Saturday saw the first of the local “classics”. The Tour of ‘Ards is well known as one of the fastest of the Ulster Classics with some new hills now thrown in down at Portaferry for good measure.

North Down put in a strong team any of whom could take the trophy. Both Matty Blayney and Stuart Henry have been showing some good form recently no doubt hoping to put in some quality miles prior to our own North Down GP.

It was a fast moving group all the way to Portaferry with speeds too high for anyone to escape off the front. It wasn’t until the Loughdoo Circuit that a group of four riders managed to get away.

Alistair Macauley, Gary Cranston, Brian McCrystal and popular local businessman James McMaster worked hard together over the two loops of the hill then pushed hard up the Peninsula holding a slender lead over a hard charging bunch. Cranston had a dig coming out of Kircubben on a climb well known to many a tired North Down rider suffering on a Saturday run. It came to nought however and the four riders’ gap dropped down to a slender ten seconds with the finish line outside Newtownards Flying Club coming into sight. The four riders slowed down for a tense game of cat and mouse seeing who would crack first. McMaster felt it was time to light the blue touch paper, select the twelve sprocket, and starting a long way out drove hard it all the way to the line. A well-deserved win for McMaster after finishing runner up on previous occasions was his just reward for such a bold sprint. This win was well received by the home crowd as it’s always good to see a local rider take the spoils. A well-known rider on our own club rides James has ridden prestigious races such as The Ras, The Shay Elliot and represented Ulster in the past. Well done James!

Our lads didn’t make it easy for McMaster though with Matty, Stuart and Connor all working to bring the break back. Unfortunately on this occasion they didn’t have the strength to pull it off but it will give a lot of riders good confidence and some speed in their legs for this weekend’s North Down GP.

James McMaster – Courtesy Marion Lamb

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With the Wallace Caldwell Classic postponed due to snow on the course all racing centred around the P.J. Logan Cup based up at The Bush near Coalisland. Despite some very wintery conditions North Down again fielded a strong team, perhaps keen to escape a snowbound Bangor for an afternoon. Based loosely on The Bush 100 motorbike circuit the road race consists of a figure of eight course on heavy roads with climbs and drags to keep everyone on their toes. Strong frigid winds however played their part exploiting any gaps in the bunch leaving many a rider exposed and riding to the finish line on their own.

North Down Cycling Club is a… ‘ total club’… were the perceptive comments of former Olympian, Seamus Downey at the end of the PJ Logan Cup last weekend. As Downey went on to explain… ‘North Down encourages the recreational side of the sport, promotes excellent events, has a strong social aspect and produces top class athletes’.

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Much has been written of recent weeks about our illustrious Chairman, Ian Blayney, and his indomitable ladies team that he has masterminded over the winter. Week after week his ladies have been populating the podiums the length and breadth of Ulster to the extent that many have forgotten what the man’s forte in fact is. On Saturday Ian gave out a timely reminder to all and sundry that he is, first and foremost, the Sprint King! When it comes to a flat finish there are few faster and after a week running the club, administering advice to “The Ras Robbers” and running our ladies team he has obviously found a few spare hours to do a bit of training. Opening his 2013 account with his first scalp, the Master’s Race of the Ciclisport Grand Prix near Moneymore. This race was not won easily but was a hard fought battle all the way to the line with Ian pipping the other riders to the post. Special mention for the bard John Hunter however. Not so much for his able assistance to Ian during the race but for penning the phrase. “Who do you think you are? Tony Martin?”. John, we salute you.

It’s wasn’t just the men racing at the weekend however. The Ladies fielded a full team again to contest the race. As ever it was Janine making the news. Attacking from the gun and soloing all the way to the finish line rewarded her with her fourth win from four races this season. Showing this amount of dominance in the ladies category must have the other ladies teams scratching their heads as to how to reel her in. Yet again we took the second place on the podium, this time Louise Togneri. Also it’s good to see the team bolstered by experienced track rider Rachel Mitchell. With Rachel’s proven track record it could be that Janine’s greatest competition comes from within before too long!

There were plenty of other club members racing at the weekend. Our ever growing junior section was in action proving to be just as successful as our seniors. Will Hamilton rode a strong race, though, like the seniors, it was the girls bringing home the trophies. Katie Armstrong took second place in a sprint finish and won the Under 14 category at the Saint Patrick’s Festival of Youth race. Fantastic racing, Katie, when will you be racing for Ian’s Ladies Team?