Build up continues to Sportive event

Monday, June 30, 2014
Ballymena Road Club – Chain Reaction Cycles - held a Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice Awareness Evening last Monday at Montgomery’s restaurant.

The event was part of the continued build up to the "Billy Kerr” Sportive which is scheduled for 16th August. 

The Hospice is the official charity for this event and they gave the club a presentation detailing the important work they do in the province. 

Those present had an enjoyable evening and the club offer special thanks to: Catherine O'Hara and Valerie Peacock from Hospice who shared their experience and played a short video. Montgomery's Restaurant in Ballymoney Street for opening their premises and supplying tea, coffee and shortbread all free of charge. Thanks also to the BRC club members and special guests Sammy and Neill Kerr who attended.

The organisers of the Sportive now urge and encourage all BRC members and friends to register online so that numbers for catering can be anticipated as soon as possible. See club website www.ballymenaroadclub.co.uk on details to enter or contact Alan Blair or Nigel Kernohan if you do not have access to a computer or internet.
  
One lucky online entrant will receive a Vitus Razor Road Bike courtesy of the club’s main sponsor Chain Reaction Cycles. The prize draw will take place on the evening of Friday 15th August at the pre-sign on event. Special celebrity Sean Kelly will pick the lucky winner. 

The staging of this event is a huge undertaking for the few Sportive organising committee members. The Road Club of course, has sixty years’ worth of experience in promoting open and club road races but this is the club’s first Sportive. I understand that the event requires a minimum entry of 300 riders to simply break even so financially it is a big gamble. It is therefore vital that all the cycling members of BRC enter the event. This is the main event to celebrate the club’s 60th anniversary season so let’s help to make it a success.

There will be a choice of three distances 42 miles, 72 miles and 93 miles.

Starting location and sign-on will be at the Ballymena Showground’s car park - entrance via Ecos centre and each route will take in the spectacular and stunning scenery around the North Antrim Coast

Club sponsors Chain Reaction Cycles will be supplying goodie bags to all entrants. The star guest will be Sean Kelly and he will be present at the start and finish and will also ride the route.
Food and refreshments will be provided along the route and start / finish location.

The Hospice fund raising efforts got off to a great start last Saturday 28th June when BRC held the Danny Butler Charity Challenge from the Rex Bonar House Club rooms. The route undertaken was a dress rehearsal for the sportive 150km route and the weather conditions were perfect.

Event organiser Nigel Kernohan said. "Thanks to everybody who participated on the charity run round the coast on Saturday and for the very generous donations for NI Children’s Hospice. We have already raised £505 and another £150 is pledged. We had 60 riders out, which was encouraging, and the weather was fantastic. On route we caused a long queue in the Cushendall supermarket when we had a break. As well as the excellent contribution from riders, a special thanks is given to the lady in the queue who gave money for Children’s Hospice.”added a delighted Nigel.