Brilliant Broome sweeps away field to secure title

18 January 2017

THE last cyclocross race of the season took place at Stormont on Sunday.

The junior riders got to try the course out first with Aoife Kellett representing Dromara CC and, as always, she did not disappoint in a tremendous performance in slippery conditions to claim third place.

The B Race saw Davy Broome out to defend his series lead and the best way to do that is make sure no one passes you.

This tactic sounds easy, but putting it in to practice is another thing.

From the start Davy took the lead and held off his nearest rivals with ease.

The other Dromara men in the race were Paul Mawhirt, Gibson Chambers, Darren McCann, Mike Barton and Adrian Booth.

Naturally, the Dromara members love to race each other and it was Mawhirt who took the honours in 30th place, but only just from Gibson Chambers who managed to sneak around Darren McCann.

Just to clarify, Gibson would not consider himself a man of the road, but a thoroughbred mountain biker. However, there was clear evidence that his ability to glue himself to Darren’s back wheel before out sprinting him, suggests he might have a calling for the road.

Mike Barton was rumoured to be slowed by the weight of his Irish National Cyclocross bronze medal around his neck, but still showed he is a man in form finishing in 39th with Adrian Booth just loving the cyclocross in 41st.

The A race saw Barry Kellett attempt to hold on to a slim 40 second lead from Graham Boyd.

The start was fast and furious with the course a muck-fest after the B race competitors.

With a great start, Glenn Kinning might have been concerned about his second place in the series, but as the laps went on Roger Aiken would do what he has been doing all season and ride into the distance to take the race and series victory with Kinning taking second and second in the series.

Behind, Glenn Barry had everything under control until a mechanical slowed him to a stop, but, thankfully, with a bit of pulling and shouting, he managed to get the bike going to hold on to his third place in the

series.

The other Dromara men giving this last race a go were Nathan Mullan, Richard Cowan and Brian Kellett, Nathan charging off at the start and managing to take 18th place with Richard in 22nd and Brian Kellett taking 28th.

A special mention the highly professional pit team of Darren McCann, Robert Davison and Michael Mullen, who worked tirelessly to get the bikes cleaned and ready for hand over – a truly superb job with many thanks from all the riders.

All in all, it has been a great cyclocross season for all the Dromara team and many thanks to Kinning Cycles for putting a super event.

Thanks go to all the timekeepers, marshals, helpers and officials who helped throughout the series. It’s time to put the cyclocross bikes away and get ready for the season ahead.

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