29/09/2013 100 M TT Championships

Records Smashed at 100 mile TT Championships
Twenty six brave souls lined up at Woodgreen this morng for the 'Race of truth' - a one hundred mile time trial run by Ballymoney CC . This was also the Ulster 100m TT Championships.

The morning was fine and sunny and became warm but there was a blustery wind which caught the deep section rims and disc wheels. Not an ideal day for records to be broken but fall they did.

John Madden of Curran Racing who held both the senior and veteran records at this distance with a time of 3:45:05 going in to today's event went all out to prove that he could go even faster. And that is just what he did recording a time of  3:42:49 and thereby smashing his own record by over two minutes. This was a new veteran record.

However Bryan McCrystal of Cuchulainn CC went even bettter. McCrystal was the first winner of the inaugural Cycling Ulster All Comers Cup for this event. He lost that trophy and the record to Madden in 2012 and today was determined to take both of them back and he did so with panache smashing Madden's record and setting a new senior record of 3:34:52.This is over nine minues faster than the previous record so this was some achievement in far from ideal conditions. Both records are subject to ratification by Cycling Ireland.

It was hard luck for Bryan McKinney of the promoting club who recorded a time of 3:44:30 which smashed the previous record but today only gave him the silver medal in the Ulster Championships. Bronze in the Senior men's competition went to Des Woods of Newry Wheelers with a time of 3:54:23. This also gave him silver in the Vets competition. Bronze in the veteran's competition went to Martin Birney of SportActive with a time of 4:04:27.

There was only one woman competing this year, Helena Dornan of Ballycastle who was presented with both the senior and veteran medals. Helena recorded a 5:24:37 in her first ever 100 mile TT and this was on top of taking part inthe Causeway 40 mile run yesterday. Chappeau Helena.

There was an international feeling to the event with V Civicis of Lithuania also taking part and his time of  3:53:48 was good enough to give him fourth position overall. Sean McIntyre of Orchard Wheelers proved just how strong he is despite recurring problems with his sciatic nerve as he recorded 3:54:36 putting him into sixth position.

Ballymoney trio, Bryan McKinney, Mervyn Linton and Stephen McAllister added to their team medal haul as they followed last week's success in the 25 mile championships by once again lifting the team title. This was also a first for Mervyn Linton as he had never ridden a 100 before.

Martin Birney of SportActive presented the SportActive trophies to John Madden and Helena Dornan. Tommy Lamb Chairman of Cycling Ulster, presented the medals to the winners and the Cycling Ulster Cup to McCrystal.

However everyone's hero on the day was 71 year old Willie John McLaughlin who has taken part in this event for the past several years. He recorded a time today of 4:59:26, not a personal best but he went off course losing several minutes in the early stages of the event. However he was quite stoical about it and said he was happy enough that he stayed under the five hours.

Many thanks to Ballymoney CC for promoting this event, time keepers Gordon Parker and Ali and commissaire on the day, Mark Kavanagh.

Report and Pics By Marian Lamb

Bronagh Kirk was also out with the camera so to view her pics go to  - Bronagh Kirk Photos

29/09/2013 Ulster 100 m TT Championships Woodgreen

Bryan McCrystal             Sen    Cuchullain CC    3:34:52

John Madden                 Vet    Curran Racing    3:42:49

Bryan McKinney             Sen    Ballymoney CC   3:44:30

V Civicis                             Sen    Lithuania               3:53:48

Des Woods                       Vet    Newry CC             3:54:23

Sean McI ntyre                Sen    Orchard Wh         3:54:36

Mervyn Linton                 Sen    Ballymoney CC   3:57:59

Stephen Workman         Sen    Ballymena RC      4:00:45

Mike Millar                        Sen    Phoenix                 4:01:44

Martin Birney                    Vet    Sportactive           4:04:27

Christian Naghtigall       Sen    Phoenix                 4:07:48

Mark Prendergast          Vet   Sorrento                4:11:15

Jim Heggarty                   Sen    Phoenix                 4:17:25

Chris McGlinchy             Sen    CRC                        4:17:44

Dominic Drumm             Vet    Bann Wh               4:19:57

Bill Evans                            Sen    Foyle CC               4:22:42

Jim Doyle                          Vet    Foyle CC               4:28:59

Paul Trainor                      Sen    Phoenix                 4:30:42

Stephen McAllister         Sen    Ballymoney CC   4:31:30

Pat Morning                     Vet    FourMasters CC  4:33:09

J Martin                             Sen    Team Madigan   4:38:15

Tony Blaney                     Vet    Ballymoney CC   4:54:05

Willie John McLaughlin Vet    North Pole CC     4:59:26

Helena Dornan               WV    Ballycastle CC     5:24:37