22/09/2013 Ulster 25 Mile TT Championships – Dungannon

The Ulster 25 mile time trial championships was held today on the A4 Dungannon to Ballygawley dual carriageway.

The event was promoted by the UCPC for the first time and they pulled out all the stops to make this a memorable day. The weather remained dry and very mild with the temperature sitting at 20 degrees and a light wind

The course along the new carriageway from Dungannon to Ballygawley was excellent in that the surface as smooth and there was little traffic. There is a climb or long drag on the course which proved tough but fast times were still recorded.

Bryan McCrystal of Cuchullainn CC recorded the fastest time with a 52:59. Unfortunately he was ineligible for the Championship title as he hails from Leinster but with a mother from Co Tyrone there are rumours that both Island Wheelers and Omagh Wheelers are in transfer  negotiations with him so we wait to see what happens....

Fastest Ulster man on the day was Daniel Stewart of EC Mayenne who lifted the title in a time of 53.44, a fantastic time for the 19 year old. Daniel normally rides with the East Antrim Audi outfit but had a chance this year to ride and train abroad.

Surprise medallist on the day was Fraser Duncan of Eurocycles riding his very first 25 mile tt. Fraser has had a great year and is the current Ulster Road Race Champion. Today he added the silver 25 TT medal to his collection with a time of 54:02.  John Heverin of Clann Eireann took bronze in this competition as well as Gold in the Veteran men's category with a time of 54:13. Silver and bronze in the Vets championship went to John Madden Curran Racing (54:25) and Kieran McKenna (East Antrim Audi - 55:03 )

There was good turn-out of women for the event making a real competition of this. It would be good to see more women travelling up from the south to take part in the time trials. Laura Maxwell of Roe Valley who has shown consistant form all year added both the Junior and senior women's 25 mile TT titles to her collection with a time of 1:02:54. She was followed in by Janine McNally who took silver with a time of  1:04:20 and Tonya Moran in bronze position with a time of 1:04:38. Both these women are not long back from riding Rás na mBan, Ireland's only women specific stage race which features many international teams.

Tonya also lifted the Veteran Women's title with Gillian Orr of North Down in silver medal position with a 1:07:10 and Kay Hack of Bann Wheelers in bronze with 1:08:21.

The Junior men's category was also closely fought with Stuart Laverty of Ballymoney taking the title with a 57:17. Silver and bronze positions went to Harry McComb of East Tyrone with a 1:02:15 and Ronan Sherman (BallymoneyCC) with a 1:02:54.

David Kerr of the Ulster Handcycling Association took the Handcycling Title in  time of 1:47:22. The title has been held by Darrell Erwin for many years but unfortunately Darrell was unable to make it today due to illness so we all wish him a speedy recovery.

The team positions were also closely fought with Ballymoney just ousting Phoenix for top position with Ards CC in bronze position. The Ballymoney markers were Bryan McKinney, Stuart Laverty and Mervyn Linton. Mc Kinney had only transferred back to Ballymoney in recent months so this was a good move for Ballymoney.

The event was given an added touch of glamour to day when well known comic and actor, Michael Smiley, entered the competition and brought a whole film crew along with him.  He became well known for his role as Tyres O'Flaherty the bicycle riding raver in two episodes of the Channel 4 sitcom Spaced and in recent years has had strong roles in  BBC One's Ripper Street as George Lusk, and the critically acclaimed Channel 4 shows Utopia as Detective Reynolds and Black Mirror as Baxter.

In 2011 he starred in British horror film Kill List. The film received critical acclaim, and earned him the "Best Supporting Actor" Award at the 2011 British Independent Film Awards.

Michael who was born in the Markets area of Belfast and then moved to Hollywood, is currently home and is making a programme which strongly features cycling.

He is a keen cycist when time  from his acting career permits. Unfortunately he was only able to complete half the course today due to time constraints of filming but said afterwards he had full admiration for those who put themselves through the pain of completing the tough course.

Many thanks to the UCPC for the well organised event, Quinns Corner for the sandwiches, Dungannon Swifts FC for the use of their club rooms, Gordon Parker, Alicja Sliwinska and Garry Nugent for the results and Sheena O'Neill of Island Wheelers who saw to the catering.

Mickey Murray of the UCPC would welcome comments regarding the course as this was the first time it was used. Comments can be made in the comment box at the end of this story or directly to Mickey at michael.mmmurray@hotmail.co.uk

Report and Pics Marian Lamb
Results Gordon Parker and Garry Nugent

Medal Winners

Senior Men
Gold - Daniel Stewart              EC Mayenne                                              0:53:44 Martin Birney/SportActive Trophy
Silver- Frazer Duncan               Eurocycles                                                  0:54:0
Bronze -John Heverin                 Clann Eireann                                            0:54:13

Veteran Men
Gold -John Heverin                 Clann Eireann                                            0:54:13 Martin Birney/SportActive Trophy
Silver - John Madden                Curran Racing                                            0:54:2
Bronze - Kieran McKenna           East Antrim Audi                                        0:55:03

Junior Men
Gold - Stuart Laverty               Ballymoney CC                                          0:57:17 Martin Birney/SportActive Trophy
Silver - Harry McComb             East Tyrone CC                                          1:02:15
Bronze - Ronan Sherman            Ballymoney CC                                          1:02:54

