Gavin the great storms to yet another victory

Gavin the great storms to yet another victory

16 May 2012

DROMARA Cycling Club held round 7 of their ever-popular club road race and time trial league at the weekend, and this was also the second road race of the league.

The circuit was a new one, although it had been previously used for the Ulster Youth Cycling Championships two years ago. Starting on the Dundrum road in Dromara, the course took the riders onto the Rathfriland road for a few hundred yards, then entering the Castlewellan road for an exceptionally tough climb up to the Crossgare Road, then descending back onto the Dundrum road for a fast run-in to Dromara. The course was 4.7 mile long, with five laps to be completed.

After the heavy rain that had fell all day leading up to the race, it was no wonder the riders arrived at the sign on in their waterproof jackets and over shoes, with the forecast to give more heavy rain.

Shortly after 7pm when all the riders had been signed on by club secretary Martin Grimley, and the marshals put into their positions, the riders were put into four groups according to their ability.

Guest riders from Team Vision Racing, West Down Wheelers and Phoenix CC were present, which helped in adding more competition to the race. When group one was set off they were followed by group two three and a half minutes later, which included club chairman Peter Bryson. Group four was next at five minutes, then the scratch group left after seven and a half minutes in pursuit of the other three groups.

The race stayed fairly spread out for the first three laps, with each group either gaining on one another or getting further away from the group behind them.

In group two, a small breakaway consisting of Ryan Mallon, Jonathan McBride, Zak Hanna and Christopher Weir slipped away on the Castlewellan Road climb which gave them a good gap over their group, and it lasted until near the end of lap 2, when the race was beginning to emerge together for the last two and a half laps.

Group three caught groups one and two halfway through the third lap, shortly followed by the scratch group, which had the other groups left deciding whether to jump on or sit back and let the rest go ahead.

On the fourth lap the race split near the top of the climb, leaving a small mixture of groups to battle it out all the way to the finish, with smaller groups just seconds behind.

At the finish at the 30mph sign into Dromara, the groups emerged around the last corner and a bunch gallop was certain, and it was the club race secretary, Anahilt’s Gavin Magowan, who took the spoils from Aaron McGrady and brother Chris Magowan, followed by Ryan Calvert in 4th place and Paul Mawhirt in 5th place.

The next round of the club league will be held this Thursday night, a 16 mile time trial from Hillsborough to Ballynahinch and back. Make sure to check the message board at www.dromaracc.co.uk for start location and time.

• Congratulations to Dromara Cycling Club member Mary Hunter who is currently leading the Bikeworks sponsored Ulster Women’s’ Association Time Trial League after three rounds. She also recently competed in a time trial over in Puerto Pollensa, Majorca. She was up against 40 other competitors, and she didn’t let that deter her as she won the event in a time of 58:58, breaking the course record in the process. Well done Mary from all at Dromara Cycling Club.