The cycling season pushed off on Saturday 17th March with the traditional St Patrick's day 10 mile Time Trial from McCaffrey's Cross to Murley Cross and back. Twenty three riders braved the cold and windy conditions to see how their winter training was going. Lakeland riders were joined by riders from Emyvale, Fintona and Omagh cycle clubs.
On the day it was Paul Brady of Emyvale who came in first with a time of 22mins 43secs an amazing time considering the strong head wind on the return leg. Raymond Dunlop followed him in second with 23mins 23secs and Dane Dunlop in third with 24mins 3secs. Peter Martin was next with a time of 25mins 4secs which showed over a minute improvement on his times last year, a real warning shot to Raymond Pauley, his closest rival last year. William Dunlop made a welcome return to competitive cycling and with his seventh place showed the old magic was still there.
There were quite a few younger riders who put in very spirited performances and creditable times in the adverse conditions. Thanks to all those who competed and to the marshals.
On the Ulster race scene Lakeland CC have had some notable successes. On Sunday 11th March in the "John Haldane Memorial Road Race", at Hilltown, Dane Dunlop finished the first junior (U18) and ninth overall, while his lead out man on this occasion, Raymond Dunlop finished eleventh overall. The race was over 52 miles, 4 laps of a hilly 13 mile circuit, with a field of 96 riders. These results were all the more impressive as both riders had raced the previous day in a 40 mile event at Randalstown finishing in the bunch.
Lakeland CC's next event is a 10mile Time Trial from 5 Points to Gortatole and back on Wednesday 4th of April at 6:45pm.
RESULTS
Paul Brady 22:43
Barry Hughes 27:27
Raymond Dunlop 23:23 Neil Armstrong 28:20
Dane Dunlop 24:03 Stephen McDonald 28:21
Peter Martin 25:04 Stephen Cassidy 28:30
John McManus 26:02 Declan McGirr 28:53
Raymond Pauley 26:06 Ed Casement 29:04
William Dunlop 26:27 Brendan Kelly 29:33
Vincent McCarron 26:40 Neil McAree 30:24
Ian Caldwell 26.56 Pauric Kane 30:47
Les Brown 27:04 Barry Cassidy 31:11
Stan Doherty 27:21 Rachel Withers 33:26
Gerald Hughes 27:21
