2004 Waterfront Cycle Races

Mayor May Beattie & Jonny Wilson support Waterfront Races

Mayor of Carrickfergus Borough May Beattie and Fortfields Fitness & Beauty Centre managers Mary Kelly and Jonathan Wilson kindly present Team Madigan Cycling Club's race secretary Davy Ross with sponsorship cheques to host the Waterfront Festival Cycle Races on Monday 11th June 2004 on the Marine Highway Carrickfergus.

59 Riders enjoy the Waterfront Cycle Races.

Competitors travelled from far and near to take part in the popular Waterfront Cycle Races on Monday 11th June. The event this year was sponsored jointly by Carrickfergus Borough Council and Fortfields Fitness & Beauty Centre, Carrickfergus. Both sponsors are encouraging the development of local sport in the Borough and spectators were treated to 8 races by the 59 competitors on the scenic Carrickfergus Seafront. Local Cycling Club Team-Madigan (a member of Carrickfergus Borough Council's Sporting and Recreation Clubs) promoted the event with help kindly coming from Carrickfergus Police Service, DoE Road Services Carrickfergus, St. Johns Ambulance Service Carrickfergus and Joymount Church Carrickfergus.

Local children featured in the opening races. Adam McCrory was the winner of the under 12 race followed by Ryan Wilson, Adam McCullough and Ty Mackness with the riders covering two laps of the three quarters of a mile circuit around Joymount and Marine Highway. Matthew Stewart won the under 16 race with Sarah McErlean taking second spot, they covered three laps. Then came the races for the underage licensed riders who compete at races around Northern Ireland every week. In the under 12 race William Boyd (XMTB) was first across the line followed closely by Jack Wilson (East Antrim/Audi) in second spot. Rachel Mitchell (Toyota ND) was third and Michael McQuillen (Phoenix CC) was fourth. In the under 14 race Neil McGimpsey (XMTB) won and Stuart Henry (Toyota ND) took second, Leo McAllister (Ballymena RC) was third and Jonny Beers (XMTB) was fourth. In the under 16 race Thomas Martin (Clann Eireann) won with Connor McConvey (XMTB) taking second spot, Michael Mitchell (Toyota ND) was third and Michael Furphy (Apollo CT) was fourth.

Then came the Senior B race for Senior 3rd and 4th categories, Juniors, Veterans and Ladies. Racing was over 30-miutes plus two laps and had sprint-primes on 10, 20, and 30-minutes. Sean Wright (Ballymena RC) took the first prime. Adam Armstrong (Northern CC) the second and Chris Roper (Team Madigan) took the third. The race was dominated by Adam Armstrong and Chris Roper - both going clear in the second half of the race. It was Armstrong who took the win, with last years winner Chris Roper narrowly pushed into second place. Jonathan Kyle and Danny Hylands (both Madigan) rode strongly along with Mel McCann and Stephen Farr in controlling the bunch in the interests of club mate Chris Roper. It was Jonathan Kyle who piped Danny Hylands for third spot in the bunch sprint, with Michael Mulvenna (Ards CC) in 5th and Stephen Farr in 6th.

In the feature event the Senior A race which also had three primes, this was open to all riders plus the second and first category riders who were unable to compete in the B event. The race winner Willie Hamilton (East Antrim/Audi) took the first prime and was looking very lively indeed along with Glenn Kinning (XMTB), both having moved well clear of the bunch early in the 30-minute plus two laps race. Glenn Kinning took the second prime and Willie Hamilton the third. In the end it was a two horse race with Gerald Haveren (Castlereagh CC) trying to bridge the gap on his own, he took third place and was followed in by Ben Morrow (East Antrim/Audi) who managed to break free from the bunch late in the race. Sean Wright (Ballymena RC) was 5th and Ross Blayney (Ards CC) was 6th.