Armagh City Cyclists

GROUCHO’S GP 🏁🏁

Race season is now in full swing, and ACC were out in force again at the weekend on the challenging Richhill circuit.

In the C3 race, ACC were represented by Niall Daly, Caolan Daly and Gareth McFarland. A lone rider attacked on the final lap and managed to stay clear to take the win, while our resident sprinter Niall powered home to an excellent 2nd place in the bunch sprint 🥈 Another superb ride from Niall, continuing his strong form from last weekend 💪 Gareth McFarland also put in a strong performance to secure 8th place on the day 👏 Caolan rode strongly throughout the race but unfortunately suffered with cramp towards the closing stages.

In the C2 race, Colum Mackle faced tough conditions, with a strong northerly wind making for a demanding day in the saddle. The pace was aggressive from the outset, and an eight-man breakaway that formed on lap two ultimately decided the race. Colum finished safely in the bunch, adding another solid day of racing to the legs.

A great event as always, superbly hosted by Orchard CC

📸 Photos by Sharon McFarland Dany Blondeel

Great night for ACC at the Armagh Criterium, hosted by Orchard Cycling Club.

🚴‍♂️ Caolan Daly takes the win!

The combined C2/C3 event saw the C3 riders given a sporting handicap of 3½ minutes. Caolan started in a group of 7 C3 riders, while Colum Mackle and Neil Rafferty rolled out with the 20+ rider C2 bunch, who never managed to see the front of the race.

Over the course of the race, the C3 group was whittled down to just two riders, with Caolan Daly taking the win in the 2-up sprint. This man is on fire 🔥

A great evening all round and, as always, a brilliantly organised event by Orchard CC

📸 Dany Blondeel, Jerrome Rafferty

Carn 2-Day 🏁🚴‍♂️

Big rides from Niall Daly and Gareth McFarland in the C3 event (3 tough stages over the weekend):

Stage 1 :
Bunch sprint finish — Niall storms to 🥉 3rd, Gareth right there in 5th 💪

Stage 2 (TT):
Both riders take on the clock on road bikes and deliver strong performances ⏱️

Stage 3 (Lough Fea finish):
Brutal final 4-mile climb splits the bunch — both lads make the front group.
Another sprint finish… Niall just misses the win but takes 🥈 2nd 👏

👉 2 podiums for Niall
👉 9th overall on GC
👉 Strong weekend from Gareth throughout

👏 Chapeau to all who raced, special thanks to Carn Wheelers for running such a great event and congrats to overall C3 winner Robbie Tosh (Ballymena RC) who took all 3 stages!

Toby Watson 📸

Newry League Returns in Style 🏁🚴‍♂️

Tuesday evening marked the return of the Newry League for the new season, with strong representation across the categories.

In the Group 3/4 race, club riders Neil Rafferty and Colum Mackle lined out in Group 4. From the outset, their group set a strong tempo, working hard to close the gap to Group 3. Their efforts paid off on the final lap as they successfully made contact, setting up a fast and aggressive finish.

Once the groups merged, the pace intensified with a flurry of attacks stretching the field and making for a tough finale. The race ultimately came down to a bunch sprint, where Neil Rafferty produced a strong finish to take an impressive 5th place.

In the Group 1/2 race, it was a standout performance from ACC’s latest signing, Robert Dougan, who claimed the top spot in his very first club race. A fantastic result and surely a sign of plenty more to come.

Thanks to all involved from Newry Wheelers for providing a great evening as always! Looking forward to next week 😁😁 NewryWheelers CyclingClub

While we were all out on enjoying ourselfs yesterday at our sportive at a more relaxed pace some decided to go racing instead.🚲🏁

🔥 Eddie Polin Memorial Cup (C3) – Brilliant Win for Armagh City Cyclists! 🔥

The standout result of the day for Armagh City Cyclists came in the C3 race, where our very own Caolan Daly powered to an excellent victory!
Caolan rode a strong and controlled race throughout, positioning himself perfectly before delivering when it mattered most to take a well-earned 1st place against a competitive field. A fantastic result and great reward for his efforts.

