Dromara flyers at Katesbridge event

Dromara flyers at Katesbridge event

25 May 2016

DROMARA road racers turned out in force for the West Down GP which started in Katesbridge. 

The weather for the racing season has certainly not been great so, but thankfully the rain stayed away this time. 

In the Masters’ race Trevor Wright and Ivan Bradford carried the flag for Dromara and both finished in the top 10 in a tough race.

In the main race of the day Nathan Mullan, Matthew Armstrong, David Dickson, Jack Ferguson, Ronnie Smyth, Chris and Gavin Magowan took to the start line in a talented field of riders. 

The race took a while to get going with Nathan testing out the group with a few attacks. Davy Dickson had a dig and got away with a group for about half a lap, but the group didn’t let them get too far before bringing them back. 

The final break of the day saw Matthew Armstrong get away with five others and was joined by Nathan Mullan after Team DCC gave everything to get Nathan across.

The group rode together to increase the gap to over a minute, but at the start of Rathriland hill the attacks started. Nathan and three others were able to split the group up the hill and started working together over the descent, but on the run to home the cat and mouse started.

It came to a bunch sprint between the final four with Nathan snatching third which gave him enough points to get an upgrade to A1 to join the big hitters. Matthew came over the line to take a superb sixth. Many thanks to the West Down Wheelers for putting an excellent race as always.

On Sunday the Emyvale GP took place with Stephen Irvine and Ronnie Smyth taking part. Alas, Stephen was involved in a crash and he will be standing this week rather than sitting down. The good news is the bike is fine and will make a full recovery.

This weekend saw the mountain bikers head to Lady Dixon Park for round four of the Ulster XC Series which doubled up as round 3 of the NPS. 

The course was designed by the XMTB Club and the rain over the week meant the course had plenty of mucky challenges in it. 

The first race on the cards to see Dromara interest was the U-10s with Alex Harrower, who produced a great performance to take 15th. In the U-14s Ben Wilson and Fraser Harrower took to the line in an exciting and close race.

Ben, who had been snapping chains all weekend, battled to a brilliant fifth place with Fraser Harrower, who is getting better every time he races, took 16th place. 

The U-16s saw Max Melville mix it up with the big boys and he had a sensational race taking sevthth place in a very competitive category. The youth of Dromara certainly set the standard for the other senior riders coming after them.

The first of the main races saw Paul Hamilton and Derek Minis take to the line of the S4s with Andra Ungureanu start the S3 ladies. 

Paul took a more leisurely start to the S4s, but worked his way through the riders to take a well deserved seventh.

Derek, who has been improving every time he gets on to the bike, also had a slow start, but produced some excellent lap times to get back to 17th. More training for the S4 boys should certainly see a podium from them soon.

Andra had no problem at the start and stormed around the course taking seventh with her only complaint being that it all finished too soon.

The last race of the day saw the S1s, S2s and S3s enjoy a fast course in the sunshine. Barry Kellett is Team Dromara CC’s representative in the S1 category and the competition is extremely tough. 

With conditions drying out Barry managed to grab a superb fifth place with Gareth McKee taking the victory.

Peter Davison has been in great form this season and has been fine tuning his skills with the Ulster Development squad with weekends over to England to take part in the British XC rounds. 

This experience certainly helped him snatch fifth place which is even more impressive when you realise that the riders ahead of him are all sponsored riders.

The S3 race seen the largest number of Dromara CC riders with six men in total putting their wheel on the start line. 

Davy Broome has won the last two Ulster XC rounds and with greater competition due to this being an NPS round he would have his work cut out. 

After the first lap he hit the front and would not relinquish that position making it three wins in a row and the S3 championship almost his. 

Brian Wilson has been the quiet man secretly training away and really starting to produce this season with this round being no exception with an excellent seventh place and the podium not too far away. 

Richard Cowan had his second race at S3 and with the exception of rolling about in the muck a few times managed to sneak into the top 10 and keep young Brian Wilson on his toes. 

Adrian Booth, Robert Davison and Graham Smyth battled with each other all race with positions changing lap after lap.