North Down Cyclists Selected for Ulster

Three North Down cyclists Rachael Mitchell, Gareth Boyle and Stuart Henry competed with distinction in the Kerry International Youth Race, last weekend in the colours of Ulster.  The race brings together the best of local and cross-channel under-age talent, as well as teams from South Africa, Belgium and Malta.

In all, the cyclists have to compete in no fewer than four events, spread over the three days; two road races, a time trial and a criterium.  In the category two race, for under 14 year olds, Rachael was competing against some of the top schoolboys, such as Jack Wilson, and rode tenaciously all weekend in the Ulster Girls’ team and ended up a very creditable 35th overall.
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Super Sam Shines

The fact that North Down Cycling Club is not a uni-dimensional club was clearly illustrated last week when their ‘youthful’ veteran, Sam Craig, took the coveted veterans’ prize in the Ards Three Day.  Although Sam is no new-comer to the sport, he has had a resurgence of enthusiasm, exuberance and competitiveness recently.  The form that Sam brought back from his charity ride to Paris was obvious in, for example, the Carrickfergus and Ards crits.  However, it was the veterans’ prize in the Ards stage race which Sam had targeted.
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Youth Olympic, Serbia

This is your roving reporter in hot, very hot Serbia.

The first thing that struck me as I descended from the plane was the heat.  At 7.30 at night it was still 36 degrees centigrade.  During the day in Belgrade itself, where most of the cycling has taken place the temperatures have at times been over 50 degrees!
 
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Henry exchanges Pink and Black for Green!

North Down’s top youth rider, Stuart Henry, this week exchanged his traditional club colours for those of Ireland when he left for Serbia and the Youth Olympics.  This is a major achievement by the young Bangor cyclist who has established himself as one of the strongest young riders in the country.

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