On Sunday 11 October 2026 VC Glendale hosted Round 2 of the National Cyclo-cross Series at Falls Park in Belfast. Dubbed “The Falling Leaves Grand Prix”, Falls Park lived up to the hype with beautiful autumnal sunshine, the reds and golds of the leaves and the Belgian flags flying (matching the VC Glendale kit). This was the 9th year that the club has run a cyclo-cross event in this park and the set up looked as good as always with the ‘Ford’ steps, well laid out pits, a great course taking in the embankments up near the football pitches and the start/finish on the main tarmac road. With almost 250 riders signed up, the football pitch in the centre of the park soon filled up with vehicles from all across Ireland.
As before, the youth course had been set up just behind the play park. First to use this area were the Under 6s with 15 young riders taking on a short circuit around the barriers and then back onto the tarmac to pass the finish line. Well done to all.
The Under 8s then started further back along the main park road. They had their own course which included the plank obstacles. There were 14 boys and 8 girls at the start line for this 3 lap race. In the boys’ race Max Beattie (Square Wheels) took the win. It was great to see Kal Jennings (Bear Cycling) enjoying his race. The next Under 8 boy was Cillian Dolan (Western Lakes CC) with Logan Finnegan (Square Wheels) third. In the girls’ race Alice Bell (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) was first with Alys Jones (Lakeside Wheelers Mullingar CC) second, Hope Corey (Apollo Cycling Team) third and Tessa Corrigan (Island Wheelers) fourth.
The Under 10s had a longer course than the Under 8s. They had 5 laps to complete. Getting his second win of the series was Daniel Sheedy (Fermoy Cycling Club). Noah Finnegan (Square Wheels) finished next with Evan McTavish (Western Lakes CC) third, Fiachra Connolly (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) fourth and Charlie McCarter (Caldwell Powerhouse Racing) fifth. Lexa Clarke (Dunloy CC) won the girls’ race. Zara Aiken (Banbridge CC) was second with Sol Lally (Ballinasloe Cycling Club), winner at Round 1, having to settle for third.
The Under 12s lined up next. Their course went down towards the bottom gate, crossed over the tarmac path and then came up along the grass before heading onto the tarmac for the finish. They had 6 laps to do. Winner of Round 1 was Jaxon Jennings (Bear Cycling) and he proved dominant again taking another win. Thomas Crymble (Apollo Cycling Team) picked up second place, as he had done at Round 1. Ryley Dempsey (Western Lakes CC) was third with Oliver O’Sullivan (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) fourth and Conor McKenna (Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospacial) fifth. Ríonach Campbell (Square Wheels) took the top step in the girls’ race as per Round 1. Pippa Ruddell (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) was second with Ciara McCool (Square Wheels) third and Marian Mulvaney (Sliabh Luachra Cycling Club) fourth.
After the usual break for podium presentations and course practice it was the turn of the Under 14s, Under 16s and Women to start their races. The Under 14s and Under 16s had 4 laps to complete of the full course with the women completing 6 laps.
In the Under 14 boys’ race Fabian Drwal (Lynx Cycling Club) made it two wins from two rounds. Benjamin Cunningham (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) was second with Lewis Bell (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) third, Max McGrath (Fermoy Cycling Club) fourth and Nathan Baker (Breffni Wheelers) fifth. In the girls’ race Molly Turner (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) also repeated her win from Round 1. Aoife Campbell (Square Wheels) was second with Caroline Collins (Sliabh Luachra Cycling Club) third.
The repeat wins continued, this time in the Under 16s race with both James Cunningham (Team WORC) and Lilly McDermott (TC Racing) repeating their wins from Round 1. Finishing second in the boys’ race was Kealan Doherty (Foyle CC) who just held off a sprint finish from Rory McCool (Square Wheels). Tomás Connolly (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) was fourth with Daragh Quigley (Foyle CC) fifth. Joining Lilly on the podium in the girls race was Ciara O’Connor (Drogheda Wheelers).
