BCC Championship Medal Winners

On Saturday evening at the Moyola Golf, Cycling Ulster the National cycling’s governing body held their awards presentations to honour the efforts of the riders, male and female, old and young who every week and weekend turn out and show that they are dedicated and talented and deserve the cups and medals awarded.

Ballymoney Cycling Club who recently held their “information and registration” evenings at the Rugby Club and the High performance testing suite at Dalriada. The result of the two evenings saw a constant frenzy of new members and already established members coming along to join up and be part of the most successful cycling club in the area.

Membership has again increased by 20% from around 60 to over 70 members. These successful registration and info evenings will continue at Dalriada until the start of the club racing season, early April. As the Turbo and Wattbike sessions are ongoing the opportunity to join BCC is available from 6pm until 8pm each Wednesday evening.

The three BCC Racing Team championship medal winners, the under 16 rider Ryan Orr who has already race wins under his belt in off road events and is a serious contender this 2013 season. Ryan is a very good time trialist and is fast learning the trade of road racing with a great finishing sprint. His silver medal awarded was for his fine display at the youth championships in 2012.

Stuart Laverty won his bronze medal in the Ulster road race championships in his first year at full competition. Stuart is also the winner of the Bann Wheelers leg of the Interclub series at Letterloan and winner of the BCC Road race Championships 2012. Steven McAllister, won a bronze medal in the 50 mile Ulster TT Championships in a time of 1hr 55mins. Steven is not renown for riding time trials but has shown that he is more than capable at the discipline, even talking with his coach about the TT league in 2013. This medal goes along with his wins at open events. Winning the Bann Valley Classic two times, Billy Stewart Cup, North Down GP and the Carn Wheelers Classic. All three lads are the backbone of the racing team, displaying loyalty and commitment. Along with the ever growing Racing Team the 2013 season already looks exciting and may well reveal some great potential for the future.

The constantly pro active road race secretary William Loughridge is ever on hand to give whatever support the riders need and is working with Stephen Gallagher at Forme Coaching to make sure all the racers get the best up to date information and coaching.

Gallagher and Loughridge are planning a series of coaching and “Race training” weekends leading up to the start of the 2013 season. Full details will be sent out to all the Racing Team riders and the schedule being planned.

Jason Taggart - BCC Racing Team Road Captain.

Ballymoney Cycling Club appointed the popular and dedicated club rider Jason Taggart as the “Club Road Captain”.

Jason is at the heart and soul in the development of the youth team and along with William Loughridge have exciting plans for the 2013 season.

The Tour of Scotland and the Belgium amateur classics are some of the youth and racing team plans in 2013 of which Jason will be an integral part.

Ballymoney Rugby Club former captain and 1st team coach, has been very active in getting a fantastic support package put in place for all

the BCC Racing Team riders for the incoming season. On the club training runs Jason is very instrumental in getting the best out of everyone, along with a bit of banter, the “Best looking man in BCC” as always leads from the front.

New Season Coming Events.

This weekend sees the start of the final preparation for the racing season get under-way with the Ballymena Road Club Reliability Trial.

Leaving from the BRC “Club Rooms” at the Railway yard venue, there are two distances, 50 and 75 miles. BCC Racing Team are encouraging as many riders available to take part in this event, and as usual will have the support of a team car, mechanic, spare wheels, food and bottles.