Second championship win for Eileen

Monday, July 28, 2014
Ballymena Road Club - Chain Reaction Cycles - ladies record holder Eileen Burns followed up her recent 50 miles time trial championship win by also winning last Sunday's Ulster 25 miles title race at Clady.
Bann Valley were the race promoters and they staged the event as part of their 25th anniversary celebrations. They used their Clady-Kilrea-Brown trout (Agivey) course, which isn't consider to be as fast as Woodgreen, but nevertheless the results were impressive.

Eileen recorded a time of 63 minutes 02 seconds to beat second placed Laura Maxwell (Roe Valley) by 2 minutes 50 seconds. Just for good measure first year Ballymena Road Club member Laura Blair recorded 70 minutes 06 seconds to win the bronze medal. An excellent day all round for the road club, which, co-incidentally is also celebrating an anniversary - it's 60th.
Eileen is the first woman in the club's 60 year history to have won both the 25 miles and 50 miles title races. She first joined the road club in 2012 and last season beat the existing ladies time trial best all rounder record.

Her progress this season has been remarkable and she is already the most successful female cyclist in the club's history with the ability to excel at both time trials and road races.
How did she feel after her most recent success?

Eileen commented "I didn't expect to win as it isn't your usual Time Trial course and there were plenty of strong ladies entered. I just kept my head down and went as hard as I could. It feels like a great achievement to be Ulster Time Trial champion for both the 50 and 25 mile distances."

The route took the riders through two roundabouts in the centre of Kilrea. Was it awkward getting through Kilrea?

 "Kilrea was well marshalled. My only problem was when a car pulled out in front of me in Clady just as I took off at the start - just past the community centre in Clady.  I had to brake hard and ended up skidding with my back wheel. It was a nervewrecking start until I got into road to kilrea. After that I was ok" added a delighted Eileen.

Eileen also won the ladies section of last weekend’s Ernie Magwood memorial time trial promoted by East Tyrone CC. She clocked a PB 22 minutes 41 seconds. Laura Blair was again in action and her time was 26.15.

Ladies championship results.
(1) Eileen Burns 63-02 (2) Laura Maxwell (Roe Valley) 65-52 (3) Laura Blair (BRC) 70-06
Mens result. (1) Sean McIntyre (Orchard) 54-09 (2) Stephen Colbert (Colbert cycles) 54-14 (3) Daniel Stewart (East Antrim) 54-16

Harryville's Darrell Erwin won the hand cycling race with 84-46.