The 2010 Tour of Ards Cycle race takes place this Saturday 27th March. Sixty riders will race around the Ards Peninsula passing through every town and village on route. The winner will take home the coveted Tommy Brown memorial cup plus a cash award. This is the forty first year of the Ards Cycling Club Classic and the club is supported this year by local Newspaper ‘The Newtownards Chronicle’.
Stephen Dunwoody, the Newtownards Chronicle sports editor comments: "Ards Cycling Club has a magnificent history and the Newtownards Chronicle is proud to be associated with a local club that does so much to foster tourism over such a wide readership area. The Tour of Ards is one of the few listed 'Classic' events in Ireland. It is crucial for the prestige of sport in Newtownards that this race's high profile continues."
Ards Cycling Club also benefits from the backing of local businesses and Ards Tourism.
The 60 mile race leaves the new headquarters at St Patrick’s Parish Hall at 12 noon. The race starts in earnest on the Bangor Carriageway with an estimated finish time of 2.15 -2.20pm on the Portaferry Road back at Ards.
Last year’s winner Martyn Irvine will not be defending as he is competing in the World Track Championships, but another rider Adam Armstrong (Eurocycles) could take the title as he has shown sparkling form alredy this season with a win in the prestigious Cycleways Cup in Navan. His Dublin based team Eurocycles is very strong with Frazer Duncan, Connor Murphy, Thomas Martin and Omagh man Paul Mulligan all capable of being in the final shake up. Former winners Mark Greer (Maryland) and Glen Kinning (East Antrim-Audi) are back and other top names include Ryan Connor (Usher), Roger Aiken (Planet X) and Liam Curran (Curran Racing Team) and Gary Cranston.
Dundalk club Cuchulainn field Liam Dolan who is a regular Tour of Ards competitor and the improving Colm Quinn while Donegal man Paul Vaughan could be one to watch. Other strong teams include Newry with the McKinley brothers Kevin Lynch and Sean McGreevy. East Antrim includes promising teenager Jack Wilson son of 1978 Tour of Ards winner Gary Wilson.
Ballymena’s entry includes the stong McAllister brothers Leo and Conor and the much improved Mark McCullough. Dromara CCs strongest man is Davy McKnight while the Phoenix CC squad is headed by John Neill and Fergus Rooney. North Down CC have entered Paul Ferguson, Noel Boyce ,Richard McCullough and awesome sprinter comeback man Ross Blayney.
Shaun Gray and the current Ulster Road Race Champion Simon Williams represent Juiced Orchard Wheelers while speedy teenagers David Neill and Jonny Cole ride for Carrickfergus club Team Madigan. It’s great to see a strong contigent from Co Donegal including North Poles CC Mark Buchanan and Four Masters Jason Black and Daniel Logue.
Stephen Gallagher (Sigma sport specialized) former Rás Winner is also signed up for the event. Irish Women’s Road Race Champion, Heather Wilson will also take part.
The Ards Club is represented by Willie McMullan, Mark Watson and John Brown who is a nephew of Tommy Brown.
Riders will pay a £5 deposit to get their back and frame numbers for the race. Riders and teams are asked to bring spare wheels as there will be two neutral service vehicles.
The sign-on is at a new venue (St Patrick’s Parish Centre) which is close to the Newtownards town centre.
Directions from the TOWN CENTRE – TAKE left turn into North Street at back of Town Hall. Take the 3rd right turn into VICTORIA AVENUE and then almost immediate right into car park of St Patrick’s Parish Hall.
From Dundonald – At roundabout at the end of the carriageway first left, follow the road to the T junction at the end approx .75 mile. Take right turn and in about 50yds take LEFT turn into Victoria Avenue – Carpark almost immediate right.
From Bangor – At first set of traffic lights after the carriageway turn right into North road. After the traffic lights on the North road turn left into Victoria Avenue – Carpark almost immediate right
Roads should be sign posted and maps are available on www.ardscyclingclub.co.uk by clicking of the blue ‘'Tour of Ards' button.
Sign on opens from 10am.
(Brendan Kirk, Chairman/PRO)
Tour of Ards Start List
1 Anthony Hare Apollo A3
2 John Brown Ards CC A3
3 Mark Watson Ards CC A3
4 Willie McMulan Ards CC A3
5 Leo McAlastair Ballymena RC A1
6 Conor McAlastair Ballymena RC A1
7 Matthew Brennan Ballymena RC A3J
8 Christopher Beattie Ballymena RC A2
9 Mark McCullough Ballymena RC (RADIO) A3
10 Peter Lilley Banbridge CC (RADIO) A2J
11 John Heveren Clann Eireann A2
12 Colm Quinn Cuchulainn A1
13 Liam Dolan Cuchullainn CC A2
14 Liam Curran Curran Racing A3
15 Sam Craig Curran Racing A3
16 Nathan McLeer Curran Racing A3J
17 John Madden Curran Racing A3
18 David McKnight Dromara CC A1
19 Darren Weir Dromara CC A2
20 Damien McDonald Dromara CC A3
21 Ronnie Smyth Dromara CC A3
22 Glen Kinning East Antrim CC A1
23 Stephen Baines East Antrim CC A3
24 Gordan Scott East Antrim CC A3
25 Jack Wilson East Antrim CC A3J
26 Gary Cranston East Antrim CC (RADIO) A1
27 Noel Wilson East Tyrone A2
28 Thomas Martin Eurocycles A1
29 Frazer Duncan Eurocycles A1
30 Conor Murphy Eurocycles A1
31 Paul Mulligan Eurocycles A3
32 Adam Armstrong Eurocycles (RADIO) A1
33 Daniel Logue Four Masters A2
34 Ciaran O'Sullivan Four Masters A3
35 Sean Stewart Four Masters A3
36 Eddie Sweeney Four Masters A3
37 Jason Black Four Masters A3
38 Shaun Gray Juiced Orchard A3
39 Simon Williams Juiced Orchard A1
40 Mark Greer Maryland A2
41 Heather Wilson Maryland A2
42 Mark McKinley Newry Wheelers A1
43 Nathan Morgan Newry Wheelers A2
44 Sean McGreevy Newry Wheelers A2
45 Drew McKinley Newry Wheelers A2
46 Mark Campbell Newry Wheelers A2
47 Kevin Lynch Newry Wheelers A2
48 Paul Ferguson North Down CC A1
49 Ross Blayney North Down CC A2
50 Noel Boyce North Down CC A3
51 Richard McCullough North Down CC A3
52 Mark Buchanan North Pole CC A2
53 John Neill Phoenix CC A1
54 Fergus Rooney Phoenix CC A1
55 Niall Shannon Phoenix CC A2
56 James Gault Phoenix CC A3
57 Roger Aiken Planet X A1
58 Liam McGreevy Planet X A2
59 Gary Crory Planet X (RADIO) A2
60 Stephen Gallagher Sigma Sport Specialized A*
61 Alastair Steele SIS.com A3
62 Paul Vaughan Sportactive A1
63 Adam Rayner Team Basso UK A2J
64 Jonny Cole Team Madigan A2
65 David Neill Team Madigan A3J
66 Ryan Connor Usher A1