13/09/2014 Ernie Magwood Super Six Rd 6

Fast Times at Woodgreen
The concluding round of the 2014 Ernie Magwood Super 6 took place at Woodgreen on the 13th September, the two riders who had a tilt at the Irish elite and Veterans 10 miles records a Rd 5, Marcus Christie and John Madden were once again back and raring to go. Conditions this time were much more favourable, the SW wind present at Rd5 replaced with a slight headwind on the return leg, but also high temperatures and good visibility making for good safe and fast conditions.

There was a very strong field of riders out, and as was evident on the day, and also the next day at the Ulster 100 championship, the level of competition continues to rise year on year, with 19 min rides for 10 miles now normal, and also the 100 record dropping from just sub 4hrs to the scarcely believable figure of 3hrs 27m. This is a testament to the athletes, but also the coaches and bike fitters who contribute to the tumbling times.

Fastest on the day, and as far as I'm aware, setting the fastest time ever recorded during a Woodgreen morning event was Marcus Christie. Marcus hammered out another super fast 18.37 ultimately shy of the record, but still incredibly fast. Second to him was Colm Cassidy, who drove up from Dublin, and recorded a super fast 18.09, 3rd and almost scalping Colm was Sean McIntyre, who proved he wasn't talking rubbish when he claimed he was below par at Rd5. Colm and Sean both will unquestionably clock 18s next year.

Next up were a group of speedy "young fellas" all recording 19s, with John Madden smashing the veterans record with 19.18, and hot on his heels, John Heverin, who also dipped inside the old record, but amazingly was only a second ahead of Mark Kane who isn't (yet) a familiar face at the league, but who surely will be back next year with performances like that? Just behind him was a genuine "young fella" and an exceptionally speedy one at that, Craig McAuley also doing a 19.51 ahead of evergreen Ivan Robinson.

Fastest woman was unsurprisingly the dominant Eileen Burns of Ballymena. She can add the EMS6 league to her Ulster 10 25 50 and the following days 100 championships, with the added bonus of beating Jason with her 22.17 vs his 22.31. Eileen will surely fly next year, I can easily see 21 min times for her, which is a very exclusive club.

That concludes the league for this year. Once again we were blessed with no rain, generally good conditions, no incidents, and big fields. I want to not only thank all the organisers timekeepers, and admin people, but also all the riders for their competitive nature but also contributing to a friendly league which makes it easy and enjoyable to run.

Next year we hope to use Entry Central to lessen the load on the day regarding sign on, and also with race splitter the timing and results will be published much quicker.

We look forward to seeing you there. First though, we will have the prize giving and final tables. Stay tuned.

Report David Heagney

Results 13/09/2014 Woodgreen