Feast of Racing at Ciclisport

East Tyrone had a busy day today with no less than six races to promote. However the club members rallied and from early morning they were arriving with scones and pancakes to feed those who travelled from the four corners of Ireland for the morning youth races.

With the Under 16 event being one of the selection events for the European Youth Olympics there was a big turnout of over forty riders. The under 16’s did three laps of the 9.8 mile circuit and racing was aggressive from the off. Selector Martin O’Loughlin was in attendance even though he was wheelchair bound following a recent cycling accident. Adam Ward of Omagh made a brave attempt to go solo going onto the third lap. However it was not a day to hang out on your own and he was reeled back in. Coming to the line it came down to a bunch sprint which was taken by Conor Halvey of Errigal CC.He was followed in by Liam Wilson of Derrymore while Adam Ward of Omagh had to be content with third on this occasion. Luke Smith of Monalty was fourth ahead of Ulster’s Xeno Young and Dillon Corkery of Cork Giant.

Next to take to the roads around the Loup were the U14’s and again there was good turnout of riders who battled the 30mph gusts of wind on the course. The bunch eventually fragmented and coming to the line it was David O’Sullivan of Monalty who took the win. He was followed in by Derrymore’s Aaron Heaney and Mark Smith of Monalty. Kieran Cahoon (Clann Eireann), Nathan Keown (North Down) and Shay Donley of Ballymoney completed the first six.

There was a small turnout of girls but National Talent 2020 coach, Nicola McKiverigan was there to observe the girls in action. Two girls from Errigal CC, Shauna McFadden and Amanda Gallagher managed to open a gap on the others which they maintained to the line. Shauna had the legs to see her take the win followed in by Amanda. A few seconds later third place went to Orla Desmond from Galtee Wheelers while North Down duo Katie Armstrong and Molly McLarnan took fourth and fifth and Ellie Kelso (East Tyrone) was sixth.

In the afternoon there were three senior races on offer. With some events in the south being cancelled there was almost a full field for the A1/A2 race. This race were set off first and had to cover 6 laps of the course. The A2’s were given a three minute handicap over the A1’s and this had been reduced to two minutes at the end of the first lap.

A small group of A1’s broke away and put the hammer down to chase the A2’s. In this group were riders such as Glenn Kinning of Kinning Cycles, Roger Aiken of Team ASEA and Fraser Duncan (ASEA) among others. By the halfway stage a group of approximately 15 A1’s had caught the A2’s and opened a gap of 2 minutes 20 seconds on the remaining A1’s. Two UCD riders, Eoin Morton and Ian Richardson along with Roger Aiken of Team ASEA then went clear but not for long. Aiken dropped back a bit as the leaders increased to a bunch of twelve riders consisting of two A2’s and ten A1 riders.

In the end it was Eoin Morton of UCD who managed to solo home for victory.

Angus Fyffe (Omagh Wheelers), Ali McAulay (Team ASEA), Darnell Moore (Caldwell Cycles), Mark Downey (Banbridge CC) and Niall Dwyer (North Down)took the next five places.

Next up was the A3 race which completed five laps followed five minutes later by the A4’s who had four laps to complete. In the A3 race a small group of three riders broke free in Lap two and tried to open the gap on the bunch. Mark Downey then broke free from the A3 bunch to try and put some distance between himself and the chasers. By the halfway stage he had been pulled in and it was Aaron Swan of the Nicholas Roche Performance Team who made an attempt to get away. Coming to the finish it was Jake Gray ad Aaron Swan who crossed the line together with victory being awarded to Gray. Kenny Wilson (East Antrim CC) pipped Mark Sergeant (Keevan CC) for third with Gareth Murray (Ards CC) taking fifth.

Predictably the A4 bunch remained fairly intact although there were periodic attacks. Three women took par in this event. They were Judith Russell of Phoenix CC, Joanne Regan of Termoneeny and Julie Rea of Phoenix. Judith Russell was in the top ten riders in the race all day and put in an excellent performance. In the closing half mile there was a crash at the front of the bunch in which Judith was caught. This spoiled her chance of a top ten finish. Julie Rea finished well up in the bunch so they were happy enough with the result. The race came down to a bunch sprint which was taken by Richard Cowan of Dromara CC.

He was followed in by Gerard Scullion (Carn Wheelers), Joe McQuillan and Gavin Oakes of Phoenix CC and Ivan Jeffers of East Tyrone. Nigel Watt (Bann Wheelers), (Phoenix CC), Ivor Hessian (Phoenix CC) and Glenn McHendry (Team Madigan) completed the top eight for points.

