Marcus is seen here with his biggest fan Carl Fullerton who incidentally done a 24-minute 12-second test, and this for a 70-year-old athlete!!!

A warm night at Frosses last night in Antrim, not much wind and mostly crossway and just perfect for testing. A lot of personal best times have been produced and 16 testers went below 20 minutes…that must be a record on his own!! George Peden won the last 2 rounds and was the guy to beat, but have seen Marcus last Sunday doing a very fast 25 TT in Ards for the Champ of Champions and just beaten by George who had beaten Chris Boardman’s 27 year’s record, I knew he would go close…many times Marcus has been overlooked by the national selectors in the past, but they now should wake up, and smell the coffee…unfortunately the big events internationally are on hold, which is a pity as his form and this of George is electrifying. Have to mention as well the first year junior Darren Rafferty who managed a 19min 33 sec with restricted gears!! and of course, the fastest women in Ulster Eileen Burns who won the ladies section in a fabulous time of 20min 56 seconds…97 riders finished the course and this on a working day, and this shows how popular this series are…Ernie will be pleased up there

A rosy future ahead for this 17 year old Island Wheeler junior (Darren Rafferty)

1 Marcus Christie Elite 17:52
2 George Peden Elite 18:14
3 Craig Mc Auley Elite 18:28
4 Kevin Mc Cambridge Elite 18:31
5 Lindsay Watson Elite 18:51
6 Conor Mc Cann Elite 19:15
7 Mitchell Mc Laughlin Elite 19:21
8 Stephen Colbert M40 19:28 (first vet +40)
9 Aaron Matthew Kyle Watson Elite 19:30
10 Darren Rafferty Junior 19:33 (First Junior with restricted gears!!)
11 John Madden M50 19:35 (first vet +50)
12 Andrew Robinson Elite 19:38
13 Paul Carroll M50 19:41
14 Stuart Mc Caughey M40 19:50
15 Ian Inglis Elite 19:52
16 Christopher Mc Glinchey Elite 19:57
17 John Rafferty M50 20:07
18 David Mc Intyre M40 20:09
19 Dean Lockhart M40 20:21
20 Emmet Vallely M40 20:24
21 James Gordon Elite 20:26
22 Mark Farquhar M40 20:27
23 Roger Brown M40 20:30
24 John Heverin M40 20:32
25 Gareth Rogers Elite 20:34
26 Feargal Magee M50 20:36
27 Nathan Mullan Elite 20:38
28 Alistair Robinson M50 20:41
29 Jonathan Taylor M40 20:43
30 Edward Kearney Elite 20:46
31 Rory Mc Intyre M50 20:52
32 Ryan Kelly Elite 20:55
33 Eileen Burns Elite Women 20:56 (First lady)
34 Samuel Carmichael Elite 20:57
35 Ryan Jamison Elite 21:00
36 Daniel Daly M40 21:02
37 Nigel Bradley Elite 21:05
38 Stephen Harkens M50 21:08
39 Luke Mc Mullan Road Bike Male 21:14 (first non TT bike)
40 James Mullan M40 21:15
41 Kevin Connolly M40 21:21
42 Anthony Mc Conville M40 21:24
43 David Heagney M40 21:27
44 Somhairle Owens Fisher Junior 21:31
45 Mark Johnston M40 21:33
46 Michael Mc Donald Road Bike Male 21:38
47 Barry Hayes M40 21:39
48 James Mullan M40 21:41
49 Neil Seffen M40 21:42
50 Philip Loughlin M50 21:44
51 Marshall Booth M40 21:46
52 David Dickson Elite 21:47
53 Shane Mc Neill M50 21:51
54 Mark Hanna M40 22:00
55 Kevin Mc Crossan M60 22:00 (First vet +60)
56 Robin Logan M40 22:01
57 Joe Henry M40 22:16
58 Allen Bell M50 22:17
59 Jane Wilkinson Elite Women 22:22
60 Chris Wheeler M60 22:24
61 Timothy Beattie Elite 22:34
62 Laura Campbell Elite Women 22:34
63 Ivor Smyth M50 22:34
64 Danny Mc Ilreavy M40 22:39
65 Gregory Kearney M60 22:46
66 Brendan Mc Court M50 22:54
67 Seamus Walsh M50 22:55
68 James Lemon M50 23:01
69 Eddie Hampton M40 23:02
70 Richard Hanna M40 23:03
71 Stephen Weir Elite 23:04
72 Dominic Drumm M60 23:08
73 Maria Mc Allister Junior 23:12
74 Simon Evans M40 23:13
75 Brian Darragh M50 23:19
76 John Rooney M50 23:21
77 William Orr M50 23:23
78 Karen Hull Elite Women 23:47
79 Kerrie Mc Ilmoyle Elite Women 23:53
80 Steve Core M60 23:55
81 Katie Neill Junior 23:59
82 Noel Johnston Road Bike Male 24:00
83 Carl Fullerton M60 24:12 (first vet +70)
84 Marty Lynch Road Bike Male 24:17
85 Trevor Wright M50 24:31
86 Brian Scullion Road Bike Male 24:34
87 James O Boyle M50 24:35
88 Ruth Johnston Road Bike Female 24:35
89 Eunan McGoldrick M50 25:00
90 Eamonn O Boyle M40 25:24
91 Emma Smith Road Bike Female 25:24
92 Mervyn Brolly M40 25:45
93 Mark Millar Para/Hand Cat 25:46 (fantastic time for hand cycling)
94 John Nugent M60 25:52
95 Amanda Corey Elite Women 25:54
96 Sean O’ Boyle Road Bike Male 26:28
97 Richard Nicholl M50 28:45

Mark Millar in hot form

VIP visitors last night with Marian and Tommy Lamb from the CU executive, so happy to hear Marian is now nearly back to full health after been seriously sick during lockdown (not COVID related) This couple has been supporting me since day 1 and so grateful for their support! Tommy has taken up the coaching of Carl Fullerton our 70-year-old tester and with a direct result on day 1 with a PB for Carl who shortened his time with 2 minutes!!

George Peden was beaten for the first time this season but with a time of 18min 14 sec is nothing to be ashamed off wouldn’t you think…any pro would like to clock such times, he soon could get knocks on the door from the pro teams, remember he is still an Under 23
More photos of last night on https://www.facebook.com/pg/thebelgianproject/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10157651946028691 Eileen Burns here above after her win last night.

Link for entry for this Sunday’s Round 4 (16th August) https://eventmaster.ie/event/WbPu65i0j Please make sure you select the correct category.!! Greatly organised again by Island Wheelers, a thank you to their volunteers and a thank you to the time team as with such big numbers it must be a nightmare!!