Veteran Tommy shines at Caddy.

Sunday, May 17, 2015
Last week’s action in the Ballymena Road Club – Chain Reaction Cycles – club race series was the third and deciding round of the Tommy Smyth cup "scratch” road racing series.
Favourable weather conditions greeted the 38 entrants and they set off from Slaght corner in one mass start bunch.
By the end of the first of three eight miles laps of the Caddy circuit a group of  four had carved out a 66 seconds lead. This quartet was Gerard McNally and John Dickey of Bann Valley and BRC veterans Nigel Kernohan and Tommy Wilson.
At the end of lap two they led by 1 minute 18 seconds over a chasing group of four, who were Matthew Brennan (BRC) and Johnny Taylor (Carn wheelers) along with Connor Young and Ryan Bankhead, who were equal on points after the first two rounds. They in turn led the main field by 17 seconds.
The front four increased their lead on the last lap with Gerard McNally winning the sprint after 61 minutes 51 seconds racing. Tommy Wilson was next home to score maximum points for the league, next it was Taylor and Kernohan.
Matthew Brennan took fifth at 1 minute 27 seconds while Ryan Bankhead took sixth another 27 seconds behind. (7) J Taylor (Carn) (8) Connor Young 

Tommy who won the race commented "It was another good turnout for what has proved to be a competitive league, a good idea from David. Two bann valley guys broke away early and there was a few attacks. Nigel and I got across a  mile later with another bann valley making five,  four of us rode onto the finish with Gerry mc nally (BV) man proving too strong in the sprint"

Provisional result in full 
26 miles scratch road race Slaght Caddy 13th May 2015
(1) Gerry McNally (Bann Valley) 1-1-51 
(2) Tommy Wilson
(3) Johnny Dickey (Bann Valley)
(4) Nigel Kernohan all same time
(5) Matthew Brennan 1-3-18
(6) Ryan Bankhead 1-3-45
(7) Johnny Taylor (Carn Wheelers)
(8) Connor Young same time
(9) Karl Taylor 1-3-50
(10) Stephen Little
(11) Richard Reid
(12) Martin Ruddy
(13) Philip Morrison
(14) Mark Wright
(15) Dale Bonnar
(16) Adam Torrie
(17) Ryan Shaw
(18) Adrian Archibald
(19) John Shaw
(20) Daryl Sempey
(21) Gabriel Coasa
(22) Jon Hilditch
(23) Eileen Burns
(24) Alan Blair
(25) Breandan McCavana
(26) Colin Scullion
(27) Stephen Dempsey
(28) Shaun Byrne (Bann Valley)
(29) Clifford Grant
(30) Colin Deane all same time 1-3-50
(31) David Dougan 1-4-13
(32) Laura Blair 1-8-20
(33) Ryan McNeilly
(34) Gary McCappin (Muckamore Centurions) same time
(35) Stephen Smyth 1-12-35
(36) Clare Gillespie  1-19-27                                                                                       

Tommy Smyth cup scratch league provisional results.
(1) Ryan Bankhead 26 points 
(2) Connor Young 25 points 
(3) Stephen Little 17 
(4) Richard Reid 13 
(5) Gary Reid 11 
(6) Tommy Wilson 10 
(7) Nigel Kernohan 9 Equal 
(8) (9) and (10) Alan Blair, Matthew Brennan and David Dougan 8 points each
(11) Karl Taylor 7 
(12) Quinton McFall 6 points.