East Tyrone promoted an excellent day’s racing with lots of marshalls out on the roads from early morning. There more than sufficient lead cars, comm drivers and back up. Gordon Parker and Ali were at the start line to capture the finish while back at Loup GAC hall East Tyrone’s hardworking catering team ensured that everyone was well fed as there was a huge array of food on display. East Tyrone also recognise the importance of providing proper facilities for riders particularly at Youth level and so they provided two portable toilets at the start/finish line. The commissaries and lead marshalls were all provided with a race pack with important contact details, risk assessments and a map. Many thanks to Christine Magwood and Ann Davidson who made sure I had a little tray of goodies to keep me sustained while out on the road. Joan and Hugh McCullough and Lorraine Jeffers were in attendance for first aid. There were four Comms in attendance namely Maurice McAllister and Peter Field and trainees Jim Maguire and Mark Lamb so thanks to them for keeping the racing within the rules. Wel done to all at East Tyrone.

Report Marian Lamb

Pics by Rafoto.com

CicliSport A1/A2 Race Results

1. Eoin Morton (UCD)
2. Angus Fyffe (Omagh Wheelers)
3. Ali McAulay (Team ASEA)
4. Darnell Moore (Caldwell Cycles)
5. Mark Downey (Banbridge CC)
6. Dave Watson (North Down)
7. Karl Morgan(Phoenix CC)
8. David Hamilton (North Down)
9. Mike Millar (Phoenix CC)
10. Conor Murphy (Caldwell Cycles)

CicliSport A3 Race Results

1. Jake Gray (NRPT)
2. Aaron Swan (NRPT)
3. Kenny Wilson (East Antrim CC)
4. Mark Sergeant (Keevan CC)
5. Gareth Murray (Ards CC)
6. Shaun Carey (North Down)
7. Marc Heaney (Carn Wheelers)
8. Cameron McIntyre (Banbridge CC)
9. Gary McCullough (Team Madigan)
10. Andrew Stewart (Orchard CC)

CicliSport A4 Race Results

1. Richard Cowan (Dromara CC)
2. Gerard Scullion (Carn Wheelers)
3. Joe McQuilland (Phoenix CC)
4. Ivan Jeffers (East Tyrone CC)
5. Nigel Watt (Bann Wheelers),
6. Gavin Oakes (Phoenix CC)
7. Ivor Hessian (Phoenix CC)
8. Glenn McHendry (Team Madigan)
9. Eunan Bradley (Omagh Wheelers)
10. Daniel McGlade (Apollo CT)
11. Brendan McAllister (Glens CC)

Tommy Smith Youth Race Results

Under 16

1. Conor Halvey (Errigal CC)
2. Liam Wilson (Derrymore)
3. Adam Ward (Omagh Wheelers)
4. Luke Smith (Monalty)
5. Xeno Young (U/A)
6. Dillon Corkery (Cork Giant)
7. Harvey Barnes (East Tyrone CC)
8. Conor Gallagher (Castlebar)
9. Ronan Twomey (Cork Giant)
10. Declan Malloney (Kanturk)
11. Cian Keogh (South East Road Club)
12. Liam Purley (South East Road Club)
13. Ethan Fleville (Clann Eireann)
14. PJ Doogan (Errigal CC)
15. Aaron Doherty (Covey Whelers)
16. Harry Dow (North Down CC)
17. Anthony Bradley (Sperrin Wheelers)

Under 14

1. David O’Sullivan (Monalty)
2. Aaron Heaney (Derrymore)
3. Mark Smith (Moynalty)
4. Kieran Cahoon (Clann Eireann)
5. Nathan Keown (North Down CC)
6. Shay Donley (Ballymoney CC)
7. Cathir Doyle (Carn Wheelers)
8. Oisin Doherty (Donegal Bay)
9. Donal Walsh (AAA)
10. Dillon Traynor (AAA)
11. Rob Lawrence (Bann Wheelers)
12. Kevin McCambridge (Ballymoney CC)
13. Joseph McCluskey (Omagh Wheelers)
14. Ciaran Dixon (Phoenix CC)
15. Christopher O’Neill (Caldwell Cycles)
16. Caolan McGaughan (East Tyrone CC)

U14/U16 Girls

1. Shauna McFadden (Errigal CC)
2. Amada Gallagher (Errigal CC)
3. (Orla Desmond (Galtee Wheelers)
4. Molly McLarnan (North Down)
5. Katie Armstrong (North Down)
6. Ellie Kelso (East Tyrone)