Terry takes second win in as many weeks

With another fine sprint performance Terry won the John Haldane Memorial 'B' race, promoted by Newry Wheelers on the Narrow Water carriageway between Newry and Warrenpoint.

The recent pleasant turn in the weather again encouraged a large turnout of riders from across the province, accompanying the beautiful back drop of the Cooley Mountains. The full permitted 60 riders signed on for both the 'A' and the 'B' races.

In the 'A' race Banbridge CC had Peter Lilley, Liam McKiverigan and Simon Curry, while in the 'B' race Stephen O'Hagan, Daniel Purdy, Adrian Finnegan and Michael Curran joined last week’s Travers Engineering Annaclone GP winner Terry Mackin.

The 'A' race was once again a handicapped affair, split into three groups. First off was a large group of around 35 'A3' riders, followed by 15 'A2' rider with a four minute handicap and lastly 10 'A1' riders with a further two minute handicap.

The large group of A3 riders quickly organised themselves to ensure the other groups would have hard challenge in bridging the time gap and despite the efforts from both the A1's and 2's the A3's managed to hold them both off and contest the win among themselves.

A large bunch finish followed, giving the judges a tough job of confirming the placings on such a fast finish.

After much checking and rechecking of the photo finish the win was awarded to unattached rider Jason Henry ahead of Ballymena's Mark McCullough with Banbridge riders Simon Curry and Liam McKiverigan following closely in the main bunch. Peter Lilley led in the remainder of the A2 bunch after a frustrating day's chasing.

The 'B' race saw the largest of the bunches racing on the day with the full 60 riders set off in a massed start. With rider keen to make a race of it, attacks started from the first lap of four.

Among those attackers was Banbridge CC's Adrian Finnigan. Adrian managed to pull clear with seven other riders, gaining around 20 seconds, and stayed away until lap three when a large surge from within the main field closed the gap.

Several other attempts were made to escape the bunch by several riders including Daniel Purdy but a bunch sprint was again on the cards. With both of last weekend’s A4 winners safely in the bunch the gathered spectators were in for an exciting show down.

The bunch sprint started early on the long and wide finish and as expected it was the previous weeks winners that were leading the pack; Terry Mackin, winner of the Travers Engineering Annaclone GP and Gary Wilson, winner of the Phoenix GP.

Mackin held off Wilson to claim his second win in as many weeks. Both riders have now secured enough points to be upgraded and will now be competing in the A3 ranks. The remainder of the Banbridge riders all finished safely in the bunch.

RESULTS: John Haldane Memorial RR – Newry. A race: 1. Jason Henry (U/A); 2. Mark McCullough (Ballymena- Scott Tiles); 3. Gareth Crothers(Team Bikeworks); 4. Tony Hare (Apollo); 5. Jack Wilson (East Antrim – Audi); 6. Martin Gray (Cuchullain).

B race: 1. Terry Mackin (Banbridge CC); 2. Gary Wilson (East Antrim – Audi); 3. Jonny McCabe (Cuchullain); 4. Duane McCreedy (North Down); 5. Simon Wilby (Dromara CC); 6. Martin Rogers (Apollo).