McAllister and Cunningham in fineform for Ballymoney Cycling Club

Ballymoney CC Biesty’s Centra racing team riders Steven McAllister and Uel Cunningham won three local races in the past week.

On the Tuesday night Coleraine based club Bann Wheelers held their club race on the tough Stroan, Kirkhills circuit and in three groups set off with a 5 minute handicap the action was instant.

With the four lap race held at a blistering pace the three groups were altogether going into the final lap. With Bann Wheelers riders Bobby Kane and Nigel Quigley forcing the pace in search of a home win, on the final climb onto the final run in to the finish, the two Coleraine riders broke clear and opened a gap.

As the finish line got closer the Biesty’s Centra rider Steven McAllister jumped clear and closed the gap to Kane and Quigley. With 200 metres to the line the three riders burst forward with McAllister getting the win from Kane and in 3rd place Nigel Quigley.

Result

1st Steven McAllister BCC Biesty’s Centra Racing Team

2nd Bobby Kane Bann Wheelers

3rd Nigel Quigley Bann Wheelers

4th Ryan Patton Duffin RT

* Uel Cunningham wins the “Mur de Stroan” Hard Riders Road Race.

With riders from Ballycastle, Cushendall, Coleraine, Ballymena, Dunloy, Antrim and Loughguile in action this was a tough road race promoted by Ballymoney Cycling Club.

The field was split into four groups with the fast riders at the rear 9 minutes behind the front group. Under 16 rider Ryan Orr, recently placed 2nd at the Kanturk 3 Day and winner of the Mid Ulster GP. Ryan showed what his intentions were as he drilled at a pace in excess of 30mph and the gaps melted away as the groups came together.

Young Orr had his job well worked out as attempts by Philip McGuigan on the climb of the Stroan hill to escape were countered and the Loughguile rider was reeled back in.

Last lap saw the field split and two riders broke clear. Duffin Racing team rider P McGuigan and BCC Biesty’s Centra racing team rider and recent winner of the Bann Valley road race Uel Cunningham. McGuigan led out the sprint for the line but it was Cunningham who came off his wheel to win by 5 lengths at the line, 3rd place went to Philip McKeown and 4th Neville Patton, both BCC Biesty’s Centra racing team, 5th place went to David McQuilken Causeway CC.

Final Result

1st Uel Cunningham …… BCC Biesty’s Centra Racing Team

2nd Philip McGuigan ……Duffin RT

3rd Philip McKeown…… BCC Biesty’s Centra Racing Team

4th Neville Patton ….. BCC Biesty’s Centra Racing Team

5th David McQuilken ….Causeway CC

6th Jordan McCaw ….. BCC Biesty’s Centra Racing Team

7th Chris McKeown ….. BCC Biesty’s Centra Racing Team

8th Steven McAllister….. BCC Biesty’s Centra Racing Team

9th David McAvoy ….. BCC Biesty’s Centra Tri Team

10th Conor Bradley …. Dunloy CC

11th Tony Blaney ….. BCC Biesty’s Centra Racing Team

12th Stuart Nevin ….. BCC Biesty’s Centra Racing

* Forthcoming events.

This week is Round 2 of the Interclub league at Ballymena. BCC will again be fielding a team of 10 riders at this event. The probable team will be Steven McAllister, Uel Cunningham, William Loughridge, Stuart Laverty, Mervyn Linton, Philip McKeown, Jordan McCaw, Ronan Sherman, Neville Patton and new signing David McQuilken formerly with Causeway CC. Jason Bartlett, David McAvoy and Ricky McMaster.

Meanwhile, British Cycling’s lead physiotherapist, Phil Burt, recently met up former Irish pro cyclist David McCann and sportive organiser Beverley Pierson at Chain Reaction Cycles Flagship Store in Belfast to show his support for the 2013 Giant’s Causeway Coast Sportive which will take place on Saturday 7th September.

Phil, who is also the Consultant Physiotherapist for the Tour de France winning Sky Pro Cycling Team, was over visiting Chain Reaction’s Flagship Store in Belfast to give a talk on the philosophies behind British Cycling’s sustained success in 2012.

Unsurprisingly, Phil highlighted the positive impact of the Olympics and how its legacy has led to the dramatic rise in cycling participation across the UK. However he also attributed this increase to the ever growing number of high quality mass participation events and their ability to really grab people’s attention with stunning routes and great social interaction as well as the all important challenges to train towards. Phil explained, “Sportives are such a great way to introduce people into road cycling. I’ve known a lot of riders in my professional career and racing in some format, be it sportive or time trailing, this is how most of them started out.”

Phil continued, “There is no better way to get into cycling and when listening to plans for this year’s Giant’s Causeway Coast Sportive it sure sounds like 2013’s event is going to be another successful year for them and definitely one not to miss.”

The shortest route on offer is a 35 mile ‘Causeway Coaster’ and takes in Bushmills Distillery (Ireland’s oldest whiskey distillery), Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge and the Giant’s Causeway UNESCO World Heritage Site. The most popular 80 mile route traverses the magical Glens of Antrim before following the Antrim Coast Road with the option of taking on or bypassing the gruelling Torr Head Road. The longest route (115 miles) incorporates both of these shorter distances and provides the ultimate cycling challenge which is widely regarded as one of the toughest sportive routes in Ireland.

This year’s Giant’s Causeway Coast Sportive is being supported by 2 of UK’s best selling cycling magazines, Cycling Weekly and Cycling Active and has teamed up with Marie Curie Cancer Care and Action Medical Research to encourage participants to fundraise as an extra motivator for those tough hill climbs.

The event starts and finishes in Ballycastle, Co. Antrim. Registration costs £35 and participants are also encouraged to fundraise for one of the nominated charities.

For more information on the Giant’s Causeway Coast Sportive please contact Beverley Pierson on+ +44 (0) 28 9030 9338 or email [email protected]

Outdoor Recreation NI (formerly CAAN) is the organisation behind the Giant’s Causeway Coast Sportive. The organisation is responsible for developing, managing and promoting outdoor activities including walking, cycling, canoeing and adventure activities .