North Down Cycling Club’s Awards Night
This Monday night promises to be one of the highlights of the North Down Cycling Club’s social season with the annual awards night. Once again the venue will be one of the club’s major sponsors, The Bokhara in King’s Street, Bangor, with everything commencing at 7.30 sharp with a meal.
Amongst the main prize winners this year will be the Swenarton family. Paul, a prolific winner of veterans’ races throughout the country in recent years, is no longer having it all his own way. Up and coming star of the future, his 16 year old son Craig, is beginning to push the ‘old man’ all the way, and has ensured that he’ll not simply be carrying his father’s silverware home this year but will be carrying some in his own right.
Other riders to impress in club events this year are Gareth Boyle and Noel Boyce. Despite starting late this year due to injury, Gareth managed to win the season-long Road Race League, whilst Noel won the Road Race Championship. Third in the league was the redoubtable William Barclay.
However, the night will not simply be about acknowledging those in the racing sphere, but it’s an opportunity to socialise in an informal relaxed atmosphere. It’s also the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of other aspects of club life. For example, the magnificent Coastal Challenge is now accepted as the premier recreational cycling event in the country. Similarly, it is only but right that we celebrate the dozens of recreational cyclists in the club who have ‘bravely gone where no-one else would dare’! One such exponent of this aspect of cycling is our own John Hicks. John has just returned from a mammoth tour along the West Coast of America and has promised to bring some of his photographs on Monday night.
Anyone who has not as yet booked their place for the Bokhara should do so immediately by contacting Tom Henry at thomashenry@hotmail.com. Tickets are an incredible £12.50 and a great night is in store for everyone.
Larne Cyclo-Cross
North Down riders had more fine performances at the Larne Cyclo-Cross last weekend, with Sam Craig and Michael Hamilton impressing in the senior event. Perhaps one of the most jubilant, however, was Paul Ferguson who, on the back of a lean road season, has continued to produce fine performances in this particular discipline. Riding in the support race, Paul was always in the thick of the action. Speaking earlier this week, he stated ‘Having not ridden any off-road events in 14 years, I’ve been quite surprised with my performances.’ The event on Saturday was fast on mostly grass and gravel and Paul exchanged the lead four or five times with the eventual winner, Phil O’Neill. However, 2nd place after such a lengthy break is indeed creditable.
The cyclo-cross season continues this weekend with an event in Tymon Park, Dublin and on the 28th it’s a little closer to home being organised by the Madigan club at Beltoy, near Carrickfergus.