John Madden narrowly misses out on victory

BALLYCASTLE cycling power house John Madden (Curran Racing/Bann Wheelers) was narrowly beaten into second place at the first Dave Kane sponsored Time Trial of the season.

John (right) won the league last year beating the winner of Thursday’s encounter into the runner up spot however it was the Lurgan schoolteacher John Heverin (Clann Eireann) who won the opening round of the Dave Kane Cycles Time Trial League held at Toome. Heverin’s time of 21-38 was fifteen seconds faster than last year’s overall winner John Madden from Curran Racing/Bann Wheelers. Carrickfergus rider Nigel Laffin of Team Madigan was third with a 22-20 for the 10 mile distance.

Madden said after the race: “It was very cold on Thursday after all the poor weather we were lucky to even race.

“I found it very hard to keep warm over the 10 mile course and it was difficult to keep my heart rate at optimal performance level towards the end of the event.

“I am satisfied that I can improve over the course of the year and I have also decided not to complete the full Dave Kane series this year as I would prefer to peak for specific races and also be competitive during one day and stage road races which is difficult when one is time trialing every week which the league demands.”

Madden, who is Principal of Roddensvale Special School in Larne, often commutes to and from work to his home in Ballycastle as part of his training.

The current Irish record holder, for a range of Time Trial distances and last years Dave Kane and Super Six winner, John Madden, lost out by a whisker on Thursday’s first Time Trial of the Dave Kane league but he still aims to achieve some personal goals this season. Madden will hopefully continue the type of form which allowed him to claim a number of Irish records and also both Moyle and North Antrim Sports Veteran awards last year.

Dave Kane Cycles Time Trial League – Results For First 10 Mile Event, Toome 01/04/10

1.John Heverin Clann Eireann 21.38

2.John Madden Curran Racing/Bann Wheelers 21.53

3.Nigel Laffin Team Madigan 22.20

4.Niall Shannon Phoenix CC 22.24

5.David Heagney East Tyrone 22.29

6.Jonathan Dempsey East Antrim 22.34

7.Stephen Harkens Team Madigan 22.47

8.William Larmour East Antrim 22.56

9.Paul Swenarton North Down 23.01

10.Martin Tohill Spires CC 23.06