Ray Brownfield announced his return to competitive cycling this weekend with an emphatic win at the Kinning Cycles cyclo-cross race at Knocknagoney in East Belfast. After a long illness in 2017 and only two months of intensive training, Ray entered the first race of 2018 with fairly low expectations. Cyclo-cross is a notoriously tough cycling discipline and on a frosty winter morning, the hilly course around Knocknagoney Park was going to be a major challenge. Not having raced for most of 2017, Ray was placed at the back of the starting grid but after the first lap he began to feel strong and 
after three laps he’d worked his way into the lead. He held this position for another four gruelling laps, eventually winning by a full minute. This was a remarkable comeback performance in an event attracting competitors from across Ireland. NDCC and the wider cycling community are delighted to see Ray back to full fitness and we wish him all success for the forthcoming Irish Cyclo-cross Championships in Dublin and the 2018 road racing season.
Ray can be contacted at Brownfield Bike Repairs and Restorations.
75 High Bangor Road, Donaghadee. Tel 07413 020102