The 2022 Ulster cyclo-cross season opened up in the usual way with the GP Brian Kinning race which was held at Orangefield Park in East Belfast on Sunday 18 September 2022. This was the 8th year of the race which is run by Brian’s son Glenn. This year was a more subdued event with no music playing or commentator due to the period of mourning for the death of Queen Elizabeth II. However, the racing around the park and through the velodrome was full on. The park was in great condition due to the recent dry spell and the velodrome had been recently re-tarmaced. The event attracted 225 entries from across the isle of Ireland.
Starting off the day was the Under 6s fun race with 7 young riders enjoying their spin around the short course.
Next up were the Under 8s who had 4 laps to complete. Winning the boys’ race was Conor McGahan (Square Wheels) with Daithi Hughes (Square Wheels) second and James Kavanagh (Lakeland) third. Ríonach Campbell (Square Wheels) was the fastest girl with Ciara McCool (Square Wheels) second and Sophia Campbell (Phoenix CC) third.
The Under 10s used the same course as the Under 8s. Racing was frantic for the timekeepers with the 22 riders on the course completing 10 laps. Jack McGahan (Square Wheels) won the boys’ race with Benjamin Cunningham (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) second and Leo Gallagher (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) third. As expected Aoife Campbell (Square Wheels) won the girls’ race. Molly Turner (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) was second with Ruby Millar (Square Wheels) completing the podium.
The Under 12s started in the velodrome and their course took in around half of the main course. After 3 laps it was James Cunningham (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) who won the boys’s race. Eunan Campbell (Square Wheels) and Rory McCool (Square Wheels) were second and third respectively. Eire McCrystal (Bellurgan Wheelers) took the chequered flag for the girls’ race. Ava Baker (Breffni Wheelers) was second with Skye Spence (Shimna Wheelers Cycling Club) taking third place.
After a break for podium prize giving and course practice the Under 14s, Under 16s and women lined up on the velodrome. The Under 14s and Under 16s had 4 laps to complete with the women completing 5 laps. In the Under 14 boys’ race Caleb McGreevy (Apollo Cycling Team) was well out in front and took the win. Josh McClune (Team Madigan C.C.) was second with Jamie Rockett (Ards CC) taking third place. Emer Heverin (Kinning Cycles) crossed the line first in the Under 14 girls’ race with Katie Turner (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) taking second and Aoife Craig (VC Glendale) third. In the Under 16 boys’ race Curtis McKee (Scott Bright Motor Group) had Cameron Henry (Inspired Cycling) locked to his back wheel for the whole race with Curtis taking the sprint finish from Cameron. Fionn Killeen (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) finished third. In the U16 girl’s race, Rhiannon Dolan (Cuchulainn CC) had a comfortable lead ahead of Faith Robinson (Bray Wheelers) with Aisha Gannon (Breffni Wheelers) taking the last step on the podium.
In the Women’s race Junior rider Aine Doherty (VC Glendale) was on a mission to prove herself for her first year in the Women’s category and had an excellent win. Caoimhe May (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) finished second with Stephanie Roche (Scott Bright Motor Group) third. Doireann Killeen (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) was fourth with Junior rider Katie Reilly (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) taking fifth. Helen White (Stamullen RC) was the first Masters woman home when she crossed the line in 6th place.
Next up were the Cyclo-cross men’s B’ race with the men’s Mountain Bike support race. Both had 5 laps to complete. During the race there was a rain shower which added a new challenge to the 54 riders in this race. Lukasz Oleksiewicz (Team WORC) lead the mens B’ race for 4 laps but had to settle for third at the end. Gerard Craig (VC Glendale) was third for the first 4 laps but managed to take the win. Ross Blayney (North Down CC) held onto second place for the whole race. Ciaran Campbell (Square Wheels), Marc Allen (Ards CC) and David McKee (VC Glendale) took 4th, 5th and 6th respectively. In the MTB support race Jonathan Taylor (North Down CC) took the win ahead of Glen Curry (Ards CC) with Paul Beattie third and Gerard Curran (Tir Chonaill Gap CC) fourth.
The final race of the day was the Cyclo-cross men’s A’ race which was held over 7 laps. Junior rider Samuel Coleman (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) stole the show and lead from start to finish keeping a good gap to the rest of the field. Behind him was the real racing with some close battles. The battle for second place came down to the last lap with event host Glenn Kinning (Kinning Cycles) managing to make it up from 6th to the second step on the podium to the delight of the watching crowd. This is Glenn’s first year as an M40 rider. Junior Curtis Neill (Carn Wheelers) finished third with another Junior, Adam Rafferty (US Colomiers) taking fourth place and the first unplaced Junior prize. Jamie Meehan (Spellman-Dublin Port) was fifth with Alan Bingham (Newry Wheelers CC) finishing sixth and getting the first unplaced M40 prize. Jason Henry (Inspired Cycling) won the first unplaced M50 prize. We are sending our best wishes for a full recovery to Daniel Daly (Phoenix CC) who broke his collar bone in a crash on lap 3.
A big thanks to Glenn and all the volunteers for helping him put on this race. The smell of the pizza wagon wafting across the park made everyone hungry for pizza. Thanks to the council for the use of the park. The Ulster series starts on Sunday 2 October with Island Wheelers hosting their race at Windmill Park. Details on www.ulstercyclocross.com.
Commissaires: Jim Adams and Martin Grimley
Race report by Martin Grimley
Results here
Photos
Belgium Project report here and photos (FlickR) here
Toby Watson (Facebook) here
John Hammer (Facebook) here, here and here
Fran Hollywood (Facebook) here
