Conditions in the middle of winter may make the 10 mile TT event an especially lung-bursting effort but that didn't deter the enthusiastic riders who turned out on Christmas Day for the Jack Watson Cup.
The event was held in honour of Jack Watson, a Cycling Ireland hall of famer who officiated at events all across the country, indeed all over the world, as a commissaire and who sadly passed away in July of last year.
Though conditions were nippy for the festive test, Ian Inglis (Kinning Cycles) won the event again, in a blistering time for the time of year of 19:42.
That time by Inglis in the Ards Cycling Club event was an event record and a course record and also marked the 13th time he had won the club's annual Christmas Day race.
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This time he took the victory by just over three minutes, with James Alexander (McConvey Cycles) in 2nd place, in a time of 22:56. Glenn Curry of promoting club Ards CC took the final step on the podium, stopping the clock at 23:59.
Hazel Smyth (Kinning Cycles) ended a stunning year - after an incredible comeback from cancer - by placing 5th in the combined men's and women's field. She won the women's category, in a time of 25:13, which marked a tidy end to a season in which she also became Masters TT national champion.
Dec 25th | Jack Watson Cup 10 Mile TT
Promoted by Ards Cycling Club
- Ian Inglis Kinning Cycles CC 19:42
- James Alexander McConvey Cycles 22:56
- Glen Curry Ards CC 23:59
- Andrew Hedley AHC Racing 24:12
- Hazel Smyth Kinning Cycles CC 25:13
- Marc Allen AHC Racing 25:34
- Johnny Webb North Down CC 25:48
- Kevin Briggs Ards CC 26:16
- Michael Rowan Ards CC 27:10
- James Lemon Ards CC 27:19
- Oscar Curry 27:22
- Courtney Walsh McConvey Cycles 27:28
- William Orr Ards CC 27:28
- Roman Sarvas Ards CC 28:32
- Gillian Orr Ards CC 29:16
- Alastair Martin Ards CC 35:53
