Ulster TTT Championship

Monday, May 13, 2013
The Ulster Team Time Trial Championships has continued to grow in popularity in recent years and last Tuesday at Woodgreen was no exception. The event, promoted by Phoenix CC, saw a total of twenty five teams sign on.
Hot favourites were Curran Racing consisting of Liam Curran, John Madden, Ian Inglis and David Hamilton. They did not disappoint clocking up a fantastic 50.18 for the twenty five mile distance to take the Gold medal in the men's competition.
Phoenix, led by Stuart Bennett, with Marcel Kock, Paul Hesketh and John Smyth took silver in a time of 52.11.
Madigan's team of Simon Stockton, Stephen Harkens, Stuart Scott and Nigel Laffin were the bronze medalists with 53.17.
A young composite team of Juniors, Connor Young (Ballymena), Craig Crawford (Duffin Transport), Craig McAuley (VO2 Development Team) and Conor McAteer (Bann Valley) were third overall with a time of 52.27 but as a composite team were not eligible to win the medals.
There was an excellent turnout for the women’s championship with a total of five reams lining up. Phoenix fielded two women's teams as did North Down with Ballymena making up the fifth.
In the end it was the Phoenix squad of Therese Zwahlen, Karen Hull, Julie Rea and Judith Russell who proved fastest with an excellent time of 1:03:11 beating Ballymena's Louise Fullerton, Claire Gillespie, Emma Smyth and Eileen Burns by 68 seconds. The North Down quad of Janine McNally, Louise Togneri,  Ange Perott and Angela McMullan took the bronze medal with a time of 1:06:12.
The Ballymena RC men’s team of David Dougan, Nigel Kernohan, Martin Ruddy, Ryan Shaw recorded 58 minutes 02 seconds.
Ladies result. (1) Phoenix Julie Rea, Judith Russell, Therese Zwahlen, Karen Hull 63.11 (Gold) (2) Ballymena RC Emma Smyth, Clare Gillespie, Eileen Burns, Louise Fullerton 64.19 (Silver) (3) North Down Louise Togneri, Ange Perrott, Janine McNally, Alison McMullan 66.12 (Bronze)