Report by Neil NcAllister
Banbridge CC returned to the fast and popular Gilford / Scarva circuit for the final round of the Mourne Observer Cup on Wednesday evening. With heavy showers rolling about all day it was going to be hard to stay dry, but thankfully the 21 riders who signed on just about managed to. There would be no hiding place for the rider in the wind towards Gilford. Is was also going to be good to see if anyone was suffering from Sundays massive turn out of Banbridge CC riders in the Noel Teggart Memorial Open Road Race, were a good few of the lads made their open road racing debut.
Stevie Curran sorted the groups out on handicap and Ivor Park, Hazel Buller and Anne Baird were on time keeping duties – they would be kept busy over the 5 laps of the circuit. Paul Anderson, Leslie Creighton and Gerard set off in the first group with the wind on their backs down towards Scarva. Next up was Allan Black, Steve Goan and race debut David Graham – he picked a fast night to cut his teeth into racing. It was good to see Steve back out on local roads again too.
With all five groups away it was going to be a hard night to stay away from the scratch. With recently crowned Irish champions Gareth McKee and James Curry driving it on it wasn’t too long before they had caught the group in front. They caught them on the second lap, and any wonder with times of under 12minutes a lap, it was going to be hard for anyone to stay with them. On the 3rd lap almost everyone was together and the pace went up again, and boy did I feel it. The group was blown apart, bodies everywhere on the Gilford road, but there was still Allan Black and David Graham who hadn’t been pulled back in. It came down to the last lap when they caught David who had rode brilliantly to stay away so long. With just Allan Black to reel in and heading into the home straight he went all out for the line, but unlucky for him was caught just before the finishing line by the fast pace of Gareth and Nathan with Nathan Sturrock taking the hard earned win. Gareth the gentleman that he is sat up to let Allan Black take a fantastic and deserved 2nd place – his best result of the year.
Leading the next group in was Ian Cochran who took a great 4th place. Ian is getting back into great form. TT king Kevin Wilson was next in 5th place. With everyone home safe and sound it was a great night’s race. None of this would be possible of course if it wasn’t for Alan Towell and his team of marshals and volunteers.
All photos courtesy of Paul Hannigan
