Lavery Wins Podium Spot
North Down Cycling Club’s Alan Lavery was on the podium last Saturday in the B event at the Ciclisport Grand Prix, in what was only his second race of the season. The tough Helen’s Bay rider proved that no matter how cold, wet and windy the conditions, he can still perform to the highest standards.
Charity Cycle Challenge
Are you up for the challenge? If you are …… then welcome to the seventh year of a great cycle event, the Bangor Coastal Challenge, which takes place on Saturday the 21st June. Over the years the popularity of this touring cycle has grown and grown. Indeed, in conjunction with the PSNI, it was agreed that only the first 700 entrants would be accepted and this will be the same this year. Of course the real winners in this event are the recipients of the sponsorship. In this case it will be Northern Ireland Diabetes Stroke/Cardiology unit at the Ulster Hospital who will be the recipients of the net proceeds from the event. In 2007 this amounted to a staggering four figure sum.
North Down’s Super Sam’s Success
Almost sixty riders, separated into three bunches, started the John Moore Memorial on Saturday last. The race was over four laps of the Temple-Ballinahinch-Saintfield course, a distance of 45 miles in total, and was completed in what could only be described as miserable conditions.
Artic Conditions for Classic Cycle Race
Two North Down members, Sam Craig and Stuart Henry, braved the arctic conditions last weekend to compete in the classic 77 mile Wallace Caldwell Memorial race. The event, which started and finished in Ballymena, set out in bright but cold conditions. However, the brightness soon faded and the large field had to contend with what were at time atrocious conditions with extreme cold, gale force winds, rain and sleet.
Annaclone Grand Prix
Eighty riders braved the cold conditions last weekend to take part in the first competitive event of the cycling season, Annaclone Grand Prix. The race was run on a handicap basis with two groups separated by four and a half minutes.
Season Beckons
After many weeks of training and expectation the 2008 season is eventually upon us. Traditionally the first road race of the season is the event at Annaclone, just outside Banbridge and this year is no exception.