Time Trial 3
Wednesday 5th May 2010 at 7:00 pm
Ray Dunlop Excels on New TT Course
ROUND 3 PUBBLE TREE NURSERY TT LEAGUE
Brookeborough was the sign on and start point for the latest round of the Pubble Tree Nursery sponsored Lakeland CC time trial League last Wednesday evening. The usual suspects assembled along with a number of youth riders, a visitor or two, a few old faces, and even a few new faces for the inaugural race over the new Time Trial course between Brookeborough and Lisnaskea. Clocked at just under 10 miles and described as ‘Mildly undulating’ the course was an out and back race from Brookeborough to Lisnaskea where the riders would negotiate the roundabout before returning to the start.
The quickest time, yada yada, you can guess the rest. Raymond Dunlop, fresh from an appearance and a very respectable finish at the Tour of Ulster, was officiating for the event and so, to be back to do the timings, was first out of the blocks with the rest of the riders following at minute intervals. Next off was Robert Wilson freshly returned from a trip to Germany and in a rush to get home, probably to see Man City loose. The remainder of the motley crew got under way and no sooner had the last man left than Raymond was back posting a very quick benchmark time of 21.13secs. No sooner had he arrived than up popped the ever improving Wilson to post at time of 23.09secs.
The riders then began to arrive arrived thick and fast including new juniors Joe Nelson and and Lee Somerville and Omagh Wheelers regular Eugene Power alongside Lakeland Club regulars Neil Armstrong, Fergus McGirr, William Dunlop Kenny Dunlop and finally time trial specialist Kenny Boylan. Missing from the start sheet was Dane Dunlop who was also part of the Lakeland team who competed in the Tour of Ulster the previous weekend and took a third place on Stage 3 (Well done Dane) and resting prior to racing the Shay Elliott race this weekend. It was great to see the boys mixing it with the top UK riders and Professional teams.
It became clear as the riders arrived back that Raymond’s time would be hard to beat and only Boylan could come close. He crossed the line in a time of 22.4 and Dunlop being the official was forced to declare himself the winner. The performance of the night goes to Robert Wilson who blasted the new course. The club are considering a drugs test to see if volcanic dust is a banned substance.
The new course proved to be sore on tyres as three punctures were reported. Fortunately William Dunlop was able to finish despite his rear tyre gradually deflating from three miles out and going completely flat with yards to go. Sean Bradley was not so fortunate having to abandon with a flat front at Clarkes quarry and in his distress had to be rescued by a damsel in an Audi. Thanks Mandy.
The course proved a hit with most riders and the race may become a club regular with its impressive times but the description of mildly undulating may have to be revised. Thanks to our marshals on the night Geraldine and Jean for keeping us all safe.
Next week is a 25 mile TT followed by a Road race the following week.
RESULTS TIME LAKELAND CC UNLESS STATED
1 . Raymond Dunlop 21.14
2. Kenny Boylan 21.52
3. William Dunlop 22.31
4. Robert Wilson 23.09
5. Fergus McGirr 23.37
6. Neil Armstrong 23.40
7. Eugene Power 23.45
8. Roger Monaghan 23.58
9. Mark Kavanagh 25.35
10. Raymond Kerr 25.41
11. Julian Dunlop 26.13
12. James Johnston 26.23
13. Kenny Dunlop 26.38
14. Arnold Hunter 28.05
15. Lee Somerville 28.14
16=James Gormley 28.20
16 Joe Nelson 28.20
Sean Bradley DNF