National Champion wins Beggs Memorial Race

Damian Shaw (Team Asea) beat a top class field to win the John Beggs Memorial race in Dromore today. The reigning National Champion won on his own after 70 miles of aggressive racing around the hilly 9.5 mile circuit. Connor McConvey (Team 3M) was second to finish 30 seconds later with Mark Dowling (D.I.D. Dunboyne)  third at 2 minutes. Bryan McCrystal (Asea) was fourth at the head of a chasing group followed by Sean McKenna (Aqua Blue) and Sean McIntyre (Caldwell Cycles).

Andrew Chivers (North Down CC) was first junior to finish to win the Sean McGreevy Memorial trophy. This was a strong ride by the Belfast teenager who finished in a depleted bunch as more than half of the starters didn’t complete the gruelling race.

McConvey won the King of the Hills Competition which was fought out at the top of the steep Ballykeel Hill on Laps 2,3,4,5 and 6.

David Frizzel (West Down Wheelers) won the A4 race in a bunch sprint from Andrew Ferguson (Castlereagh CC)  and Mark Kendel (Banbridge CC). Orla Montague (Dublin Wheelers) won the ladies race from Eileen Burns (Ballymena Chain Reaction) and Alwyn Shannon (Newry Wheelers). The first two women were actually 3^rd and 4^th among the leaders of the A4 event. The finishing sprint of the A4 race was marred by a crash. Connor Devlin (Island Wheelers) was taken to hospital for assessment while Jeff Baines (Castlereagh CC) was also taken to hospital to have a wound on his leg sutured.

Paul Kirk (North Down CC) won the two lap masters race.

It was another great days racing promoted by Banbridge Cycling Club and it was pleasing to see such a good field assembled at this stage in the season. This was the penultimate round of the new National road race series which ends with the North Down Grand Prix at Donaghadee next Sunday.

report by Brendan Kirk

A1/2/3/J Race

1. Damien Shaw (Team Asea)

2. Connor McConvey (Team 3M)

3. Mark Dowling (DID Dunboyne)

4. Bryan McCrystal (Team Asea)

5. Sean McKenna (Aquablue)

6. Sean McIntyre (Caldwell Cycles)

7. Eoin Morton (UCD)

8. Derek Joyce (Galway Bay)

9. Niall O'Gorman (Phoenix CC)

10. Eoin Lynch (DID Dunboyne)

11. Matthew Brennan (Ballymena Road Club )

12. Chris Reilly (Team ASEA)

13. Mark Millar (Velo Cafe Magasin)

14. Derek Finnegan (Keevan CC)

15. Liam Dolan (Cuchullain)

16. Mark Reilly (Liquidworx)

17. Ronan Killean (Lucan CC)

18. David McFall (Omagh Wheelers )

19. Joe Henry (Velo Cafe Magasin)

20. A. Klaus (Stamullen Road Club) 

KOH Winner - Connor McConvey (Team 3M)

1st A2 - Niall Gorman (Phoenix CC)

1st A3 - A Klaus (Stamullen Road Club) 

2nd A3 - David McIntyre (Maryland Wheelers)

3rd A3 - Nathan Sturrock (Banbridge CC)

1st Junior - Andrew Chivers (North Down CC)

2nd Junior - Matthew Armstrong (Dromara CC)

A4 Race

1.       David Frizzel (West Down Wheelers)

2.       Andrew Ferguson (Castlereagh CC)

3.       Orla Montague (Dublin Wheelers)

4.       Eileen Burns (Ballymena RC)

5.       Mark Kendell (Banbridge CC)

6.       Dermot O’Connor (Square Wheels)

7.       Dan Brown ((North Down CC)

8.       Tony Doherty (Carn Wheelers)

1st Woman - Orla Montague (Dublin Wheelers)

2nd Woman - Eileen Burns (Ballymena RC)

3rd Woman – Alwyn Shannon (Newry Wheelers)

Over 50’s Race

1.       Paul Kirk (North Down CC)

2.       Geoff Garrett (Phoenix CC)

3.       Brian Nannon (Banbridge CC)

4.       Brian Doherty (Bann Wheelers)

5.       Neil McCartan (Powerhouse Sports)

6.       Mervyn McKeown (VC Iveagh)