All the latest from Banbridge
Wednesday, 11 January 2012
BANBRIDGE CC stars Roger Aiken and Matt Adair fought their way to the podium in a keenly contested National Championship held last weekend in St Anne's Park, Dublin.
Current champion Robin Seymour held off the Banbridge lads to win his 18th title with Dromore man Roger finishing in silver medal position 1m10sec behind and Matt pocketing the bronze, coming in a further 1.30 down.
Roger was highly fancied to win his second Nationals but was dogged throughout the race with mechanical problems including the dreaded chain offs. What might have been?
Young Matt's bronze medal will no doubt be the first of many successes at this level in the years ahead and together with Willie Mulligan and Rathfriland's Don Travers - competing in his 20th Nationals, Banbridge CC riders have once again excelled in this premier competition - much to the delight of fellow members.
International Connections at BCC
Banbridge Cycling Club's standing in international cycling circles has always been high. Past stars representing club and country in world class events such as the Olympic and Commonwealth games include Seamus Downey, Tommy Evans and the late Noel Teggart and son Neil.
More recently Dromore track specialist Terry Mackin medalled at the World Championships last year and of course Loughbrickland's Michael Robb is now one of the leading Commissaires in world cycling.
Currently BCC continues to be represented at elite cycling level through the voluntary efforts of legendary Banbridge CC and Ulster Regional coach Gerry Beggs in his role as chief mechanic to the Irish Paralympic cycling team.
This highly dedicated team of athletes can boast current double world champions Mark Rohan and Colin Lynch and Gerry rightly relishes the taste of their success as a key contributor in a small but highly effective management team. Seeing the world championship jersey on team members gives Gerry the motivation for continuing such laudable work year after year.
The peripatetic Mr Beggs is fully committed to this cause and is, in his own words, "ready to travel anywhere in the world within two days".
Last week he left for Majorca with the team for yet another two week training camp and, shortly after returning towards the end of the month, he leaves for Los Angeles for the Para World Track Championships - a hectic schedule by anyone's standards and, as Gerry will testify, by no means a holiday, courtesy of the 17 hour working days!
All club members will wish Gerry and the team maximum success in their efforts and look forward to his return from the USA with more gold medals - and of course to the possiblity that we will then be able to get our bikes fixed again!
Sunday Bike Runs
Two groups left the Coach Square car park last Sunday at 9am - one went east, the other west. Gerry Quinn led a group of 12 riders to Loughislandreavy before swinging round towards Warrenpoint via Yellow Water and Rostrevor.
A sociable tea stop at the Diamond café in the Point fortified riders for the final push to Newry and home via the towpath. Some of the riders tested their legs on Drumbanagher Hill before rejoining the flatter towpath and the rest of the group at Gambles bridge.
Kevin McAlinden headed west with a smaller training group of six riders, including myself, for a four hour steady pace session with mid point coffee stop and a tailwind home! This group reached Keady by way of Richhill, Loughgall and Armagh city. Having refuelled on coffee and toast we made our way home via Markethill and Poyntzpass.
Full marks to Gareth McGreevy who finished well despite being unsure at the start about which group to join. Perhaps a few more will sign on next week for the training run and, yes, we got the tailwind home!
Regular club events
Members are reminded that its now 2012 and time to dispense with the excuses. Got to get back on the bike and into some sort of condition as the new season approaches.
Some of the keener types have been ticking over gently during the darker days of November and December so now its time to latch on to some of the regular biking/training events if you are not to be left behind.
Choose any number of the following to suit your current fitness levels and aspirations for the season:
*Monday night circuit training with Maurice Mayne and Simon Curry
*Tuesday night outdoor cycling at the Outlet (members only)- lights and full mudguards a must.
*Wednesday night Spinning Classes at Banbridge Leisure Centre with Gerry Beggs or his deputy
*Saturday morning "bun run" 40-60miles at steady pace, starting 9.30am in Church Square
*Sunday morning choice of a training run about 60 miles for those aspiring to race during the year or a slightly easier paced 50+ miles cafe run - both leaving 9.00am from Church Square returning between 1-2pm. Again, full mudguards are compulsory at this time of year.
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