Len Russell is Member of the Year

Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Ballymena Road Club – Chain Reaction Cycles – held its annual prize presentation dinner and dance last Friday evening 22nd November at Eaton Park.
There was a packed function room for the event which is the highlight of the club’s social season.
Len Russell from Cullybackey is this season’s "club person of the year” and he received the Friendship cup in acknowledgement of his continued assistance with marshalling duties at the club’s road race and time trial events. Congratulations Len, you are a very worthy recipient of this prestigious and sought after award.
Representatives from the club’s numerous sponsors and supporters were present to witness the vast array of silverware being distributed.
Guest of honour was one of the club’s most successful ever cyclists, Ryan Connor, who was accompanied by his wife Julie.
Ryan recalled a few stories from his International travels but said that despite all his success abroad and his trips to the Commonwealth Games and World Championships it was the local Tour of the North Easter stage race which brought him the most satisfaction amidst his many accolades.
He said nothing compared to winning a race in his own home town with everyone out to support him, Ryan won the Tour three times. He also represented Northern Ireland at the 2006 Commonwealth games in Melbourne and next year will manage the NI team at the Glasgow games.
Ryan was full of praise for the club’s committee members, timekeepers, ladies committee and all the marshalls, sponsors and local media.
He said he started cycling with the club’s Fun Tours and was delighted that these events were still successfully attracting new members.
Club Chairman John Maxwell was master of ceremonies and he welcomed the guests and singled out Morris Foster MBE for a special mention. Morris, who has been a lifelong supporter of Ballymena RC, was inducted into Irish cycling’s hall of fame at a gala dinner in Dublin recently. Morris received a standing ovation on Friday night.
Other special guests included club President Alan Mark and his wife Mary.
Vice Presidents; Gordon Caldwell and his wife Nora, Rex Bonar and his daughter Anne.
George and Joan Graham of Graham’s kitchens Woodgreen. Gordon Parker and his partner Allie.
Sponsors. John and Margaret Maxwell of Maxwell Packaging. Alan and Carol Blair of Blair International Transport and John and Maggie Blair of JBE mechanical and electrical. Alex McAuley of A. Bonar and Co Pennybridge.
The local press were also represented with Shaun O’Neill of the Ballymena Guardian and Stephen Alexander of the Times both in attendance.
All the winners.
This season’s club race series was sponsored by Northstone, which was the company’s thirty first season backing the Railway Street based club.
The youth section events were organised by Adrian Kerr with assistance from Hazel Gordon, Joan McCullough and a few others along the way.
Breandan McCavana was the top youth section rider and won five trophies.
Caolan Stuart won the Sandy Spence cup for the end of season road race at Glarryford and, along with Breandan McCavana won the Brian Russell inter schools trophy for St Louis.
George Graham won the A Bonar cup road race at Broughshane and also the track shield for the event at Ballymena showgrounds. Emma Gordon was the other youth section rider present to receive a prize.
The club’s junior champion is Connor Young who collected the RF Linton trophy with al winning average speed of 27.826 mph.
Connor also won the Ballymena Borough Council cup for the three day race and the Star Trophy, Grand Prix of the Glens road race.
The club’s ladies champion is Eileen Burns and she collected the "rose bowl” as winner of the ladies time trial BAR with a record average speed of 25.225 mph. During the season Eileen also won the Combat Cancer cup for the 25 miles time trial and won the season long time trial handicap league competition.
Michael Carroll topped the veterans section for the Henderson cup with a record breaking age standard performance which beat the standard times by a massive 1 hour 12 minutes 07 seconds. Michael also won the Stan Finlay memorial 10 miles time trial rose bowl.
Tommy Wilson won the H & M Wilson cup road race at Slaght and the William Smyth trophy for the club’s season long road racing league series, which he won for the seventh time.
Ryan Bankhead won the Australian Pursuit mini-series, for the Tommy Smyth cup and he also won the Sammy Gaston cup road race at Glarryford.
Matthew Brennan won the Sammy Connor cup at Broughshane, which this year was the club’s road race championship. Matthew’s Uncle - Clifford Grant won the Will Henry cup road race at Glarryford.
Fourth BAR win for Workman.
Steven Workman has successfully retained the Club’s Time Trial best all-rounder champion’s title for a fourth successive season.
Steven collected four items of silverware on Friday night. The premier prize is of course the Sam McQuigg cup for the club’s senior time trial best all-rounder competition where his winning overall average speed was 27.863 mph.
Steven also won the Grand Prix of the glens time trial for the Tommy Talbot cup, the Ernie Mark cup 25 miles time trial and the Water Margin cup for the fastest 10 miles time trial of the club season – 20 minutes 00 seconds.
Other winners of perpetual trophies in 2013 included:
Jim Burns who won the Gardiner cup 10 miles time trial, while his son Jason won the Clough Rangers shield for the road race over the Mid Antrim 150 motor cycle course.
Beresford Millar won the Sam McQuigg 50 miles time trial cup.
Colin Scullion won the Sherdan Caldwell memorial shield for the Crebilly hill climb.
Connor Young spoke on behalf of the prize-winners. He acknowledged the assistance offered by the PSNI and thanked everyone who had helped at races with marshalling, timekeeping, judging first aid and made special mention of the tea ladies and, on a personal note, thanked his club mates who had helped him win the inter club road racing league in 2013.
The catering was by Jane’s Kitchens of Broughshane and everyone was delighted by the standard of the food which was served up. Many thanks to club secretary Hazel Hughes for her time consuming efforts over the last six weeks in preparation for the event. Everything worked out perfectly Thanks also to Cormac McWilliams of Eaton Park for all his hard work and co-operation. "A great night was had by all”