Road Club cyclists hold Annual General Meeting.

Monday, November 3, 2014
Ballymena Road Club – Chain Reaction Cycles – held their annual general meeting at their Rex Bonar House premises last Monday evening 27th October.
The meeting was well attended and the 45 who were present heard reports from Race Secretary David Dougan, Treasurer Richard Wilson and touring Chairman Patsy McGurk.
The outgoing chairman John Maxwell thanked all those who had assisted the club during the season including sponsors Chain Reaction Cycles and also long term supporters Northstone NI ltd. He also praised Joan McCullough and Vicky Woodrow who were the club’s first aiders. 
He singled out Alan Mark and Billy Jebb for special praise. The two men have retired from their timekeeping duties and will be very difficult to replace.
Rex Bonar was also thanked for his hard work as "caretaker” of the club house and for his work as assistant treasurer. Again Rex is retiring from these positions this year.
John also praised the work of his fellow committee members for their support during his year in office. 
Race Secretary David Dougan’s report was presented, in his absence, by assistant race secretary Nigel Kernohan.
David reported that the two open races – namely the Red Hand Trophy and Wallace Caldwell memorial events had attracted full fields in 2014. He thanked the race sponsors Blair International Transport, Jonathan Keys and Ben Morrow.
David thanked retiring timekeepers Billy Jebb and Alan Mark and also the ladies committee, first aiders, panel of marshalls and Andy Wills for his photo finish camera work.
David said that club teams had taken part in the Tour of the North and the Donegal Ras while the younger riders were congratulated for representing the club at the Errigle youth tour and the junior tour of Ireland.
David congratulated ladies champion Eileen Burns for her Ulster time trial championship successes in the 10, 25, 50 and 100 miles title races which was an unprecedented success for the road club.
Nigel Kernohan also gave a detailed report on the club’s first promotion of the Billy Kerr Sportive (BKS) an event which attracted 271 participants and raised £4575 for the NI Children’s Hospice.
Touring Chairman Patsy McGurk said that all the club’s touring events had been well supported during 2014. Unfortunately the nine glens challenge suffered badly because of torrential rain and had to be cut short as a result. He said the harbours tour had been excellent and that the highlight of the season had been the weekend trip to Westport. He thanked Pius McKernan and Sean Elliott for repairing the trailer, which broke on the journey, and also Michelin’s Danny Butler for transporting the bikes to and from Westport.
Former chairman Billy Jebb then conducted the election of office bearers and various committee members for the year ahead.
It was more or less re-election all around except for the position of assistant treasurer which saw vice chairman Geoff Allen take over from life-long club servant Rex Bonar. Leo McCavana was elected to act as child care officer, taking over that roll from Adrian Kerr.
The main posts have been filled as follows:
President - Alan Mark, Chairman John Maxwell, Secretary - Hazel Hughes, Treasurer – Richard Wilson. Race Secretary David Dougan.
Other positions are as follows:
Vice Presidents: Rex Bonar, Gordon Caldwell, and John Maxwell. Vice Chairman – Geoff Allen. Assistant Treasurer – Geoff Allen. Registrar and PRO - Richard Wilson. Child care officer – Leo McCavana. Website Administrator – Clifford Grant and Nigel Kernohan.
Assistant race secretary Nigel Kernohan.
 Handicappers: For road races - Alan Blair and David Dougan. Time trials - Richard Wilson.
The panels of timekeepers and assistant timekeepers were also elected as were the Touring, Racing and ladies committees. 
A few new names were elected to the touring and racing committees.
New members on the touring committee are Maura Bradley, Iris Grant, Maria Shannon, Lori Phillips, John McKillop and Tom Douds. They join Hazel Hughes, Pius McKernan, Richard Wilson and Chairman Patsy McGurk.
Racing committee. New names on the racing committee for 2015 will include – Jason and Eileen Burns, Andrew Wills, Flic Watts and Laura Blair. They join Tommy Wilson, Alan Blair, Martin Ruddy, Clifford Grant, Hall Booth, John Maxwell, Tom Douds, Ryan Bankhead, Connor Young, Nigel Kernohan and race secretary David Dougan.
Congratulations to all those who continue to show a willingness to manage and contribute to the smooth running of the club, your help is greatly appreciated by all the club members.