The Women’s race was a very exciting affair with Aine Doherty (Dan Morrissey Pissei Cycling Team) and Katie Turner (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) glued to each other for the first 5 laps. Aine then won the sprint finish, much to the delight of the home crowd as Aine was a member of the VC Glendale club for many years. Katie had won Round 1 but just couldn’t get past Aine at Round 2. Katie was the first junior though so did get up on the top step of the podium. Elena Wallace (Harps CC) was third overall but second Senior woman joining Aine on the podium. The Women’s masters finished fourth, fifth and sixth overall and they were Joanna Bula (Team WORC), Jean Wilson (EPIC MTB) and Leah McCarthy (K Capital Rocky Mountain) respectively. Joining Katie Turner on the Women’s Junior podium was Aoife Kellett (Dromara Cycling Club) who was second with Caoimhe Marshall (TC Racing) third. European Junior Track Champion Emer Heverin, handed out the medals for the Under 14s, Under 16s and Women.
Photo courtesy of Toby Watson.
After the podium presentations it was the turn of the M50s, M60s and the non-cyclo-cross bike support race. In the M50s race it was the same top two riders as per Round 1 with Kevin Keane (St Tiernans Cycling Club) getting the win and Bryan Geary (St Tiernans Cycling Club) the first runnerup. Fearghal Regan (Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospacial) managed to get ahead of Barry Convery (Newry Wheelers CC) to take third and fourth respectively. Glyn O’Brien (Un-Attached Ulster) was enjoying his first outing in this category and finished fifth with Jason Henry (Inspired Cycling) sixth. In the M60s race Johnny McCabe (Cuchulainn CC) relished getting up among the M50s (he was 9th overall). Kieran Sweeney (Blanch Wheelies CC) was second with Seán Maguire from the host club getting third. There were more VC Glendale riders on the podium in the support race with David McKee (VC Glendale), Conrad Kettyles (VC Glendale) and Colin McKee (VC Glendale) on the podium. Giving out the medals on the podium was the current Lord Mayor of Belfast Róis-Máire Donnelly.
Róis-Máire was also available to start the last race of the day which was for the Seniors, Juniors and M40s. There was a minute silence at the start of this race in memory of Shane O’Brien who died tragically back in June 2026. Shane had won the Junior race in Falls Park back in 2025.
Once racing got underway Tadhg Killeen (Team WORC) set out his stall early, creating a gap on lap 1 and stretching that gap for all 8 laps. Finishing second was the legend of cyclo-cross in Ireland Robin Seymour (Team WORC). Graham Boyd (McConvey Cycles) managed to win his battle with Curtis McKee (VC Glendale) as they finished third and fourth respectively. Richard Barry (St. Finbarrs CC) was fifth with David Montgomery (Spellman-Dublin Port) sixth.
In the 6 lap Junior race Conor Regan (Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospacial) put on another great display repeating his win from Round 1. Kieran Mulvaney (Sliabh Luachra Cycling Club) was second with James Geary (Fermoy Cycling Club) third and Darragh O’Keeffe (EPIC MTB) fourth.
At Round 1 Marcus Flavin (Dungarvan CC) took the win ahead of Darragh McCarter (Caldwell Powerhouse Racing). At Round 2 this was reversed with Darragh finishing ahead of Marcus over the 8 laps. Trevor Costello (Islandeady Cycling Club) was third with Barry Kellett (Dromara Cycling Club) fourth, Frank McDermott (Oldcastle CC) fifth, Ronan O’Flynn (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) sixth, Evan Ryan (Team WORC) seventh and Fergal Power (Team WORC) eighth. The same riders in the top 8 as per Round 1. Super racing.
A huge thanks to all the volunteers from VC Glendale for putting on a great event. Thanks to Belfast City Council for the use of the park, the various sponsors of the event, Tony on microphone and all the riders and supporters for coming along. Round 3 of the National Series will be on Sunday 22 November 2026 at the Cork Showgrounds at Curraheen, hosted by De Ronda van Cork.
Commissaires: Jim Adams and Martin Grimley
Results (PDF)
Overall series after 2 rounds (PDF)
Report by Martin Grimley
Photos
Toby Watson (Facebook) – here
Eamon Bracken (Facebook) – Women, U14s, U16s
Senior, Junior, M40s
Videos
Keith Colville (Instagram) – here
