Dromara cyclists in final trail quest race

Dromara cyclists in final trail quest race

25 January 2012

THE final round of Dromara Cycling Club Trail Quest Winter League, with all proceeds going to the Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children, will take place at Shimna Valley, Newcastle, on Sunday.

Riders will start from the beautiful grounds of Shimna Valley, the NICFC respite home in Bryansford, which overlooks Tollymore Forest with the Majestic Mourne mountains in the background.

The league has witnessed large large numbers of entrants taking part in these popular events and of course raising much needed funds for a needy charity.

Those taking part range from experienced orienteering people to many coming along for a day’s fun. This trail quest based around the Newcastle and Castlewellan areas is well suited to those who would like to come along and try something different.

There are lots of lanes and bridleways away from traffic, which lead to hidden views of the area of outstanding national beauty. Teams of up to three members have a choice of either a two or three and a half hour event. The two-hour event is most suited to team that include rides under 18.

To help Trevor Annett, who will be running this final round, the club would again ask as many people to pre-enter on the club website. This helps greatly to make the event run smoothly. Full event details are on the clubs website, www.dromaracc.co.uk.

This year’s Winter League has four prizes kindly sponsored by four cycling shops that provide a great service to the local cycling community. These are Mourne Cycles in Newcastle, Cycle Zone in Lisburn as well as two large Belfast shops, McConvey Cycles and Bikedock off the Ravenhill Road in Belfast. Dromara Cycling Club would like to thank all these shops for their continued support.

Two teams in the longer event, The X Men and The Losers are within six points of each other after the first four round, with team Young Cannon & Old Ball streets ahead in the two-hour event.

Round 4 of the club’s Winter Trail Quest took place on Sunday, January 15, from the event headquarters at Paddy’s Barn in Saul, Downpatrick.

The last time this venue was used was back in Spring 2011 and, despite the middle of January, the riders were treated to almost spring like weather conditions, dry, little wind with the sun breaking through the clouds, perfect conditions to explore the beautiful County Down countryside.

There was another big turn out for this round with 91 riders of all ages and abilities making up 45 teams all eager to take part in these mountain bike orienteering events. Top team was Not the Sunday Run who scored 460 out of a possible 620 points. Solo rider Paul McArthur finished just three points behind with another solo rider, Graham Boyd, finishing on 420 points. Dromara CC trio The Losers finished fourth on 410 which equalled another solo rider, Alan Richardson. 

Of the teams doing the two-hour event there was join winners, teams Young Gun & Old Canon and Must do Better both getting 130 points.

A special thanks to Stephen Heasley and Niall Cochrane for setting up and running the event.

• Dromara Cycling Club would like to thank in advance Patricia Kidd and her team at Shimna Valley, both for permission to use this location for the final event for the sixth year, and also for the soup and sandwiches.