2006 Team Madigan C.C. prize night.

Prize winners at Team Madigan prize dinner in the Coast Road Hotel Carrickfergus on Saturday night 21/10/06.  Front row left to right: Mel McCann, Gary McDermott, Conor Clarke, Chris Millar, Richard Alexander, David Neill and Ben McMahon.  Back row left to right: Brian McCammont, Simon Stockton, Colin McCluskey, Paul Agnew, Chris Roper, John Neill, and Gavin Meek.

Mel McCann from Larne wins Team Madigan 2006 Club best all rounder, plus 2006 Veteran best all rounder competition and is presented with the trophies by Pamela Douglas from Carrickfergus.

Team Madigan prize night.

Team Madigan Cycling Club held their prize presentation dinner in the Coast Road Hotel last Saturday night 21/10/06.  President and club sponsor Mr Ronnie McKeegan of Madigan Cycles in Carrickfergus made his address thanking all the members for their participation in club and open events throughout the 2006 season.  Chairman Mr Gavin Meek thanked the Officials and Club Race Secretary Davy Ross for their hard work throughout the year.  Mrs Pamela Douglas from Carrickfergus kindly presented the riders with their prizes.  Pamela’s husband Albert a leading veteran cyclist in the club had a horrific accident last Christmas breaking his leg which ruled him out of the 2006 season.  It was encouraging to see Albert almost back to fitness and fitting that Pamela presented the prizes on the night.

Mel McCann from Larne took the top honour by winning the Club best all rounder competition and receiving the Wright Family Cup.  Larne’s Paul Agnew was runner-up while Carrick’s Simon Stockton took third place.  It was their strength in Time Trial’s that made the difference.

The Senior Road Race best all rounder competition was hotly contested and it was Mossley’s John Neill who beat the handicapping to pull through to lift the Senior Road Race Cup.  Monkstown’s Gavin Meek rode superbly this year and took a deserved runner-up spot.  Ballyclare’s Geoff McCrory also put up a strong challenge and finished a superb third.

Another hotly contested competition was the Senior Time Trial best all rounder which takes in distances of 10, 25 and 50 miles.  Carrick’s Simon Stockton was superb considering it was his first year in serious competition.  He won the Law Family Shield in what was a hard fought battle with Larne’s Paul Agnew.  Paul was in superb form all season also and took second place.  Islandmagee’s Colin McCluskey - always the battler! took third place after he too had a great season.

The Ladies best all rounder was Whitehead’s Claire Connor who took the Purnell Family Cup.  Claire who competes mostly in Triathlons is coached by Madigan Club founder member Bobby Law, and what a superb job he has done.  Claire had her first Triathlon win only a few weeks ago and has the male cyclists in the club under pressure in club competitions.  There is no doubt at all were she to compete in Ladies open races she would be on the podium!

The Veterans best all rounder competition is another hot contest and as always Mel McCann and Davy Clarke from Larne were neck and neck for the honour.  This year Mel took first place and Davy second.  Jordanstown’s Bobby Law who has returned to cycle racing through his coaching of Claire did himself no harm at all and took a well deserved third place.

In the Under 16 best all rounder competition Larne’s Mark Ramsey had a super first year, coached by his father Stephen he took the Under 16 shield.  Also from Larne Conor Clarke who is coached by his father Jimmy finished a gallant second.  Carrick’s Richard Alexander who is coached by Ronnie McKeegan made great progress all year and finished third overall.

The Under 14 best all rounder competition was dominated by David Neill from Mossley.  David is coached by his older brother John and for his age he has an abundance of talent.  David took the Juvenile Shield for first place.  Carrick’s Ben McMahon took second spot and is coached by Ronnie McKeegan.  Ben has made steady progress through the year.  Jordanstown’s Chris Millar who favours the Mountain Bike should come on well next season with a little coaching, Gavin his father has supported him strongly this year and it was nice to see Chris take third place.

In the Under 12 category young Ty Mackness from Larne represented the club superbly at open Mountain Bike events all over the country.  Supported and coached by his father Bill he has made great progress this year and takes the Under 12 Shield.

Back to the seniors and the Tony Purnell Cup which is for the first Madigan rider in the tough Open Madigan Cycles Grand Prix.  The cup went to Islandmagee’s Chris Roper.  Chris is a one-day classic’s rider and has represented the club greatly at most of the big races this year.

The 4 club handicap trophies are always hotly contested by all the riders.  Doing the double in his first year Monkstown’s Gary McDermott took the 10-mile and 25-mile Time Trial Cups.  He will be a handful in next season’s vets section!  Young David Neill won the superb John Lindsay memorial crystal clock for winning the 10-mile John Lindsay memorial handicap Time Trial.

John Neill  who has had a great season won the hotly contested Handicap Road Race Cup.

The Hill Climbs Cup also went to John Neill who represented the club superbly at the open events all year. 

Club MTB Cross Country Championships: 1^st Paul Agnew; 2^nd Geoff McCrory; 3^rd Simon Stockton. Under 14: 1^st David Neill.

Club MTB Time Trial Championships: 1^st Paul Agnew; 2^nd Gavin Meek; 3^rd Jonny Kyle from Islandmagee.

Time Trial medal winners: (Bronze 10-mile) Ronnie McIlwaine 26.13; Mark Ramsey 25.47; David McGrath 25.30; Brian McCammont 25.30; McDermott 23.21.  Juvenile bronze: David Neill 28.53.  Bronze 50-mile: Simon Stockton 2.04.16.

Silver medals 10-mile: (Juvenile) Mark Ramsey 25.47.  Senior: Bobby Law 24.15; Gary McDermott 23.21; John Neill 22.08 PB; Paul Agnew 21.39 PB; Simon Stockton 21.26 PB.  Silver 25-mile: Simon Stockton 55.24 PB.  Silver 50-mile: Simon Stockton 2.04.16.

Many thanks to everyone who helped the club in any way throughout 2006!