Phoenix Cycling Club
Welcome to the Phoenix website
New Members Welcome
Phoenix Cycling Club is a club for cyclists who enjoy many different types of cycling activities. These include weekend club runs, leisure sportive type events, mountain bike runs (every Tuesday evening), club road races and time trials aswell as open road races and time trials. Phoenix Cycling Club is the home club of David McCann who won the
Senior Irish Time Trial Championship in June for the fifth time and then went on
to break the 16 year old British 25 mile Time Trial record originally held by
Chris Boardman.
We are eager to encourage new cyclists
to join the club and through the governing body, Cycling Ireland, have a special
introductory offer of £19 for membership for the calendar year 2010.
The club organises two training runs at the weekend for road racers and leisure
riders. These runs leave the House of Sport, Malone Road, Belfast, on Saturday
and Sunday mornings at 9.30 am. There is also a Mountain Bike training run
throughout the Winter months – usually on a Tuesday evening at 6pm.
If you are interested in joining Phoenix Cycling Club please come to one of our runs or contact us via the phone numbers shown on the left.
News and Events
David McCann takes Chris Boardman's long standing British 25 mile TT Record
It has been a great end to the season for Phoenix. Following his win in the Senior Irish Time Trial Championship our top rider David McCann broke the 16 year old British Time Trial record held by Chris Boardman.
After going within three seconds of Boardman's 1993 time on an adjacent but slightly slower course earlier this season, many expected In Gear Quickvit RT's Michael Hutchinson to beat the old record in the Port Talbot Wheelers event. But it was Belfast's David McCann who beat Boardman's time, the Phoenix CC rider clocking 45min 54sec and taking three seconds off the previous best time.
Well done also to Fergus Rooney who came 2nd in the Irish B Championships in
Donegal to Mark Buchanan of North Pole CC on the tough Clonmany – Carndonagh
circuit. Fergus is now a senior 1 rider and proved his ability by taking
an excellent 6th place behind winner Thomas Martin of Clann Eirann in the Ulster
Senior Road Race Championships.
For information on weekend club runs Click here
RAS Donegal 2009
Phoenix riders Cathal Smythe, Fergus Rooney, Mert Thompson, Nick McGrath, Tonya Moran, Joe Henry, Paul Harbinson, and David Tweed all completed the tough RAS Donegal 3 day stage race on the last weekend of May. The race is based in Killybegs and was won by the outstanding junior Marcus Christie of the Usher IRC club. Cathal finished an excellent 6th overall, and this along with his 4th place in Stage 3 and the 5th place by Fergus in the final stage were outstanding results in a very high standard race. Cathal has now gained enough points to be upgraded to 1st Category status, reward for some excellent results over the last three seasons. Here is a link to a review of the race on the Cycling Ulster Site.
Cathal showing his climbing skills in stage 3
David, Nick, Joe, Cathal, Paul, and Fergus, just after completing the final stage
Club League 2009
The club league starts on Tuesday the 5th of April with 5 mile Time Trial at Ballydonaghy here is a link to the league spreadsheet click here.
Davy McCann wins the John Haldane Memorial Race in Hilltown (8th March 2009), Finbar Cummins is runner up in the B Race
A good days racing for our riders in the John Haldane Memorial Race in Hilltown saw Davy McCann win the A Race from Liam Curran of Curran Racing. Finbar Cummins had a great ride coming 2nd in the B Race behind Noel Boyce of North Down CC, Fergus Rooney came 7th in the B race showing very encouraging early season form. For full results, pictures and race reports on the Cycling Ulster Site click here.
Davy McCann winning at Hilltown in the John Haldane Memorial Race
Noel Boyce wins the John Haldane Memorial B Race ahead of Finbar Cummins
Phoenix CC promote a successful Phoenix GP on the first weekend of the racing season
136 riders signed on for 3 races, the A race (6 laps) was handicapped with the first group made up of 2nd Category riders and juniors and vets who had points from the previous season. This group started 3 minutes ahead of the 1st Category riders. The B race (5 laps) was a 60 rider mass start made up of 3rd Category, veteran, women and junior riders. The womens only race (3 laps) had a very encouraging entry of 22 riders.
Peter Hawkins just pipped Adam Armstrong to win the A race. Rory Devlin from the North Pole Cycling Club in Donegal was very impressive in the sprint finish to comfortably win the B race. The womens race was another very tight finish with Cathy Thompson just pipping Julie Mulligan on the line.
There was a good turnout of Phoenix riders with John Neill having a very good ride to finish 7th in the A race.
To read race reports and view results on the Cycling Ulster site click here
Mert Thompson riding in the Phoenix GP A Race
Rory Devlin of North Pole Cycling Club taking the Phoenix GP B race sprint
Wheels in Action - Bike Aid for Africa
Phoenix members Maurice Ruddock, Brendan McCartan, Andy Rooke, and Antje Otto have been instrumental in setting up this very worthwhile charity. They collect bikes and with the help of volunteers fix them up and send them to Africa to be used by aid workers, school children, orphanages and service providers. They have a web site (click here) where you can get more information. Every Wednesday evening they meet in Dundonald to fix up bikes and if you can go along and help it would be great. You can get more details on their web site and on our message board.
What's on this weekend?
Club Runs
Saturday - The club runs leave the House of Sport on the Upper Malone at 9.30, there should be a group to match your ability.
Sunday - The club run leaves the House of Sport on the Upper Malone Road at 9.30.
Club members who are interested in the history of our club and what some of our stalwarts looked like in the good old days of black and white photos should look at this nd white photos should look at this collection of photos and reminiscenses by Paddy Megahey it also pretty much sums up everything that is so fantastic about cycling.
If you need instructions for joining the club and getting a license click here
Some Information about our club
Phoenix was formed in 1951 by a group of cycling enthusiasts from north Belfast. The club has 100 members, and is one of the largest and oldest clubs in Ireland.
Club activites include
- road racing
- time trialling
- track racing
- mountain biking
- leisure cycling
Club runs (our core activity, catering to ALL levels of ability) take place every Saturday and Sunday, leaving from House of Sport, Upper Malone Road, Belfast, at 9.30 a.m. These vary in distance, duration, and intensity, depending upon ability, weather, and time of year. Average distances range from 40 to 60 miles.
Are you thinking of joining a cycling club? People who enjoy cycling are sometimes reluctant to join clubs because they feel that they will be left behind. Come along on a Saturday or Sunday morning, and we will ensure that there is a run to suit your ability.
Add this site to your favourites
Weather for Belfast area
Discussion Board
The most talked about outlet for cyclists' views in Ireland!
Check it out at http://phoenixcycling.proboards39.com/
Post your views on any topic!
Club League
Phoenix runs an inter-club league from March to September. Members may participate in all club events, as well as all other events organised by our two governing bodies, Cycling Ulster and Cycling Ireland.
There is a strong social element in the club as well. Each year the club organises a club dinner, as well as the famous 'Juggin Run' on the last Sunday before Christmas.
Club Constitution
NNavigation
Contact Telephone Numbers for newcomers wishing to join our club runs:
Larry Sheeran:
02890 682382
Billy Smyth:
02890 962041
David McCann winning the Irish TT Championships 2009
Fergus Rooney crossing the line for Silver in the Irish B Championships 2009
