A date for your diaries – this year’s club bar-b-que will be on Saturday 23rd August, from about 3.30pm. This is always a very enjoyable event, so pencil it in now. We’re hoping to have the usual mix of good food, craic, quiz and roller racing. More details nearer the time.

Some of the crowd at last year’s club BBQ

Andrew McCullough (Kinning Cycles) won tonight’s club road race at Carrowdore, to add to his victory in our town centre races a couple of weeks ago. Second was the ever green Mark Kane (Dave Kane Northern) with Fraser Duncan (Dave Kane Northern) third and David Hamilton (Curran Racing) fourth. These four just held off the fast closing bunch, which was led in by Chris Richardson (Castlereagh) and our own Willy McMullan.

Forty riders signed on for 5 laps of the undulating Carrowdore 100 course. The scratch group, including Commonwealth Games selected rider Fraser, looked very strong. Despite being given a handicap of 4 minutes, they knocked out a couple of 11.30 laps (28mph) and had caught the front group in just 3 laps. The attacks then started, and the strong men ultimately emerged to fight it out for the win.

In the competition for the Ards CC road race trophy, Willy took maximum points, followed by Paul McMinn, Chris Lappin, Chris Brown, Richard Topping and James McFarlane. Richard Hanna and Geoff Brennan just missed out on the points. Willy now leads by just 3 points from Paul, with all to play for in the two remaining club road races.

Thanks as always to the marshals, time keepers, and judges.

Here are the current standings in the club road race competition.

(Apologies for the delay in publishing the results. There was some confusion about the start times of some riders, and 9 times have been changed. The full, corrected result is given below.)

Lindsay Watson powers to victory

There was a very close battle for the Ulster Hill Climb Championships on the classic Scrabo course. Lindsay Watson (Plush MTB) took victory by just 2 seconds from former winner Glenn Kinning (Kinning Cycles) with Daniel Stewart (East Antrim CC) a further 4 seconds back.

Niall O’Gorman (Phoenix) took first Vet, Geoff Brennan took first Ards CC in the main event, Ciara Macmanus was first Lady and Alastair Chambers (North Down CC) was first youth.

Thanks as always to David McVeigh for some great pictures of the event

Three Ards CC riders also rode in the separate club event – Gareth Murray (5:59), Richard Topping (6:50) and Richard Hanna (DNF). This means that Gareth wins this year’s Club Hill Climb trophy (and would have finished 4th overall in the Championship if he had entered the main event).

Apologies again for the incorrect times on the night. We’ll be in contact with any riders who missed out on a prize in the next few days.

And a request for the future – please don’t distract the time keepers during an event, either at the start or the finish. Their job requires a lot of concentration. Thanks for your patience.

Andrew McCullough (Kinning Cycles) was a worthy winner of the main A1/2/3/Jun race at the Ards Town Centre Races on Wednesday evening.

Andrew McCullough wins the main senior event

The  race was run as a short handicap, with the A1/2s giving away 40seconds to the A3/Juniors. The attacks starting immediately, with junior rider Evan Donoghue from Letterkenny holding a small advantage for couple of laps. He was soon replaced at the front by Andrew McCullough. Behind, the A1/2s had caught the main bunch, and the counter attacks came thick and fast. It was Glen Kinning (also from Kinning Cycles) who eventually managed to escape the bunch, but Andrew managed to hold on for the win. U16 rider Jake Gray (East Tyrone CC) took the bunch sprint for third.

Ards rider Paul McMinn rode strongly to finish in the depleted bunch.

Earlier in the evening, the combined A4/Vet/Ladies race was won by Ronnie Smyth (Dromara) in a bunch sprint from Mark Short (Phoenix) and Colin McClarnon (North Down CC). Commonwealth Games selected rider Clare Oakley finished comfortably in the bunch with the men to take first lady.

Ards rider Steve L rode strongly, regularly driving the bunch along.

The A4/Vet/Ladies riders attack at the Old Cross corner

There was also a full programme of underage races.

In the U16 race, Harvey Barnes (East Tyrone CC) took the win from Will Hamilton (North Down CC) and his team mate Jake Gray. Jake was given special permission by Cycling Ireland to ride the main senior event, and took third there too, which gives you some idea of the standard of these young riders!

The U16 podium, with club secretary Lindsay Gamble

In the U14 race, it was Errigal CC who dominated, with Conor Halvey  taking the win from team mate PJ Doogan and Harry Dow (North Down CC)

The U14 podium, with Irish inter national mechanic Lindsay Gamble

The U12 podium

Errigal also took victory in the U12 race with Odhran Doogan winning from Darren Rafferty (Island Wheelers) and Ciaran Dixon (Phoenix).

Finally, there was the highlight of the night for many – the novices race. This year riders varied in age from 3(!) up to 13. The organisers applied a very rough handicap based on age, and Adam Rafferty emerged as the winner, from Neil Kelso and Finlay Mayne.

The full novice result is included below (as best as we could judge on the night)

Judging is a serious business Paul….

Bradley Kinning (3) still looking good after 2km

Finally, thanks to all the people who made this great event possible – the police for closing the roads and helping to get cars off the course, the first aiders, the commissaire Jack Watson, the club committee and club members for all their work in advance and on the night, the riders and supporters (many of whom had travelled a long way), and to David McVeigh for some great photos. Click here for the full set.

