan 5th with Ronnie Smyth 6th and Andy McGibbon (Apollo CT) 7th. There was a sprint finish for the youth riders with Christopher Weir taking the win just over a bike length in front of Zak Hanna.
Well done to all the riders competing and many thanks to the timekeepers and all the marshals. Round 9 is next Thursday (26 May 2011) and will be a 10 mile time trial on the Strangford Road in Downpatrick.
Timekeepers: Phil O'Neill, Colin Roy, David Young
Marshals: Bob Patterson, Alastair Gray, Philip Wilson, Mary Hunter, Roisin Boyle, Massimo Manganaro, Geoff Brown, Geoffrey Magowan, Ryan Mallon, David McClurg
Report and photos: Martin Grimley