Senior Women
Gold - Laura Maxwell              Roe Valley                                                  1:02:54 Martin Birney/SportActive Trophy
Silver - Janine McNally             North Down                                               1:04:20
Bronze - Tonya Moran                Black Rose                                                 1:04:38

Junior Women
Gold - Laura Maxwell              Roe Valley                                                  1:02:54 Martin Birney/SportActive Trophy

Veteran Women
Gold - Tonya Moran                Black Rose                                                 1:04:38  Martin Birney/SportActive Trophy
Silver - Gillian Orr                     North Down                                               1:07:10
Bronze - Kay Hack                       Bann Wheelers                                          1:08:21

Handcycling
Gold - David Kerr                     Ulster Handcycling Asssociation                1:47:22 Martin Birney/SportActive Trophy

Team
Gold - Ballymoney CC - Bryan McKinney, Stuart Lavery, Mervyn Linton (2:51:05)
Silver - Phoenix CC -Stuart Bennett , Christian Nachtigal, Mike Millar (2:51:50)
Bronze - Ards CC -Ivan Robinson, Martn Drennan, William Orr (3:06:46)

Other Team Times
Island Wheelers -Barry Hayes, Dermot Donaghy, Sheryll Cardwell (3:14:53)
Four Masters - Kevin McCrossan, Pat Morning, Robert McCallum (3.22.20)

It is a pity that there were not more teams entered as some clubs had two riders putting in excellent times. A third rider could have made all the difference and allowed riders to win a medal.

22/09/2013 Ulster 25 Mile TT Championships - Dungannon

1. Brian McCrystal            Cuchulainn CC                                           0:52:59
2. Daniel Stewart              EC Mayenne                                              0:53:44
3. Frazer Duncan               Eurocycles                                                  0:54:02
4. John Heverin                 Clann Eireann                                            0:54:13
5. John Madden                Curran Racing                                            0:54:25
6. Sean Mcintyre               Orchard CC                                                0:54:31
7. Thomas Martin             Eurocycles                                                  0:54:45
8. Kieran McKenna           East Antrim Audi                                        0:55:03
9. Ivan Robinson                Ards CC                                                      0:55:24
10. Bryan McKinney            Ballymoney CC                                          0:55:49
11. Des Woods                    Newry Wheelers                                        0:55:52
12. Stuart Bennett               Phoenix CC                                                 0:56:17
13. Ian Inglis                        Curran Racing                                            0:56:38
14. Jude Sands                     Newry Wheelers                                        0:56:46
15. David Heagney              U/A                                                             0:56:49
16. Christian Nachtigal       Phoenix CC                                                 0:57:06
17. Stuart Laverty               Ballymoney CC                                          0:57:17
18. Mervyn Linton               Ballymoney CC                                          0:57:59
19. Connor Mullin               Roe Valley                                                  0:58:18
20. Mike Millar                   Phoenix CC                                                 0:58:27
21. Jason Henry                   U/A                                                             0:58:48
22. Sean Hargan                 Phoenix CC                                                 0:59:18
23. Mark Diamond              Invictus                                                       0:59:39
24. Christopher McGlinchey Chain Reaction Cycles                               0:59:48
25. Martin Carroll               Ballymoney CC                                              0:59:50
26. Kevin McCrossan          Four Masters                                             0:59:52
27. Mark Millar                  U/A                                                             0:59:54
28. Barry Hayes                  Island  Wheelers                                        0:59:57
29. Gerard McNally            Bann Valley                                                1:00:03
30. Peter Morrison             Northern CC                                               1:00:34
31. James Heggarty            Phoenix CC                                                 1:01:52
32. Harry McComb             East Tyrone CC                                          1:02:15
33. Richard Timmins           Orchard CC                                                1:02:19
34. Pat Morning                  Four Masters                                             1:02:33
35. Daniel Daley                 Phoenix CC                                                 1:02:47
36. Laura Maxwell              Roe Valley                                                  1:02:54
37. Ronan Sherman            Ballymoney CC                                          1:02:54
38. Steven McAllister          Ballymoney CC                                          1:03:17
39. Harry Martin                 Clann Eireann                                            1:03:41
40. S Geary                          Phoenix CC                                                 1:03:57
41. Phil Beattie                   Ballymoney CC                                          1:04:02
42. Janine McNally             North Down                                               1:04:20
43. Tonya Moran                Black Rose                                                 1:04:38
44. Robert McCallum         Four Masters                                             1:05:14
45. Martin Drennan            Ards CC                                                      1:05:39
46. William Orr                   Ards CC                                                      1:05:43
47. Dermot Donaghy          Island  Wheelers                                        1:06:21
48. Gillian Orr                     North Down                                               1:07:10
49. Kay Hack                       Bann Wheelers                                          1:08:21
50. Sheryll Cardwell            Island  Wheelers                                        1:08:35
51. Tony Blaney                  Ballymoney CC                                          1:10:35
52. Billy Kirk                        Ards CC                                                      1:11:00
53. Alex Docherty                    Four Masters                                             1:14:33
54. Sheena O'Neill              Island  Wheelers                                        1:17:14
55. David Kerr                     Ulster Handcycling Asssociation                1:47:22