Saturday’s cycle race action was centered on the lough Neagh marina town of Ballyronan where the Spires Grand Prix road races attracted an impressive entry.

The best placed of the local riders was Clough’s Aaron Swan of the Nicholas Roche Performance Team. He finished fifth in the "A” race which was for first, second and third category riders.

The majority of the entrants in this race were A3's and they were given a five minute starting advantage over the relatively small A1/A2 bunch. 

Nicholas Gormley (Carn Wheelers) broke away on the first lap and by the end of the second lap juniors Aaron Swan (NRPT) and Jake Gray (NRPT) had made it across to him.

The A1/A2 "scratch” bunch was steadily closing down the gap and had reduced the handicap by 2 minutes going into the third lap. However the race commisssaire Peter Field felt compelled to stop the main A3 bunch to issue severe warnings about riding on the wrong side of the road. 

By the time he had issued his instructions the A1/A2 bunch arrived just as he restarted the race. This detention didn’t affect the front three, although a small group broke away from the main bunch and were to catch the leaders before the finish. 

One of these chasers, Craig Rea of Phoenix, went on to win the race while Aaron held on to take fifth place.

Of the Ballymena Road Club entrants Hall Booth tells me "We had five riders at Spires. Myself, Clifford Grant,  Matthew Brennan, Jason Burns and Brendan McCavana. I and Matthew finished in a bunch of 30 behind a break which decided the results. The other 3 lads didn't finish.”

Results A Race (A1. A2, A3) - 48 miles

1.Craig Rea (Phoenix CC)

2.Marc Heaney (Carn Wheelers)

3.Angus Fyffe (Omagh Wheelers)

4.Conor McIlwaine (AAA)

5.Aaron Swan (NRPT)

6.Mike Millar (Phoenix CC)

Results B Race (A4's) 34 miles

1.Trevor Campbell (East Antrim)

2.David Humphries (East Antrim)

3.Mark Johnston (Bann Wheelers)