Luke Joyce (Bike House) relaxes after his win.
This evening’s club race was the final straight in 10k of the season on a sunny Portaferry Road. And with Peter McLean and Stuart Millar resting after their great exploits in the Newcastle West stage race in Limerick over the long weekend, there was an opportunity for a new name at the head of the leader board.
The top three riders all had personal bests, but it was Luke Joyce (Bike House) who took the win in 12:46, five seconds ahead of Andrew Hedley (Ards CC) with Barry Mitchell (Ards CC) a further seven seconds back.
Barry Mitchell (Ards CC) storms to third
| Name | Club | Time | H’Cap | HC pts | |
| 1 | Luke Joyce | Bike House CC | 12:46 | ||
| 2 | Andrew Hedley | Ards CC | 12:51 | +57 | 7 |
| 3 | Barry Mitchell | Ards CC | 12:58 | +12 | 5 |
| 4 | Ivan Robinson | Ards CC | 13:30 | -74 | |
| 5 | Jonathan Taylor | North Down CC | 13:35 | ||
| 6 | Glen Curry | Ards CC | 14:02 | +59 | 10 |
| 7 | James Lemon | Ards CC | 14:04 | -41 | 1 |
| 8= | Michael Rowan | Northern CC | 14:23 | ||
| 8= | Richard Hanna | Ards CC | 14:23 | -34 | 2 |
| 10 | Aaron Fegan | Unattached Ulster | 14:41 | ||
| 11 | Mark Hodgins | North Down CC | 14:43 | ||
| 12 | Philip Giles | Ards CC | 14:46 | npt | |
| 13 | William Orr | Ards CC | 14:49 | -32 | 3 |
| 14 | Gillian Orr | North Down CC | 15:08 | ||
| 15 | Alan Rodgers | Ards CC | 15:16 | -56 | |
| 16 | Colin Wilson | Ards CC | 15:22 | -58 | |
| 17 | Ryan Fegan | North Down CC | 16:09 | ||
| 18 | Alastair&Evie Martin | Ards CC | 17:01 | ||
| James Carinduff | Ards CC | DNS | |||
| Kevin Briggs | Ards CC | DNS |
The battle for handicap points was even closer, with Glen Curry taking the win by just two seconds from Andrew Hedley. And that proved crucial in the final 10k handicap cup standings where Andrew and Peter McLean finished first equal with 17 points each.
| Name | 18th May | 25th May | 3rd Aug | Total | |
| 1= | Andrew Hedley | 5 | 5 | 7 | 17 |
| 1= | Peter McLean | 7 | 10 | 17 | |
| 3= | Glen Curry | 10 | 10 | ||
| 3= | James Cairnduff | 10 | 10 | ||
| 5 | Conor Hanna | 2 | 7 | 9 | |
| 6 | Barry Mitchell | 1 | 5 | 6 | |
| 7 | Ben Healey | 3 | 2 | 5 | |
| 8= | Chloe Deyermond | 3 | 3 | ||
| 8= | William Orr | 3 | 3 | ||
| 10 | Richard Hanna | 2 | 2 | ||
| 11= | James Lemon | 1 | 1 | ||
| 11= | Steve Core | 1 | 1 |
James Lemon (Ards CC)
Thanks to the time keepers and pusher off tonight.
Next week is a new, more social event – a trail quest, starting and finishing at Eden Pottery (on the road between Carrowdore and Millisle). There are more details here. First rider or team will start at 6.30pm, and you’ll have 75 minutes to get round as many points as possible.
Let us know on Facebook if you’re interested (Post on 28/7 19:18). Barry (club treasurer) has promised a free drink at Eden Pottery if we can get 20 entries and persuade them to stay open for us…
And finally, there’s still time to enter the Champion of Champions 25 on Sunday 15th August.
William Orr (Ards CC)