Champions Crowned at Ards Town Centre Races

There was a great series of races over a closed road circuit in Newtownards town centre this evening, with 6 Ulster Criterium titles up for grabs, plus some supporting events.

First up was the fun event for new comers over 2 laps

Ards and North Down deputy mayor Vicky Moore waved them on their way

Everyone seemed to enjoy it and there were ice-creams at the finish

Next up were the Under 8s, also covering 2 laps.

	Name	Club
1	Noah Finnegan	Square Wheels
2	Joshua Taylor	Unattached
3	Logan Finnegan	Square Wheels
4	Alice Bell	Unattached

Then came the combined Under 10 and Under 12 race, over 4 laps.

U12 Boys

	Name	Club
1	Jake McKee	VC Glendale
2	Lewis Bell	Shelbourne/Orchard CC
3	Edward Reynolds	Unattached

U12 Girls

	Name	Club
1	Kiyomi Tosh	Ballymena RC
2	Amelia Finnegan	Square Wheels
3	Ruby Millar	Square Wheels

U10 Boys

	Name	Club
1	Thomas Crymble	Apollo Cycling Team
2	James Kavanagh	Lakeland
3	Toby Heywood	Unattached

U10 Girls

	Name	Club
1	Ruby Curry	Ards CC

And then the combined Under 14 and Under 16 race over 6 laps.

U16

	Name	Club
1	Jamie Rockett	Ards CC

U14

	Name	Club
1	Kealan Doherty	Foyle CC
2	Dylan Finnegan	Square Wheels
3	Olly Millar	Square Wheels

The penultimate race of the night was the women’s ulster championship, combined with the C3 men, over 30 minutes plus 3 laps. This event had 40 entries, and the racing was fast from the start. The home crowd were delighted to see Kieran McKenna launching a couple of attacks at the front of the race, and he was a worthy winner of the best Ards CC rider.

The women’s podium

Women

	Name	Club
1	Jemma Speers	North Down CC
2	Rachell Newell	McConvey Cycles CC
3	Claire Richardson	Killinchy CC

The C3 Podium with top Ards CC rider Kieran McKenna.

C3 result

	Name	Club
1	Jamie Clarke	North Down CC
2	Ricky Topping	Killinchy CC
3	Lee Harvey	VC Glendale
4	Fintan Murray	Crossgar CC
5	Robbie Tosh	Ballymena RC	Unplaced junior
6	Paul Ferguson	Unattached
7	Kieran McKenna	Ards CC	Unplaced Ards CC
8	Callum Stewart	Unattached
9	Michael Lamont	Phoenix CC
10	Phil Harris	Killinchy

The final race of the night was the men’s C1/2, incorporating the men’s senior and junior championships, over 40 minutes plus 3 laps. The racing was fierce from the start, with Lindsay Watson (Powerhouse), James Armstrong (Molen Sporters) and Darnell Moore (Caldwell Cycles) holding a small advantage for several laps. But the string never quite snapped and things came together again with about 5 laps to go. In the final sprint for the line, Lindsay Watson just got through to take the title from James McKenny (Moynalty CC) and Jack Kennedy (Dan Morrisey). Top junior was James Armstrong.

The men’ podium, together with first unplaced C2 Keith Hooks (North Down CC)

	Name	Club
1	Lindsay Watson	Powerhouse
2	James McKenny	Moynalty CC
3	Jack Kennedy	Dan Morrisey
4	Keith Hooks	North Down CC	Unplaced C2
5	James Armstrong	Molen Sporters	1st Jun
6	Stephen Hanna	Spellman
7	Darnell Moore	Caldwell
8	Marc Allen	AHC Racing
9	Kirk Sloan	North Down CC
10	James Alexander	McConvey Cycles CC

Thanks to all those who put in so much work to make this event a success –

The organising committee, who did a huge amount of work in the background to make this event happen.
Our sponsors –
- Ards and North Down Borough Council, for their support and for providing a generous grant to make the event possible.
- Formation Works, event supporter who have recently opened new serviced offices in Newtownards.
- Jubilee Veterinary Centre, Ulster Women’s Championship and support race sponsor.
St John Ambulance. Thankfully they had a quiet night.
All our marshals, judges, sign-on crew, prize giving team. It was great to see so many folk helping out. You were excellent!
The commissaires.
The Belgian Project for commentary and photos.
Ian Barfoot on the photo finish.
The road closure team
All the riders and spectators who supported the event.

If you enjoyed the cycling tonight, please join us for another Ards CC promotion over the summer – there is a full list of our events here.