Worthy Ulster Champions Crowned at Clonmany
The gods were smiling on the hardy participants who lined up on Sunday to take on the tough and challenging Tour of the Lakes course in Donegal as the sun came out and the temperature rose.
the event was the Ulster Road Race Championships which the hard working North Pole club offered to host for 2014 as appeals for clubs to promote this event had received no other takers. The course chosen was that used for the National B Championhips a few years ago and there is no doubt that the 20 mile circuit provided plenty of challenges for the the riders and helped produce worthy champions.
In the Senior road race it was Connor Murphy of Caldwell Cycles who lifted the title followed by Alistair Maculey of Phoenix CC and Ronan McLaughlin of Dig Deep Inspired. Perhaps the best ride of the day was that of Ryan Reilly of Foyle CC. The young junior battled all day and was first to cross the line in this 122km event. However he does not receive the Senior title as the Junior riders had their own championships. Had there been more juniors in the event they would have been set off separately. Darnell Moore of Caldwell and Rory Maguire of Phoenix lifted the remaining medals in the Junior Championships. Also since Reilly is a Junior he cannot win the Senior Elite Category Championship. We hope this clears up any misunderstanding.
For the first time Cycling Ulster also incorporated a B Championship into this event and it was Rodney Orr of Strabane Lifford who lifted the gold medal followed by Declan McKenna of Emyvale and Dinny Doherty of Four Masters.
The Vets were next into the fray and they completed three laps of the course. Once again it was Paul Mulligan of Caldwell Cycles who proved his strength taking the title for the third time. He was followed in by Newry's Des Woods and Jason Henry (Unattached)
The Ulster Women's Championship saw the women complete two laps of the circuit. Amy Brice of Chain Reaction proved her strength on this course to take the title for another year. Commonwealth Games rider Claire Oakley of XMTB McConvey Cycles lifted silver with Phoenix CC's Judith Russell in bronze position. For a full report on the women's race click HERE
Once again Ulster is to the fore in recognising the needs of its members. A proposal was put to the Cycling Ireland AGM last year to run Master's Championships in various age groups but it seems as if this is not going to go ahead for 2014. However Ulster has been successfully promoting the Master's (over 50) events for a few years so it was decided to included a 50+ Master's Championship race for 2014. While this does not strictly follow the Master's Age categories it is a start until we get sufficient numbers to enable us to extend the age groups. On Sunday it was Sean Hargan of Phoenix Cc who lifted the inaugural Master Championship title with Kenny Boylan of Lakeland CC and Raymond Doherty of Finn Wheelers who took silver and bronze. Congratulations to North Pole Team, Carl McLaughlin, Willie John McLaughlin and Raymond Doherty on winning the Team Prize in the Ulster Road Race Masters Championship in Ballyliffin on Sunday.
The hardworking North Pole Club also promoted a race for A4's. This was not a championship race but was won by Bernard Harkin (Four Masters) with John Dickey of Bann Wheelers in second place and David McFall of Omagh Wheelers taking third.
North Pole had done a great job of promoting the event with lots of refreshments afterwards. It is a pity that the event had not been better supported. Riders from Donegal from Masters to the very young Under 12's travel all over Ulster to support races and it is a pity that it is not reciprical. The event had been well advertised and not only was it in the Cycling Ireland Handbook, listed on the online calendar and previewed on Cycling Ulster but there was also a full page ad in the Tour of the North Handbook paid for by North Pole CC. With the National Championships only two weeks away this was ideal preparation.
Many thanks to all the marshalls, ambulance crew, Camera and judging crews and Commissaires for the day, Maurice McAllister and Paul Devenney. Your help is much appreciated.
Marian Lamb
Ulster Senior Men's Championship Race A1/2/3. 122kms.
1. Conor Murphy , Caldwell Cycles A1
2. Alastar Macauley Phoenix A1
3. Ronan McLaughlin Dig Deep A1
4. Paul Vaughan Sportactive A2
5. Gareth McCullough Newry Wheelers A1
6. Mike Millar Phoenix A1
7. Gary Jeffers East Tyrone A1
8. Angus Fyffe Omagh Wheelers A1
9. Rory Devlin North Pole A1
10. Mark Buchanan North Pole A1
Best unplaced A2 Darragh McCarter
Ulster Junior Men's Championship Race 122kms
1. Ryan Reilly Foyle A3
2. Darnell Moore Caldwell Cycles A3
3. Rory Maguire Phoenix A3
4. Evan Donoghue Four Masters A3
5. Jordan McGinley Errigal A3
Ulster Veteran Men's Championship Race
1. Paul Mulligan Caldwell Cycles A1
2. Des Woods Newry Wheelers A1
3. Jason Henry U/A A2
4. Nigel Quigley Bann Wheelers A2
5. Simon Gill Foyle A3
6. Mickie Russell Four Masters A2
7. Jason McHugh Four Masters A2
Ulster Senior A3 B Men's Championship Race
1. Rodney Orr Strabane Lifford A3
2. Declan McKenna Emyvale A3
3. Dinny Doherty Four Masters A3
Inaugural Ulster Masters Championship Race
- Sean Hargan Phoenix
- Kenny Boylan Lakeland
- Raymond Doherty Finn Wheelers
Ulster Womens Championship Race
1. Amy Brice (Chain Reaction Cycles)
2. Claire Oakley (XMTB McConvey Cycles)
3. Judith Russell (Phoenix CC)
4. Jane Millar (Bann Wheelers)
5. Therese Zwahlen (Phoenix CC)
6. Tonya Moran (Black Rose)
7. Sandra Devine (Four Masters)
8. Alwynne Shannon (Newry Wheelers)
9. Joanne Regan (Termoneeney CC)
Senior A4 Race
1. Bernard Harkin Four Masters A4
2. John Dickey Bann Wheelers A4
3. David McFall Omagh Wheelers A4
4. Eugene McBride Errigal A4
5. Warren Blackburn Strabane Lifford A4
6. Seamus Keenan Omagh Wheelers A4
7. Kevin Doherty Saddlerock A4
8. Ronald McDaid North Pole A4
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