Podium: 🥇 Caolan Daly – Armagh City Cyclists
🥈 Colin Murtagh – Island Wheelers
🥉 Kresimir Kusic – Starsky Cycling
👏 Also well done to Elena Wallace (Harps CC), first unplaced woman.
🏁 Hugo Loughran GP (C2) Results:
🥇 Jamie Clarke – North Down CC
🥈 Elliot McKeegan – Caldwell Powerhouse Racing
🥉 Neill Delahaye – Bellurgan Wheelers
👏 Aine Doherty (Dan Morrissey Pissei Cycling Team) – 1st unplaced woman.

👏 Well done to Island Wheelers on hosting a successful day of racing, and congratulations to all competitors.
A fantastic result for the club — especially Caolan taking top step! 💪 this day was coming
That cup will look well on the mantlepiece.

** THANK YOU **

Today we held our annual Christopher Roger’s Sportive in memory of our Dear friend 🥰 🚴‍♂️

Christopher was an outstanding young man with many talents and a much loved member of Armagh City Cyclists, who lost his life 9 years ago almost to the day.

We had just over 100 who turned out for the sportive from 17 different clubs all over the province.
Numbers were slightly down on last year probably due to the not so great forecast but it turned out not so bad with only a few small showers near the end.
Many thanks to all of you who turned out in support 🚴‍♂️🚴‍♂️🚴‍♂️🚴‍♂️🚴‍♂️
It was a pleasure hosting you all, we hope you had an enjoyable morning and hope to see you all again next year if we dont meet you on the road before.
Everyone returned home safely thanks to our ride leaders in the groups.
I think we had 2 punctures (one of them mine)🤦‍♂️which were swiftly dealt with.

Thanks to our committee, volunteers, family & friends for the work they put in to ensure it went ahead, 👭👬🚗🧹☕️💧📃

A massive thanks must go to a few who without, this event wouldn't take place. Doing all the leg work and work in the background that we never see - you know who you are.👏

☕️🍰🥪Thank you for refreshments/sandwiches kindly supplied by the and sponsored .

Thank you to the Navan Centre for the hospitality and use of the facilities.

All proceeds (around £2000) from the event will be presented to a very worthy Marie Curie Charity 🌼 in the very near future - we will post up details when presented.

Christopher Rogers Sportive tomorrow morning Sunday 12th

We hope you can make it.

Entry wil be closing on line at 9pm tonight but if you miss out don't worry - you can register and pay on the morning from 8.15am at Navan centre reception.
Enter online if you can as it saves us time in the morning.

There is lots of parking at the Navan Centre if you are driving over.

Everybody please call in at Navan centre reception to register and collect your wristbands with emergency phone number.

We will be running this event like previous years, so there will be no marshalls on the road. The rules of the road apply.
For safety reasons and to limit overtaking different abilities on the road, we will set off in groups of 30+ a minute apart
For an enjoyable spin, pick your group wisely 😉
1, 56 mile 20mph + avg
2, 56 miles at 17mph -20mph avg
3, 56 mile up to 16mph avg

4, 25-mile group probably all together.

We will have ACC Riders out on the road to act as group leaders in all groups, keeping the groups together and calling the junctions.
Please slow down and regroup after junctions as some may be waiting on traffic to pass, like all group rides please call holes and obstacles.
There will be a food stop at the top of the Whitebridge road (beside the wind Turbines) on the long route only.
This is a good chance to regroup. After this, there is a descent into Ballygawley, so this needs to be controlled at a steady pace as there are 2 junctions to navigate.
Please steady up and regroup again in Ballygawley .

If you can please download the route onto your Garmin/wahoo computer - we don't want you geting lost.

The road will be marked with direction arrows on the junctions.
The road is like all other roads so there will be a few potholes and rough surfaces but it's generally good with a lot of the roads around Pomeroy and Whitebrige presently getting some repairs.

Safety is a priority. It's not a race. Please look after all riders on the road. Steady the group and pull in riders that are strugling when required.

100% of the entry fee goes to Marie Currie.

If you booked on line please check in and collect your wristband at Navan Centre reception.This will have an emergency contact number (0044 7826 500 330) if you need it.

