|
|
|
Last Updated: Apr 10th, 2008 - 14:10:09 |
WEEKEND ROUNDUP:
By Tommy Campbell
Irish Independent, Evening Herald, Sunday Independent
Apr 10, 2008,
|
Email this article
© Tommy Campbell
|
The cycling season is certainly cranking up with the racing scene going from strength to strength as the weather starts to improve. Also an Irish team will line up in the 2.1 ranked Tour of Turkey which starts on Sunday.
With the clocks going forward, the Leisure cyclists are themselves gearing up for a leisurely season.
On Sunday the Liam Horner Memorial Fun Cycle takes place from McDonalds in Clonee. Friends of the late Liam, rather than having a race in his memory, thought it would be more appropriate to cycle the highways and byways and get in touch with mother nature. No doubting it will be a cycle with a lot of delving into the past as the participants take to the roads and relive the banter that Liam enjoyed when the racing season was over.
The cycle which will be set at a leisurely pace, will be approx. 80Kms and go from Clonee, through Dunboyne and out to Summerhill road before turning off to go by Bective Abbey, Kilmessan and then over the Hill of Tara and cross the Navan Road to go by Skreen Castle and return to Clonee. Expect to arrive back in Clonee at 1.30pm.
Everyone who feels that they can cover 80 kilometers on a bike is welcome but they must wear a cycling helmet and should take along a spare tube with them in case of a puncture. They should also bring some food and something to drink along the way.
And, if you are fortunate enough to pedal alongside Michael Byrne be sure to engage him chat about the exploits of a champion in all disciplines of the sport.
But, back to the serous side of the racing scene on Saturday and Sunday
------
Ards Cycling Club don't do half measures when it comes to the promotion of a cycling event. On Saturday one of the most prestigious events on the calendar is down for decision. A top class field of 80 competitors have signed up for the Tour of Ards.
Newtownards rider Adam Armstrong (Pezula) tops the list of favourites. His wins this year include two of the toughest one day races, the Wallace Caldwell Memorial in Ballymena and the Des Hanlon Memorial in Carlow. Plus the fact his team have been dominating the domestic scene for the last number of weeks. Also in the fray and one to be watched is Armstrong’s team mate Ryan Connor the three times P&O Tour of North winner Fraser Duncan's win (Northern-D Kane) in the Surgeoner Cup last Saturday must surely count for something and has to be regarded!, The 2005 winner Mark Greer (Maryland) returns as a veteran but the runner up that year Martyn Irvine will not be on the start line as he is riding in the Tour of Turkey for Team Pezula. The Ards Club entry includes former winner Alastair Irvine along with Kirk Sloan, Ross Blayney, Willie McMullan, Warren Francis, John Ruddle, Paul McMinn, Andrew Hedley and Brendan Kirk. Our neighbours North Down field Stuart Henry winner at Bartins Bay last Sunday, Paul Ferguson, Alan Lavery and Sam Craig.
The race leaves the Portaferry Road at 12 and after a parade around the town centre will start proper on the Bangor Dual Carriageway. The route goes to Bangor along the ring road to Groomsport, Donagadee, Millisle, Ballywalter, Ballyhalbert, Portavogie, Cloughey, and Portaferry where it takes in a nine mile loop along Lough Doo Road back to Portaferry. It then returns to ‘Ards via Kircubbin and Greyabbey to finish close to the Flying Club entrance on the Portaferry Road at Approximately 2.20pm.
Total race distance is 60 miles.
Next Tuesday night’s club event is Ballydrian Circuit time trial starting at 7pm, it is approximately 5.5 miles. It starts on the Killinchy Road from Comber near the petrol station. Marshals for the event are William Kirk Andrew Templeton and Paul Smyth. Tim Burch is the first aid officer at the event.
|
IMPORTANT: All articles,
quotes and results which appear on this page are strictly © Copyright
2008 Tommy Campbell,
IrishCycling.com.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
