Anne McRoberts (Community Fundraising Manager - North) of  Marie Curie Cancer Care gets ready to flag away the 148 hardy riders in the 2006 John Lindsay memorial Torr Head Charity Cycle Challenge at Ballygalley on the Antrim Coast (24th September 2006).

Tough Charity Cycle raises £3,000

Riders from all over Northern Ireland again kindly supported the event and many thanks to all of them for their kind support and donations! Weather wise it could not have been much worse for the start of the event.  Heavy rain soaked the riders through before getting underway.  Setting out in three groups - 70-miles, 50-miles, and 20-miles they at least had a following wind to aid them along the wet Coast Road.  The 20-milers reached their turning point in Carnlough where Alan Welsh greeted them with a warm cup of tea before they set off again for their finish point back at Ballygalley.  This group consisted mainly of occasional cyclists and children, and as always they were amongst the highest fund raisers!  Meanwhile the 50 and 70 milers pushed on to the tea stop at the picturesque harbour village of Cushendun. The final decisions would be made here for the 50-mile run or to go on and tackle the tough narrow and hilly roads around Torr Head for a 70-mile run.  Just over seventy riders went on to ride the big challenge of Torr Head, while around 50 riders did the less hilly  but still hard enough 50 mile route.  Torr Head as always put up a tough challenge not just for the average club rider but for the seasoned big hitters too! It was the climb from Ballyvoy near Ballycastle that the riders were faced with a headwind up through the Vanishing Lakes and then Ballypatrick Forest.  This is when the legs start to feel heavy and the riders form into small groups and take turns at the front.  Then it was a fast decent down through the Glendun Viduct and back down into Cushendall.  A long run into the finish on the flat Coast Road took the riders through Waterfoot, Carnlough and Glenarm before reaching Ballygalley for a warm cup of tea and light snack, plus that all important well deserved certificate from event organiser Rosemary Welsh, her sister Eileen and Anne McRoberts of Marie Curie.  Rosemary announced that donations on the day were a superb £3,075 and that further donations were pledged.  Details of the total amount raised and news of the presentation to Marie Curie Cancer Care will be available by the end of the year on the club web site www.team-madigan.org.uk 

Helen, John's family, and Team Madigan Cycling Club again sincerely thank every person who supported the event this year!  Special thanks to Carrickfergus Super Stores - Woodsides, SuperValu and Tesco’s for kindly supporting the event by providing the necessary catering supplies.  Anne McRoberts and Marie Curie Cancer Care were a delight to work with and would be highly recommended by Madigan Cycling Club should anyone wish to choose a worthy charity!  We very much look forward to welcoming everyone to our 5th John Lindsay memorial Torr Head Charity Cycle Challenge next year when we do it all again!    

Pictured left is John Lindsay's Mum and Sister along with Helen who came along to support the event as always! 


The 2nd wave leaving on a very wet morning!  Many thanks to everyone who turned out to support the event!  Some £3,000 was raised on the day!  With still more money to come in.  Well done everyone!



The 3rd wave get under way.  First Aid Officer Paul Martin (St Johns, Carrick) looks on from the car park before setting off with the riders on his motorcycle.  Many thanks to Paul for providing his services free as it was a charity event.  Lucky enough Paul's first aid skills were not required!
Young Ty Mackness (Madigan under 12) is spotted with his dad Bill third from the rear.  Well done Ty!


The big chase is on after Gavin Meek (2nd from the left) picks up 2 punctures in the car park.  Far left is Gary McDermott, centre is Gary Johnston, Simon Stockton is on the Trek, Geoff Swann far right and Colin McCluskey with his back turned talking to young Adam Welsh who look's like he's giving them a hard time!.  All six had to work exstremely hard to join the main group, followed by the tough Torr Head roads. 
Good training lads!

Karolyn's photos below, many thanks Karolyn!


Davy Clarke completes the Torr.


Is Colin lost and looking at a map?  Perhaps he has been short changed?


Wendy and Gary McKeegan you are game on that Tandum!  Well done, it looked great!


Karolyn say's Albert Douglas was telling stories about the old day's, they are all listening well anyhow!


Jeremy Martin wheels into Ballygalley.  What about a song at the dinner Jeremy?


Geoff Swann happy to finish the Torr.


Big Tom enjoyed the day!


Well done chaps!


Finishing the 50-miler, well done lads!


Big Simon Stockton finishing the Torr, but did he lose a front mudguard on the way round?


It's nice to get finished!


Mel McCann just makes into the picture by swiftly turning hard right.

More to follow later folks when I get the time!

I know it was a bad day for cameras also, but if anyone has taken photo's around the route I would be delighted if you sent them to me so that I could add them to the above Alan Welsh photo's.  davyross@aol.com   (Many thanks for your photos Karolyn!).