Gold
medal winner Ryan Connor (Ballymena/Scotts RC) was in a league of his
own in the Northern Ireland Open Road Race championships promoted
by Team Madigan at Kilroot Co. Antrim on Saturday 7th August
04. The event which was also the Madigan Grand
Prix and a counting round of the joint NICF, UCF Premier Calendar
attracted 30 senior competitors. Ronnie McKeegan of Madigan Pro
Bike Centre, Carrickfergus sponsored the race with a £500 cash
prize fund and £600 worth of Pazzaz carbon components.
Ryan Connor from Cullybackey who now races in France came home alone 5 minutes 14 seconds ahead of silver medal winner Roger Aiken (Banbridge CC), and 5 minutes 18 seconds ahead of bronze medal winner Matt Ward (Phoenix CC) who also races in France. This was after 55.5-miles of hard racing on the tough 18.5-mile circuit that started at Kilroot and went via Glynn, the Lizard climb to Gleno and then up the Seven Sisters climb onto the Beltoy Road and back to Kilroot. Connor attacked from the start and only Jonathan Dempsey (Classic Walls) could go with him such was the pace he rode at. However Dempsey later dropped out of contention and Don Travers (Banbridge CC) along with, Mark Greer (Maryland Whs) and James McMaster (Unattached) filled 4th, 5th and 6th places just behind Matt Ward but lacked the final kick that Ward had to clinch a medal. Veteran, Jim McConnell (East Antrim/Audi) salvaged 7th place and the 1st Vet prize at 5 mins 46 secs behind. Jonathan Dempsey took the first K.O.H. Prime on the Seven Sisters while on a breakaway with Ryan Connor on the first of three laps, he began to flag on lap two and when he unshiped his chain on the Lizard climb at Glynn, that was the end of Jonathan's challenge even though Ryan Connor sportingly waited for him, but Jonathan's legs had gone. Ryan went on to take the second prime and opened a 1 minute 55 seconds gap to Jonathan, who later dropped back into 8th place on the final lap and crossed the line alone 7.22 down. Sean Wright, Paul Hanna, and Tommy Wilson (all Ballymena/Scotts RC) finished along with Chris Roper (Team Madigan) at 9.08 down. This was good enough for Ballymena/Scotts RC to win the first team prize/medals. Chris Roper from Islandmagee was in the thick of the action on lap one along with Jim McConnell, the pair held 3rd and 4th places at 11 seconds down on Connor and Dempsey as they completed the first lap. On lap two they were reeled back into the chasing Roger Aiken group and a lap later Chris dropped back further and was picked up by the Sean Wright group. Ryan Connor's pace from the start (on a hard circuit) was relentless and soon demolished the field, 13 riders failed to finish.
Silver medal place for Roger Aiken (Banbridge CC).
Matt Ward (Phoenix CC) clinches the bronze medal. Don Travers (Banbridge CC), Mark Greer (Maryland) and James McMaster (Unattached) just miss out on a medal.
Enjoying the day, (left) Lady N.I. champion Ann McFarland (Omagh Whs)) is pictured
along with bronze medal winner Cathering Hack (Bann Whs) and race sponsor
Ronnie McKeegan of Madigan Pro Bike Centre, Carrickfergus. Unavailable for the
presentation was silver medal winner Julie Mulligan (Omagh Whs).
Centre, Under 16 N.I. champion Simon Williams (Orchard Whs) is pictured along with silver medal winner
Alistair Clarke (Ballymena/Scotts RC) (right), and (left) bronze medal winner Michael Mitchell
(Toyota Noth Down CC). At the rear is Ronnie McKeegan, race sponsor.
Centre, is N.I. Under 14 champion Peter Williams (Orchard Whs), right is silver medal winner
Ricky Baird (Ballymena/Scotts RC), left is Jonny Beers (XMTB) who won the bronze medal and
at the rear is race sponsor Ronnie McKeegan of Madigan Pro Bike Centre, Carrickfergus.