Hopefully we’ll see you all back in Newtownards for the Ulster Hill Climb Championships next Tuesday (24th June) on Scrabo Hill (sign on at the car park at the top)

Former Ards CC member Ross Blayney has recently taken on the role of Sales and Marketing Manager for local start up company See.Sense. Here’s some information about them, and an offer for our members. Check out the link to their promotion video – Ross has lost none of his old showman skills!

Winner Robin Millar speeds towards the finish

Just three hardy riders faced the time keeper for this year’s Portaferry and back time trial for the Magreechan Cup. Fastest on the night was Robin Millar with 1:28:13 for the 35 mile course. Second was Willy McMullan on 1:35:06, and Colin Wilson rounded out the podium with 1:37:06.

Thanks to Bobby Magreehan and Richard Hanna for some great photos, and to David McNally, Lindsay Gamble, Richard Hanna and Billy Kirk for marshalling and to Ron Martin and Bobby for timing.

Hopefully next year we’ll get a bigger field for this classic test.

Colin Wilson (3rd), Bobby Magreechan (trophy sponsor and former chairman), Desi McIlwrath (current chairman), Robin Millar (winner), Ron Martin (time keeper) and Billy Kirk (President).

A dramatic tussle, as Colin Wilson re-passes Willy McMullan in the fight for second place

Club secretary Lindsay Gamble recommends this event…

Calling all cyclists, dust down the bikes as the Giro de Baile an Chaisil takes place Sun, August the 3rd at 10:30am from Main Street Ballycastle Co Mayo

Hosted by Baile and Chaisil Cycling Club the Giro follows a wonderfully scenic course from Ballycastle Village right along the North Mayo Coast  cycling right into the heart of Erris. Glancing Around you will see the rugged coastline of North Mayo with Céide and the Staggs of Broadhaven in the Distance.

The ride is not a race, it’s a chance to enjoy a challenge with like minded people with Spectacular views through out the routes

You can expect the following for your entry fee:

• Choice of three challenging routes – 130 km, 70 km and a 10 km family route
• Clearly marked routes with signage and marshals
• Route-cards and maps
• GPS routes
• HQ and Feed station with toilets. Food and drinks will be provided.
• Professional photography of the event
• Free food and drinks after your ride
• Free Car Parking
• Support Vehicles
• Professional Bike Service
• Rider Public Liability Insurance
• Shower and changing facilities
• Free Camping
• Finishers to receive specially designed medal.

Registration from 9:30
The entry fee for Cycling Ireland Members is € 20 per person for the long and Med routes,
€25 for non cycling Ireland cyclists .
€5 for the Family Route.
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Christian Nachtigall well chuffed at the finish

Christian Nachtigall (Phoenix) was an impressive winner of the Champion of Champions 25 mile Time Trial in 57:37.

Following torrential rain for most of Saturday, it was a relief to wake up this morning to see the sun peeking through, but there was still a strong breeze and Chris Boardman’s course and event record of 49:36 never looked in danger.

Second overall was Derek Ferguson (Kings Moss), with local speed merchant Robin Millar (Ards CC) taking third for the host club.

Derek Ferguson was second

Ards CC’s Robin Millar took third

Woman’s winner Keri Parton

Starting effort -from Mary Hunter

Gillian Orr riding to 3rd this year.

In the woman’s category, Keri Parton (Dromara CC) took the honours in a close battle with Mary Hunter (Sun Drive) and last year’s winner Gillian Orr (North Down CC)

This event also counts towards some of the Ards CC club trophies. Second Ards man on the day was Michael Rowan, just edging out William Orr.

Given the strong breeze, Michael decided to use his smaller 55×12 gear…

William Orr was third Ards CC rider

Time keepers Billy Kirk and Paul Robison. Trainee marshalls earned ice creams

Thanks to time keepers Billy Kirk and Paul Robinson, pusher off David McNally, and to all the marshals – as always we couldn’t have done it without you.

The full result is below.

A record field of 60 riders signed on for Tuesday evening’s club road race at Orlock. They were split into 2 groups, with the 14 scratch riders giving away three and a half minutes to the front group. This was a great piece of handicapping (from a spectators point of view) as the two groups came together on the last corner. From a judge’s point of view, it was a bit more tricky, but with the help of some mobile phone videos, the judges were able to identify the first 6 across the line and also the first 6 Ards riders who get points towards the club road race trophy.

A screen shot from the mobile phone video used to judge the race – Richard Topping pips Willy McMullan for 6th Ards rider

Winner on the night was Matty Blayney (NDCC) from team mate James McMaster and Ards CC regular Mark Kane (Northern Dave Kane).

Barry Hamilton (NDCC), Paul McMinn (first Ards rider) and David Hamilton (Curran) filled out the remaining top 6 places.

In the battle between the Ards riders, the top three (Paul, William Gill and Jack Anderson) hadn’t scored in the previous race, so the current standing are now very close – see the table below. There is still all to play for in the remaining three races (with a rider’s best 4 results to count).

Riders are reminded that they must sign on and show their licence before racing. This is important for insurance purposes. Also, this race had the maximum number of riders allowed by the police, so it is crucial that we know exactly how many are taking part. Any rider failing to sign on may be barred from riding future Ards CC events. Thanks.