Post by richb on Jul 3, 2006 12:14:04 GMT 1
Here is what I knocked up for Trevor...if it reads like a load of junk...what can I say some of us have to do work in work.
The annual Newry Wheelers Three Day Cycle Race took place this weekend. Dromara Cycle Club had five representatives: Ronnie Smyth, Davie McKnight, Darren Weir, Stephen Baines and Richard Bell. The first stage was on Friday night. It consisted of twenty laps of a two mile circuit around Warrenpoint town center. The race was fast, furious and at times a little hairy. A breakaway group went early on. There were no Dromara riders in the group and the boys did their share trying to bring the group back. The stage was eventually won by Barry Mullan from Phoenix with all the Dromara boys comfortably in the main bunch. On Saturday there were two stages: The first was five laps of a twelve mile circuit around Hilltown, Rathfriland, and Kilcoo. The second was a four mile time trial on the dual carriageway between Warenpoint and Newry. The first stage ran at an average pace with no major excitement as most people were saving themselves for the Sunday. It was won by Lenny Kirk from Slance CC. Two Dromara riders had mechanical difficulties. Davie got a puncture and after fixing it ended up finishing thirteen minutes down on the bunch. Stephen Baines had problems with his gears and had to retire from the event. The afternoon time trial was won by another Phoenix Rider in a time of 7'10''. Darren Weir was the best Dromara finisher with a time of 7'40'. The Sunday stage was the main event that everyone had been looking forward to. It was a seventy mile road race starting in Warrenpoint, passing through Newry, Scarva, Banbridge, Moneyslane, Castlewellan, up through Bryansford over the top of spelga and back to Warrenpoint. A breakaway group got away early on. At this point the pace of the main bunch was pretty slow. By the time we had made it to Castlewellan the chase started in earnest. As the pace kicked in on the main climb the going was pretty tough. Ronnie, Darren and Davie made over the climb with the main group. Richard was slightly off the pace, although not the last man over. This stage was won by Alistair Steele of Ciclisport. All four remaining Dromara men made it back into Warrenpoint with Ronnie, Darren and Davie getting the same time as the race winner and Richard coming in 8 minutes down. In the team event Dromara came fifth out of thirteen. Individually Darren and Ronnie were well placed at 21st and 22nd overall, 33' down on the race winner. Richard with 78th 9'06'' down on the winner with Davie placed slightly further down due to his puncture on day 2. As 4 of the 5 Dromara boys only started pedaling in earnest a few months ago this was pleasing performance which they can hopefully build on next year. All in all it was a great weekend. The Newry Wheelers made a fine job of organizing the event.
The annual Newry Wheelers Three Day Cycle Race took place this weekend. Dromara Cycle Club had five representatives: Ronnie Smyth, Davie McKnight, Darren Weir, Stephen Baines and Richard Bell. The first stage was on Friday night. It consisted of twenty laps of a two mile circuit around Warrenpoint town center. The race was fast, furious and at times a little hairy. A breakaway group went early on. There were no Dromara riders in the group and the boys did their share trying to bring the group back. The stage was eventually won by Barry Mullan from Phoenix with all the Dromara boys comfortably in the main bunch. On Saturday there were two stages: The first was five laps of a twelve mile circuit around Hilltown, Rathfriland, and Kilcoo. The second was a four mile time trial on the dual carriageway between Warenpoint and Newry. The first stage ran at an average pace with no major excitement as most people were saving themselves for the Sunday. It was won by Lenny Kirk from Slance CC. Two Dromara riders had mechanical difficulties. Davie got a puncture and after fixing it ended up finishing thirteen minutes down on the bunch. Stephen Baines had problems with his gears and had to retire from the event. The afternoon time trial was won by another Phoenix Rider in a time of 7'10''. Darren Weir was the best Dromara finisher with a time of 7'40'. The Sunday stage was the main event that everyone had been looking forward to. It was a seventy mile road race starting in Warrenpoint, passing through Newry, Scarva, Banbridge, Moneyslane, Castlewellan, up through Bryansford over the top of spelga and back to Warrenpoint. A breakaway group got away early on. At this point the pace of the main bunch was pretty slow. By the time we had made it to Castlewellan the chase started in earnest. As the pace kicked in on the main climb the going was pretty tough. Ronnie, Darren and Davie made over the climb with the main group. Richard was slightly off the pace, although not the last man over. This stage was won by Alistair Steele of Ciclisport. All four remaining Dromara men made it back into Warrenpoint with Ronnie, Darren and Davie getting the same time as the race winner and Richard coming in 8 minutes down. In the team event Dromara came fifth out of thirteen. Individually Darren and Ronnie were well placed at 21st and 22nd overall, 33' down on the race winner. Richard with 78th 9'06'' down on the winner with Davie placed slightly further down due to his puncture on day 2. As 4 of the 5 Dromara boys only started pedaling in earnest a few months ago this was pleasing performance which they can hopefully build on next year. All in all it was a great weekend. The Newry Wheelers made a fine job of organizing the event.
