Matthew ends season on high

Monday, November 1, 2010

Cambridge House student Matthew Brennan has won the Ballymena Road Club – Scott Roof Tiles – junior time trial best all rounder competition for the 2010 season.

Confirmation of Matthew's latest achievement crowns an exceptional year for the popular, Rockgrove Valley, cyclist during which time he won the Ulster junior road race championship and the season long "Weefoot trophy”

Matthew also won the Ulster junior 25 miles time trial championship and took a bronze medal in the 10 miles event.

Matthew recorded a five miles time of 10 minutes 42 seconds on 4th August on the Woodgreen to Ballee course.

His best 10 miles time of the year, 22 minutes 31 seconds, was registered early in the season, on 21st April, on the Woodgreen to Dunsilly course.

His performance at 25 miles was 58 minutes 17 seconds registered on 5th May again at Woodgreen.

Overall Matthew's winning average speed was 26.807 mph and this meant he retained the RF Linton trophy which he also won in 2009.

By comparison his winning times last year were; 11.45 (5 miles), 23.38 (10), and 62.18 (25) overall average 24.999 mph. if he improves as much in 2011 he will be challenging for the club's senior Best all Rounder title.

Steven Carruthers finished runner up in the junior BAR with times of 12.16 (5), 26.39 (10), and 73.19 (25 miles) average 22.477 mph.

Matthew sums up his 2010 season:

"This has been a great season for me. It started well and when I was placing well in races, I took eighth in the Bobby Crilly and had a second in the Kirkistown Criterium.

"I made the Irish Development team at the start of the year which I was pleased with. I also had the opportunity to race for the Cycling Ulster – Slane cycles - team twice this year. The first time was at the Ras Donegal. I felt strong in the race and was well up on the GC sheet. However, on the second stage, I crashed hard and that ruined my chances in that race. The second time I raced for Cycling Ulster was at the Portaferry three day event in July and I was well placed in it.”

"However winning the Ulster junior road race championship at Dundrod at the end of August was definitely the biggest achievement of my year and I was over the moon with it, as it was something I had really been aiming for. To cross the line knowing I had won the gold medal was a really great feeling.”

"I also achieved another gold medal in the Ulster 25 miles junior time trial championship a couple of weeks later and then I won a bronze medal in the Ulster 10 miles time trial championship. This was slightly disappointing but I was very sick before and during the event. I wouldn't have been riding if it wasn't part of the Weefut Trophy. The Weefut Trophy works by taking the finishing positions of the junior riders in certain races. Points are assigned and a league table drawn up. The result came down to the wire and the 10 championship was the final round. I knew I had to ride the 10 even though I had been sick but in the end I managed to secure it, and this meant that the season had finished on a high too.

In the club racing season I won the road racing league and I also won the junior best all rounder at the time trials. 2010 has really been a great season for me, roll on 2011!”

Matthew and Steven will receive their awards at the annual prize presentation dinner which will take place in the Adair Arms hotel on Friday 19th November at 7.30pm.

Tickets, priced at £15 in advance, are now currently available from the committee.