2014 Hugo Loughran GP Race Report

Date:                     02/05/2014
Event:                   Hugo Loughran GP
Host Club:           Island Wheelers
Friday evening saw Island Wheelers host the popular Hugo Loughran GP with two races being run simultaneously for A3 and A4 riders. Both races were sold out in advance and with the spring weather calm and warm a full field of riders showed up and enjoyed a great evenings racing.
The A4 race was run over 5 Laps each of 7.2 mile circuit on a relatively flat circuit and with only one small climb at the finish line. It was always going to be a difficult evening for an escape to get away and so a bunch sprint was inevitable. Coming into the last lap the pace was ferocious as riders vied to get the perfect position for the sprint. Phoenix CC’s Gregory Lennon came out a worthy winner over Jason McIntyre Bann Wheelers and Aaron Parks of Orchard CC. The remaining prizes were filled by promoting Club Island Wheelers Dean Burnside in 4^th, Ryan Jamison Causeway CC and Oliver Donnelly of Harps CC. Points were also on offer for the 7^th and 8^th placed riders and these slots were filled by David McFall of Omagh Wheelers and Philip McCoubrey of Clougher Valley respectively.

The A3 race was started a few minutes before the A4 race as the riders had to complete an extra lap of the 7.2 mile circuit. With 6 laps to complete there were a few breakaway attempts and in lap 3 a group managed to get a small gap of 15 seconds. This break was not to last and was brought back before the bunch made it round to the finish line with 2 laps to go. The race was to stick together to the finish line were junior rider Declan Mulholland of Clann Eireann would once again prove to be too strong in the sprint for his A3 opponents although this was a very tight finish in which he just pipped North Down CC’s Barry Hamilton to the line. Gary Donaldson of Omagh Wheelers took third place from Richard Archer of East Tyrone followed by Donal Burns of Strabane Lifford CC. David Neill of Orchard CC claimed the last of the prizes with a very impressive 6^th place. As with the A4 race there were points available for 7^th & 8^th and these went to Colm McGarvey of Epic MTB/Giant and Declan McKenna of Emyvale.

Island wheelers would like to thank all of those who participated in this great event which is run in the memory of our past president the late Hugo Loughran and we were very proud to have his daughter Paula McGurk present the prizes on the night.

We would also like to express our gratitude to the PSNI out riders who done a phenomenal job in ensuring that our race was run in a safe environment. They were backed up once again by our marshalls and club members who were fantastic as always. Special thanks must go to Kim Armstrong for providing the soup at the finish and to Supervalu Coalisland who donated the bread rolls that accompanied it. Thanks also to Garry Nugent chief judge and Peter Fields who was commisaire on the evening. Finally we would like to thank Derry’s Ltd of Annaghmore who provided the venue and car park that allowed us to run this race.

A4 Race Results

1^st        Gregory Lennon                    Phoenix CC
2^nd       Jason McIntyre                      Bann Wheelers
3^rd       Aaron Parks                           Orchard CC
4^th       Dean Burnside                      Island Wheelers
5^th       Ryan Jamison                         Causeway CC
6^th       Oliver Donnelly                     Harps CC
7^th       David McFall                          Omagh Wheelers
8^th       Philip McCoubrey                 Clougher Valley Wheelers

A3 Race Results

1^st        Declan Mulholland                Clann Eireann
2^nd       Barry Hamilton                      North Down CC
3^rd       Gary Donaldson                     Omagh Wheelers
4^th       Richard Archer                      East Tyrone CC
5^Th       Donal Burns                           Strabane Lifford CC
6^th       David Neill                             Orchard CC
7^th       Colm McGarvey                     Epic MTB/Giant
8^th       Declan McKenna                   Emyvale CC