The Decathlon Tour of Ards 2014…When the Pro’s mixed with the Amateurs, and the comms traveled in Los Angeles Police Department style

I have worked in this classic since 2006, promoted by my beloved club Ards CC, and never missed one since, as a marshal, commissaire, lead car driver and media reporter but 2014 was different. I had the honor to be the race organizer, an experience never to forget. We managed to get a few pros in the race and the best of Ulster including some top men from over the border. I had a friend at work who collect classic American cars and I thought it would be a great idea to have the Chief Commissaire traveling in a Los Angeles Coppers Vehicle, in the comfort of such a car. It was also the time that Aaron Wallace and Aidan Higgins got their National A level exams, and this was the practical test so to speak, observed by Jack Watson, with Aaron as chief comm, and Aidan as Comm 2. They both succeeded that day. But I had overlooked something, at Portaferry, the Mountain Rd had to be climbed a few times, this is a very small road uphill and in bad condition that day…the size of the comm 1 car to big for such road really, they struggled through with great difficulties and held up to car cavalcade a bit, Jack was not too happy but in the end, we had a laugh about it…When you leave a Belgian in charge anything can happen…lol. The video below was commissioned by the Main Sponsor of the race https://www.decathlon.co.uk/en/stores/sport-store-decathlon-belfast-MS_0070061400614.html and filmed by Tyrone’s Jonny Collins https://www.instagram.com/Jcollinsproductions with Michael Hamilton from Bangor as the pilot. This video has some brilliant live footage and very well executed. We had a local winner with Frazer Duncan from the Dave Kane Cycling Team. (All photos in this report courtesy of Richard Hanna from Ards CC)