Watson wins Boyd Rice Solicitors Tour of Ards

Today saw another great edition of the Tour of Ards, sponsored this year by Boyd Rice Solicitors.

We were again blessed with great weather, and the 80 competitors charged round the 75 mile course at over 25mph. Lindsay Watson (Powerhouse) won by a single second from a group of six led in by Luke Smith (BioRacer), with the main bunch a further 30 seconds behind.

	Name	Club	Time
1	Lindsay Watson	Powerhouse	2:53:41
2	Luke Smith	BioRacer/DHL	2:53:42
3	Chris Richardson	BikeHouse	s.t.
4	Gareth O’Neill	Newry Wheelers	s.t.
5	James Curry	Dan Morrissey Pactimo	s.t.
6	Darnell Moore	Caldwell Cycles	s.t.
7	John Buller	BioRacer/DHL	s.t.
8	Mark Potts	Unattached	2:54:10

A2	Mark McKinley	Newry Wheelers
A3	Adam Skeet	Northern Dave Kane
Vet	Des Woods	Newry Wheelers
Jun	Cieran Dixon	Team Type 1 Junior Team
Ards	Andrew Hedley	Ards CC

KoH	Darnell Moore	Caldwell Cycles

Thanks to everyone who helped to make it such a fantastic event –

Our sponsors – Boyd Rice Solicitors, Agnew VW, Victory Chimp, Romas, The Belgian Project and Ray Brownfield.
The Police, who supplied a control car and 7 police motorbikes.
The static marshals and 6 moto marshals, who helped to keep the race safe.
Everyone who helped with the catering at the finish (and the start).
St John Ambulance.
St Patrick’s parish hall.
The commissaires
And all the riders and supporters.

Here are some more photos from today’s race.

The mystical Tommy Brown Memorial Trophy, with the winner’s jersey

Team Ards (less IanC) at the start with the Agnew VW team car

RickyT contemplates the challenge ahead..

The bunch was neutralised to the top of the Movilla Road

Thanks, as always, to all our marshals who once again did a great job keeping everyone safe. This is Greyabbey after 8 miles.

By Cloghy a group of 9 riders had gained about 10 seconds on the bunch

Last year’s winner Darnell Moore (Caldwell Cycles) wins the KoH prime on the first climb of Mountain Road.

Gareth looking good on the Mountain Road

Ian Carson crosses the Mountain Road prime line

The weather’s improved a lot in the last week – cracked tarmac at Abbacy Road.

Gareth O’Neill (Newry Wheelers) leads the break on the second lap. They gained 15 seconds, before being pulled back in, but Gareth would go on to finish 4th.