Dromara runs toughAnnahilt triangle race

A full field lined out for the McMullan Trophy A race which covered over 100 km around an 8.7 mile circuit of the village of Annahilt.

A break went from the gun in this event led by David McCann (Giant Asia) who was joined by Thomas Martin (Eurocycles) and Ryan Connor (Usher IRC). These three increased their gap on the peleton with every lap and never looked as if they would be caught.

They were chased hard by two smaller groups which eventually merged. Davy McKnight and Darren Weir of the promoting club were in the thick of the action here. They were joined by Sean McGreevy (Newry Wheelers), Rory Devlin (North Pole), John Heverin (Clann Eireann), Fraser Duncan (Eurocycles) and Paul Ferguson of North Down. Colm Quinn of Cuchullain closed down the gap to this group in the closing laps.

In the final lap, McCann and Martin dropped Connor and sprinted home with McCann taking the win ahead of Martin. They were followed in some seconds later by Connor. Duncan, who won this race last year, left the chasing group and soloed home in fourth position.

The remaining places in this eight point event came down to a two sprint finishes with Quinn edging out Heverin to take fifth place. In the second sprint it was North Pole's Rory Devlin who had the legs to edge out Connor Grimes of Clann Eireann.

The second race of the day was the Ronnie Smyth Cup event for A4 riders. There was almost a full field for this event as well. There were numerous attacks in the race but they were always reeled in. The riders completed the 70km race with a high average speed. Coming to the line two riders broke free form the bunch to sprint for glory.

It was Phoenix CC's David Tweed who lifted the honours and his first points this season. Bann Valley's Dean McElfatrick took second gaining more than enough points to see him move to the ranks of the A3's.

The remaining points came down to a very close bunch sprint with Lakeland's Keith Johnston taking the verdict ahead of Geoff Hewitt (Phoenix CC), Gavin Magowan (Dromara CC) and Jonathan Bamford (Maryland Wheelers).

Dromara also played host to a round of the UWA Women's League. Fourteen women signed onto the race and had decided among themselves to start in two groups with a time handicap.

In the first group were Caroline Patterson (Dromara CC), Mary Hunter (Dromara CC), Kathleen Gill (Bohermeen CC), Antje Otto (Phoenix CC), Gillian Orr (Ards CC), Jo-Anne Kee (Ballymena RC).

Three minutes later the second group went off, among them were: Val O'Neill (Dromara CC), Therese Smyth (Phoenix CC), Geraldine Gill (Bohermeen CC), Ciara Mulholland (Clann Eireann), Hannah Francis (Team Bikeworks), Maeve Savage (Ballymena RC), Julie Mulligan (Omagh Wheelers) and Mandy Collie (Orchard Wheelers).

The second group worked hard to bridge the gap but the top three finishers came from the first group with an exciting sprint finish between club mates Caroline Patterson and Mary Hunter with Caroline just coming around Mary at the line to take the win by mere centimetres.

Jo-Anne Kee was not far behind finishing third with three riders from the second group taking the next three placings, Ciara Mulholland, Geraldine Gill and Julie Mulligan.

Caroline was happy with her first opn race win, a victory following just a few weeks after the Dromara ladies team of Caroline, Mary, Val and Meave Cahill lifted the Ulster Ladies Team Time Trail.

All the events went off smoothly with no incidents. Dromara had lots of marshalls in place with 5 motorbike outriders who helped keep the event safe. There was plenty of food and craic back at the race headquarters after the events. Many thanks to the Comms Aaron Wallace and Dany Blondeel.