Three road races and a cross country MTB race are on offer this weekend.
Bann Wheelers Open RR – Saturday 28 April
Bann Wheelers Cycling Club will be running their Open Race on Saturday 28th April 2018. Held on a testing 11 mile circuit with 561ft (171m) of climbing per lap, this event should have a broad appeal to those who favour the climbs or sprints.
Each race main peleton will be accompanied by motorcycle outriders/marshalls.
First aid is provided by The Red Cross.
Static and mobile photographers will be at various locations throughout the event.
Details:
Sign On at Ballerin Sarsfields GAA Club : Coolnasillagh Road, Garvagh, BT51 5EW, where full changing and shower facilities are available.
Sign On is open from 10.00am – 11:15am.
Neutralised roll out – cars and riders to be ready at 11:45 at Sarfields GAA Club – roll out through Boleran Road behind the course car to the race circuit (approx. 2.2 miles) – racing will start at the start line at the Cashel Road and finish at the finish line, at the farm buildings 200 metres short of the Shinny Road junction on the Letterloan Road. After finish line competitors are required to turn LEFT onto the Shinny Road and follow route for return to GAA club without crossing the circuit as other races will still be in progress.
A1/A2 will be a scratch race with racing to start at 12.00. After the first race has departed, the A3/Juniors race will begin, then the A4 race and then the Masters/Ladies race.
Distances:
A1/A2 5 laps – 56 miles / 90km
A3/Juniors 5 laps – 56 miles / 90km
A4 4 laps – 45 miles / 72.5km
Masters (over 50s)/Ladies 3 laps – 34miles / 54.7km
Refreshments after with presentation in the Ballerin Sarsfields GAA Club.
£14 entry fee online (non-refundable) with Cycling Ireland Licence
£15 on the day with Cycling Ireland Licence
Termon GP – Sunday 29 April
The Termon GP offers racing for A3 and A4 riders. Sign on available from 11:00 – 12:30. Both races will have a neutralised start behind lead car (leaving race HQ at 12.55), turn left along the Quarry road for 2 miles, at the end of the Quarry road turn right towards Carrickmore Village and in 300 meters arrive at the start-Finish line. A – Race will start at 1.00pm, B – Race at 1.05pm
The entry fee is £15.00 (non-refundable)
Sign on will take place at the Milestone Centre / Termon Business Park, Quarry Road, Carrickmore, Co Tyrone BT79 9AL with car-parking available.
Entry available by clicking here
Tour of Mournes Preview – Sunday 29 April
Newry Wheelers top one day race of the year, the Killowen Contracts Tour of Mournes takes place this Sunday 29th April starting from Newry at 10am.
The race which is will be the 63rd edition is a classic on the Irish cycling scence and a race all the riders want to win. The 78 mile route starts in newry and takes in some of the mourne costal route down to Newcastle before heading to the mournes through Byransford where the first climb of the day takes place.
The riders then head onto Hilltown before the lumpy roads to kilcoo and rathfriland before the next climb out of hilltown the infamous Reed Hall before heading towards rostrevor where the riders will take a hard left and tackle the Elm Hall climb or as most locals know Santas cottage.
After this its back to Hilltown before a few small tests on the road to newry from Hilltown. The race sees all of Ulster’s top riders take to the line and has a few riders based in Europe coming home to race as in James Curry who is based in France and Marc Heaney who races in Belgium. Other riders showing great form of late are Darnell Moore of Team Caldwell and past winner Angus Fyffe also of Team Caldwell, this duo will be in the mix.
Unfortunately defending champion Marc Potts is not home to defend the title as hes still in Australia after the Commonwealth Games.
The promoting club will also have a strong team in the race also with the John Haldane winner Alan Bingham looking another top result with Gareth O’Neill seeking his first win of the season after being upgraded to A1 status. Des woods wont be far away for the local club and Mark Mc Kinley has returned to racing in the last few weeks and is a rider who can never be discounted.
The race is one of the best on the calendar could not be run without the hard working members of Newry Wheelers, the new sponsor Killowen Contracts and long time club sponsor Haldane Fisher. The PSNI are also very important and the race could not be run without them.
Ulster XC/Irish National XC Series – Sunday 29 April
Dromara Cycling Club is proud to host Round 1 of the Irish Cross-country National Point Series 2018 at Tollymore. This event will also double up as Round 2 of the Ulster XC Series.
