Calendar

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Tuesday 24th July. Ballymoney CC are holding a road race on the Armoy motor cycle road race circuit. The race will start at the pits area at 7.30pm and complete eight laps of the course.

Wednesday 25th July. Ballymena RC will hold their annual Ernie Mark cup 25 miles time trial in their Northstone club race series. This will start from Woodgreen at 7pm sharp. (Observers Gordon Caldwell and Mark McCullough)

Thursday 26th July Carn Wheelers round of the inter-club road racing series.

 

Nine Glens will be a formidable challenge for tourists.

Sunday 29th July. The Ballymena Road Club – Chain Reaction Cycles - touring section will hold their annual Nine Glens Challenge tour.                                         This event will start from Glenarm at 10 am sharp and follow a tough course which will take in all nine of Co Antrim’s famous Glens.

The riders start with the ascent of Glenarm to Ballyvaddy and then the descent of Glencloy to Carnlough. Next it’s around the Coast road to Waterfoot before the near 6 miles climb up Glenariff Glen to Parkmore. The descent of Glenballyemon takes the group to Cushendall. Then it’s on to Glencorp before turning left on to the toughest of the climbs up Glenann to Orra Lodge.

After regrouping the bunch have a fast technical descent of Glendun to Cushendun and the well-earned lunch stop. Tea and light refreshments will be provided. Approximately 40 miles will have been covered by this point with the final 30 miles taking the group back out on to Glencorp and over the viaduct and the climb to Ballypatrick forest.

Once into Ballycastle the group then tackles Glenshesk towards Armoy before turning right on to the notoriously steep Stroan Road which leads to the top of Glentaisie and then the final downhill swoop back to Ballycastle. The tour will finish at the Silvercliffs holiday complex at the top of North Street. The entry fee donation is at least £5 and this will be donated to the Chernobyl Children’s appeal. The club’s events’ vehicle will leave from Rex Bonar house at 9am; there are limited places so please book your space if you wish to travel.

Participants are asked to bring their own lunch for the mid-way stop at Cushendun. There will be tea and light refreshments but the usual caterer, Marian McQuillan, has undergone surgery recently and won’t be available. Everyone in the BRC touring section wishes Marian a speedy and full recovery.

 

The next touring event follows one week later on Sunday 5th August when "Martin’s tour to Carnfunnock” takes place from the BRC club rooms at 9.30am.