Hectic Time For Cycle Tourists

The hectic programme of recreational cycle tours reaches a climax this week with the demanding  Inishowen 100 on Sunday.  This is always a popular but demanding event which enables the cyclists to enjoy some of the best scenery in the country.

However, the views and experiences enjoyed on this event will be nothing compared to two of North Down Cycling Club’s stalwarts, Matty Blayney and Duane McCreadie.  At present they are enjoying the trills and spills of the Trans Rockies Race.  The young cyclists headed off from Panorama, near Calgary, on Monday and were immediately launched into the high mountains over extremely difficult steep roads in sweltering heat.  However, they were compensated by unsurpassed views and breath- taking descents.  So hight profile is the event that it is being broadcast live on television in Canada – so we’ll look forward to seeing it soon ourselves.  Incidentally, after the second day the boys are lying 85th out of 300 teams – not bad!

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North Down Cyclists Selected for Ulster

Three North Down cyclists Rachael Mitchell, Gareth Boyle and Stuart Henry competed with distinction in the Kerry International Youth Race, last weekend in the colours of Ulster.  The race brings together the best of local and cross-channel under-age talent, as well as teams from South Africa, Belgium and Malta.

In all, the cyclists have to compete in no fewer than four events, spread over the three days; two road races, a time trial and a criterium.  In the category two race, for under 14 year olds, Rachael was competing against some of the top schoolboys, such as Jack Wilson, and rode tenaciously all weekend in the Ulster Girls’ team and ended up a very creditable 35th overall.
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Super Sam Shines

The fact that North Down Cycling Club is not a uni-dimensional club was clearly illustrated last week when their ‘youthful’ veteran, Sam Craig, took the coveted veterans’ prize in the Ards Three Day.  Although Sam is no new-comer to the sport, he has had a resurgence of enthusiasm, exuberance and competitiveness recently.  The form that Sam brought back from his charity ride to Paris was obvious in, for example, the Carrickfergus and Ards crits.  However, it was the veterans’ prize in the Ards stage race which Sam had targeted.
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