Ryan Connor from Cullybackey who now races in France came home alone 5 minutes 14 seconds ahead of silver medal winner Roger Aiken (Banbridge CC), and 5 minutes 18 seconds ahead of bronze medal winner Matt Ward (Phoenix CC) who also races in France. This was after 55.5-miles of hard racing on the tough 18.5-mile circuit that started at Kilroot and went via Glynn, the Lizard climb to Gleno and then up the Seven Sisters climb onto the Beltoy Road and back to Kilroot. Connor attacked from the start and only Jonathan Dempsey (Classic Walls) could go with him such was the pace he rode at. However Dempsey later dropped out of contention and Don Travers (Banbridge CC) along with, Mark Greer (Maryland Whs) and James McMaster (Unattached) filled 4th, 5th and 6th places just behind Matt Ward but lacked the final kick that Ward had to clinch a medal. Veteran, Jim McConnell (East Antrim/Audi) salvaged 7th place and the 1st Vet prize at 5 mins 46 secs behind. Jonathan Dempsey took the first K.O.H. Prime on the Seven Sisters while on a breakaway with Ryan Connor on the first of three laps, he began to flag on lap two and when he unshiped his chain on the Lizard climb at Glynn, that was the end of Jonathan's challenge even though Ryan Connor sportingly waited for him, but Jonathan's legs had gone. Ryan went on to take the second prime and opened a 1 minute 55 seconds gap to Jonathan, who later dropped back into 8th place on the final lap and crossed the line alone 7.22 down. Sean Wright, Paul Hanna, and Tommy Wilson (all Ballymena/Scotts RC) finished along with Chris Roper (Team Madigan) at 9.08 down. This was good enough for Ballymena/Scotts RC to win the first team prize/medals. Chris Roper from Islandmagee was in the thick of the action on lap one along with Jim McConnell, the pair held 3rd and 4th places at 11 seconds down on Connor and Dempsey as they completed the first lap. On lap two they were reeled back into the chasing Roger Aiken group and a lap later Chris dropped back further and was picked up by the Sean Wright group. Ryan Connor's pace from the start (on a hard circuit) was relentless and soon demolished the field, 13 riders failed to finish.
Silver medal place for Roger Aiken (Banbridge CC).
Matt Ward (Phoenix CC) clinches the bronze medal. Don Travers (Banbridge CC), Mark Greer (Maryland) and James McMaster (Unattached) just miss out on a medal.
Presenting
£600 worth of PAZZAZ carbon components to Northern Ireland senior
open champion Ryan Connor, runner up Roger Aiken (Right) and 3rd place Matt Ward (left) is Ronnie McKeegan of Madigan Pro Bike Centre, Carrickfergus. Ronnie also sponsored the race with a £500 cash prize fund.
open champion Ryan Connor, runner up Roger Aiken (Right) and 3rd place Matt Ward (left) is Ronnie McKeegan of Madigan Pro Bike Centre, Carrickfergus. Ronnie also sponsored the race with a £500 cash prize fund.
Enjoying the day, (left) Lady N.I. champion Ann McFarland (Omagh Whs)) is pictured
along with bronze medal winner Cathering Hack (Bann Whs) and race sponsor
Ronnie McKeegan of Madigan Pro Bike Centre, Carrickfergus. Unavailable for the
presentation was silver medal winner Julie Mulligan (Omagh Whs).
Centre, Under 16 N.I. champion Simon Williams (Orchard Whs) is pictured along with silver medal winner
Alistair Clarke (Ballymena/Scotts RC) (right), and (left) bronze medal winner Michael Mitchell
(Toyota Noth Down CC). At the rear is Ronnie McKeegan, race sponsor.
Centre, is N.I. Under 14 champion Peter Williams (Orchard Whs), right is silver medal winner
Ricky Baird (Ballymena/Scotts RC), left is Jonny Beers (XMTB) who won the bronze medal and
at the rear is race sponsor Ronnie McKeegan of Madigan Pro Bike Centre, Carrickfergus.