Please call back at the Naven centre where we will have refreshments awaiting for you in the side room in through the door on the left, these are kindly supplied by the and sponsored

We hope you enjoy the ride🌞🚲

🚲🚲🚲Only one week to go🚲🚲🚲

Christopher Rogers Sportive Open for Booking 😁
Get your tickets here

https://eventmaster.ie/event/B5D8s23c8j

🗓 Sunday the 12th of April
📍Navan Centre Armagh
⏰️9am start

2 Routes available

56 Mile (90km) Route
https://strava.app.link/eAE4CbGUKHb — CR 2024 56m (90km)

25 Mile (40km) Route
https://strava.app.link/i6eIyjTUKHb — CR 2024 25m (40km)

💧🍌There will be a Water/Food stop 1/2 way around on the long route.
Tea/Coffee and sandwiches will be served afterwards in the navan centre.
All proceeds in aid of Marie Curie

🚴‍♂️💙 The members of Armagh City Cyclists are proud to support our friend to the club and fellow cyclist Sharon McFarland as she takes on this charity challenge.
She is the one with the 📷 at many of the races and sportives around Ulster.
Your dedication, determination, and generosity truly inspire us all. We know the miles won’t be easy, but you’ve got a whole club behind you every pedal of the way!
Wishing you safe roads, strong legs, and all the success in raising funds for such a worthy cause. 👏

If you can please show her some support via the link below.

https://www.justgiving.com/page/sharon-mcfarland-1?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=FM

Story
When a child is diagnosed with cancer life becomes full of fear, for them and their family. Fear of treatment, but also of families being torn apart, overwhelming money worries, of having nowhere to turn, no one to talk to.
At Young Lives vs Cancer, we help families find the strength to face whatever cancer throws at them. But every day 12 more children and young people hear the devastating news they have cancer. We’ll face it all together – but we can’t do it without you.
Sharon’s Story
In mid September my nephew was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) and has been in Belfast City Hospital since then, receiving treatment. He lives in Ardstraw, 80 miles away, so his mum and family have been making use of the amazing Amy's House. Amy's House is owned by Young Lives vs Cancer and has been like a home from home during this difficult time, a real blessing.
I'm doing a cycle on the 11th April from Aaron's House to Amy's House, about 87 miles, signifying the journey the family make to visit Aaron and their mum. I'll be using the less travelled roads for safety but they run mostly parallel to the main route the family travel. I would so appreciate it if you could donate to this amazing charity which has been so helpful to Aaron and his family.
Young Lives vs Cancer is a charity that helps children, young people and their families across the UK understand and cope with the emotional, practical and financial burdens that come with a cancer diagnosis.
In 2023-2024 the Young Lives vs Cancer Belfast Social Work team supported 242 families and 123 families stayed at Amy's House and Paul's House in Belfast.
£70 could pay for a family to stay overnight in one of the Young Lives vs Cancer Homes for Home, providing self catering accommodation near specialist children's cancer treatment centres, which are often many miles from a family's own home.
Young Lives vs Cancer, help families find the strength to face whatever cancer throws at them. But every day 12 more children and young people hear the devastating news they have cancer. We'll face it all together - but we can't do it without you.
To find out more visit www.younglivesvscancer.org.uk

Sharon's fundraiser for Young Lives vs Cancer Help Sharon McFarland raise money to support Young Lives vs Cancer

A brilliant day of racing for Armagh City Cyclists at the Phoenix GP on Saturday, with strong representation across the categories and some fantastic results to show for it 👏🚴‍♂️

The first race of the day saw a fast and competitive C1/C2 handicapped event, where Colum Mackle put in a superb ride to finish 3rd overall against a stacked field. A well-judged effort and a deserved place on the podium 💪

In the C3 race, the club continued its strong showing with Caolan Daly producing an excellent performance to take 2nd place, riding consistently at the front throughout. Not far behind, Niall Daly also secured a top 10 finish in 6th, rounding off a great team display in the bunch.

To have three riders finishing inside the top 10 across the races at the Phoenix GP is a fantastic achievement and a real testament to the work being put in by the squad.
A big thank you to Phoenix Cycling Club for running a fantastic event — a well-organised and enjoyable day of racing for all involved 👏

Well done to all our riders who took part and represented the club so well — the form is definitely building as the season goes on 🔥🚴‍♂️