Round 4 of the 2025 Ulster Cyclo-cross series took place on Sunday 16 November at Ecclesville in Fintona. Host club Omagh Wheelers last ran a race at this site back in 2022 where we had rain and wind all day. This time we had a dry day with lots of sunshine in the morning. The sunshine even provided some warmth for the youth races. However, once the sun dipped behind a cloud the temperatures dropped. As per 2022 the event village was based around the basketball/football court with the start/finish on the tarmac. The course then dropped onto the grass with the Under 6’s course as a short loop on the right. There were different length courses for the U8s to U12s. The full course took the riders around the wide parkland and into the trees at the back of the site. There was a long climb in among the trees to help spread out the field. Just over 180 riders had registered.
The first race of the day was for the Under 6s with 6 boys and 6 girls on the start line. They did two laps of their short course. They got a great goodie bag at the finish. Goodie bags for Under 6s to Under 12s were sponsored by McAleer SPAR.
The Under 8s had two laps of their course to do. Noah Finnegan (Square Wheels) crossed the line to take his fourth win of the series in the boys’ race. Charlie McCarter (Un-Attached Connacht) was second with Darragh Millar (Square Wheels) third. Ava Mowbray (Apollo Cycling Team) got her first win of the series in the girls’ race. Hope Corey (Apollo Cycling Team) was second, Alice Bell (Un-Attached Ulster) was third with Sally Mowbray (Apollo Cycling Team) fourth.
The Under 10s shared the same course as the Under 8s but they had 4 laps to complete. In the boys’ race Naoise Cunningham (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) got his first win of the series. James Kavanagh (Lakeland) was second and remains top of the table. Séan McGahan (Square Wheels) was third with Jack Corey (Apollo Cycling Team) fourth. In the girls’ race Ríonach Campbell (Square Wheels) got her fourth win from four rounds. Zara Aiken (Banbridge CC) was second with Elianna Logan (Omagh Wheelers Cycling Club) third.
The Under 12s had an extended course to the Under 10s circuit. Jaxon Jennings (Bear Cycling) and Lewis Bell (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) were wheel to wheel for all four laps with Jaxon the first into the final straight winning the sprint finish. Conor McGahan (Square Wheels) was unchallenged in third with Jack O’Donovan (Strabane Lifford Cycling Club) fourth. Among the girls, Eabha Connolly (Square Wheels) got her third win of the series. Ciara McCool (Square Wheels) was second with Emily Jennings (Un-Attached Ulster) third and Serena McAleer (Omagh Wheelers Cycling Club) fourth.
There was the usual break for podium presentations and course practice. On site was a coffee van, a hot food trailer and an ice cream truck. Something for everyone.
The Under 14s, Under 16s and Women then lined up for their race. In the 4 lap Under 14 boys’ race Daragh Quigley (Foyle CC) got his fourth win from four rounds. Billy Lord (Breffni Wheelers) was second with Jack McGahan (Square Wheels) third and Oisin McKenna (Omagh Wheelers Cycling Club) fourth. Aoife Campbell (Square Wheels) was the only rider in the Under 14 girls’ race and also completed 4 laps.
Josh McClune (Team Madigan C.C.) got his third straight win in the Under 16 boys’ race which was also held over 4 laps. Darragh Murphy (Rostrevor Mountain Bike Club) was second with Rory McCool (Square Wheels) third and Kealan Doherty (Foyle CC) fourth. Aoife Kellett (Dromara Cycling Club) was the only rider in the Under 16 girls’ race and completed 3 laps.
The women had 5 laps to complete. Elena Wallace (Harps CC) got her first win of the series. Rachel Newell (McConvey Cycles) was second keeping her at the top of the table for now. Darcey Harkness (Dan Morrissey Pissei Cycling Team) was third. M60 rider Helen White (Stamullen RC) was fourth overall and took home the first unplaced Masters price. Catriona Wheeler (Agivey Cycling Club) was fifth with Laura Birley (Un-Attached Ulster) sixth.
The next race was the cyclo-cross A’ race with 46 riders on start line aiming to complete 7 laps. Making his big comeback for the 2025/26 season was Dean Harvey (Martigues Sport Cyclisme). Dean has been senior national champion for the past 3 years and it looks like he is still in form as he went on to lead the race from start to finish. Darnell Moore (Team Caldwell Cycles) was second with Junior rider Caleb McGreevy (VC Glendale) having a great race to finish third. Graham Boyd (McConvey Cycles) has been on the podium all season but just missed out this time round finishing fourth. Current M40 national champion Glenn Kinning (Kinning Cycles Cycling Club) was fifth taking the first unplaced M40 prize. Darragh McCarter (Spellman-Dublin Port) was sixth with Declan McEntee (Emyvale CC) seventh, taking home the first unplaced M50 prize. Johnny McCabe (Cuchulainn CC) picked up the first unplaced M60 prize with the first unplaced Junior prize going to Mark Molloy (Dunloy CC). There were not enough teams for a team prize at this round.
The final race of the day was for the cyclo-cross B’ race and the mountain bike support race. The mountain bikers started 30 seconds behind the B’ racers. Current series leader Gerard Curran (Tir Chonaill Gap CC) got off to a bad start with his chain breaking within a few metres of the start line. He did get it fixed but was already 2 laps down on the other mountain bikers. David McKee (VC Glendale) lead the mountain bike race and the overall race at the end of lap 1 and kept this lead until the end of the 5 laps. Second mountain biker was Christopher Blain (Tir Chonaill Gap CC) with Colin McKee (Lagan Valley Cycling Club) completing the podium. Among the B’ race riders Brian Kellett (Dromara Cycling Club) had led for the first 3 laps but Justin Doherty (Dunloy CC) took over the lead which he held to the line. Brian had to settle for second. William McFarland (Lakeland) was third. All three are now obliged to race in the A race for the final round.
The sun did make another appearance at the end of the race day as the host club quickly packed up the site. A huge thanks to all at Omagh Wheelers for hosting the event. Great organisation and a super course. Thanks to Fermanagh and Omagh District Council for the use of the site. Thanks to McAleer SPAR and Caldwell Cycles for their support. The final round of the series will be at McCrystal’s Cyclo-cross track in Jenkinstown, County Louth on Sunday 23 November 2025 hosted by Newry Wheelers in association with Bellurgan Wheelers. See details on www.ulstercyclocross.com.
Commissaires: Jim Adams, Martin Grimley
Results
Series table after 4 rounds
Report by Martin Grimley
Photos
Dany Blondeel (Facebook) – Part 1
Part 2
Toby Watson (Facebook)
