Road Race Results

23 Apr 2015

Carn Wheelers held their first club road race of the season on their Wood Road course on Thursday
evening 23rd April.

As everyone lined up in their perspective groups, eager to get a good start to the campaign, all open racing form goes out the window, in this shorter faster form of racing everyone has a chance to compete as the groups try to stay away from Scratch. Mickey Scullion more eager than most got the jump on the scratch group with a 2 second lead, but this was noted and caught on Camera for evidence if any time penalty would be required at the finish line. It was great to see so many Carn Men and Women out, young and old, there were some new faces (Stephen McGill) some returning after few years absence (Joe McCrory) and some making their first appearance of the year (Cathal Doyle). There were riders from local clubs Spires, Bann Valley, CCT, Termoneney and even as far as Errigle CC and Clogher Valley in the mix, amongst others.

As the groups completed the first lap it was Nicky Gormley in scratch driving it on in his usual attacking style, but he was well marked and was not allowed to open up any sizeable gap. At the end of lap 1, group 1 still had 2min20 lead on the main field but this was soon closed down as all the riders came together on lap 2. There was only 1 attack that stuck on lap 3, with Carn’s Johnny Taylor, Gerard McNally of Bann Valley, and Reid of CCT all opening up a decent break, with Joe McCrory then able to ride over with 2 more CCT men and start to open up the gap to the bunch. A few Carn men, Nicky Gormley and Marc Heaney and a few more riders did make an attempt to bridge the gap, but were swallowed up again by the group again.

On the last lap the break away with CCT having 3 riders, Carn 2 riders, and 1 Bann Valley, Dempsey of CCT started the attacks but was unlucky to puncture soon after, and as they rounded the last corner coming into Tobermore with the main bunch closing fast, JT made the move that stuck riding away from Reid of CCT up the last hill, with Joe McCrory just holding onto 3^rd from G.McNally 4th and C.McCann (NRPT) 5^th.

This was also Cathir Doyle and Sarah Elders first taste of club road race action, as they set off in group 1, and held their own well among the adults!

Next up is the Glenshane 10M TT on 7^thMay, we look forward to seeing a good turn out again and just a reminder that everyone is welcome of all abilities, remember it’s not the wining but it’s the taking part that counts.

The top 10 finishers in tonight’s road race were:

1 Johnny Taylor – Carn Wheelers

2 Andrew Reid - CCT

3 Joe McCrory – Carn Wheelers

4 Gerard McNally – Bann Valley

5 Conor McCann - NRPT

6 John McGlaughlin - CCT

7 Marc Heaney – Carn Wheelers

8 Stephen Hutchinson - CCT

9 Paddy Kelly – Carn Wheelers

10 Chris McCann - Inspired

Well done to all riders, marshallers and organisers who made this a great night’s racing.