Poppy’s star is in the ascendancy

Poppy’s star is in the ascendancy

27 June 2018

IT was a busy week for Shimna Wheelers with members taking part in a number of events.

Poppy Hamilton, the club’s rising star, kicked things off last Wednesday night at the Ards when she finished first in the U-10 category before taking fifth in the U-12 section.

She then competed in the Cycling Ulster Youth Festival held at the Eikon Exhibition Centre where she competed in a time trial, road race and elimination race and finished second overall. This young lady is one to watch for the future, well done Poppy.

Thursday evening saw the popular return of one of the more different competitions on the racing calendar — the Shimna Wheelers Spelga Freewheel Challenge. 

This challenge requires participants to travel as far as they can through aero-dynamics and a touch of gravity.

Participants from Shimna, VCM, Newry Wheelers and TVR took up the challenge with Luke Roberts from Shimna taking the honours and Louis O’Hare the winning guest rider. A big thank-you for all the club marshals for helping deliver this event.

Next up was the prestigious Newry Wheelers 3 Day race. The three-day event sees the best riders from across the country enter in teams to tackle some of the harshest and challenging routes across the rolling South Down and Armagh countryside. 

The race is one of the highlights of the annual calendar and one which club stalwart Roger Neil won in 1994. This year, Shimna Wheelers were delighted to have its team of Brian Steele, Brian McLornan and guest rider Mark Gordon accepted to compete. 

The guys did the club proud coming in 28, 76 and 80th positions respectively races and hopefully this is the start of many more Shimna teams participating in years to come.

A big thank you to all the club members who assisted in marshalling over the three days and to Newry Wheelers for putting on such an excellent and well managed event.

Sunday saw round three of the Vitus First Tracks Enduro Cup in Rostrevor with a total of four Shimna members competing in various categories.

The members tackled the technically challenging terrain of Kilbroney Forest and Slieve Martin peaks in the blistering heat over the course of the weekend. 

Joel Hamilton was second in the junior category and Aidan Hawkins and Matthew Hamilton came third and sixth in the U-21 men’s category before Eddie Hawkins finished fourth in the veterans’ category.

The Latte Leisure group took in a picturesque 65 mile route around the coast then turning off for Downpatrick, Crossgar, Ballynahinch, and finally back to base.

Well done to all club members and Kudos to all. The weekend highlights there’s no better time to join the Shimna Wheelers, whether you’re interested in challenging yourself against the best across the country or meeting new people while getting fitter.