Round 2 of the 2024 Ulster Cyclo-cross series saw a return to Windmill Park in Dungannon. This tucked away park was last used in 2022 and Island Wheelers had again built a great course utilising the grassy expanse as well as taking the course in among the trees, up the tricky bank, making full use of the park. The dry conditions in the lead up to the race had made the course very fast. The pit area was extended. The race village was back in its usual place. Great to see the coffee van was being run by club member Janice Hepburn. The early light shower just added a little bit of surface water to the grass but then the skies cleared and we had beautiful skies and warm sunshine. A fantastic day.
As per usual, the Under 6s started the racing off this time with a one lap race on the grass. The 9 young riders lined up close to where the café van was parked and set off at the whistle to the finish line. A goodie bag awaited them at the finish.
The Under 8s started over by the main starting area near the car park, between two large Island Wheeler feather flags. They had 3 laps of their course which kept them on the grassy expanse in front of the race village. In the boys’ race the podium was the same as Round 1 with Séan McGahan (Square Wheels) in first place, Fiachra Connolly (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) second and Noah Finnegan (Square Wheels) third. In the girls’ race Zara Aiken (Banbridge CC) repeated her win from the National Cyclo-cross race held at Falls Park. Chloe Eagleson was second which took her to the top of the series table. Elianna Logan (Omagh Wheelers Cycling Club) was third.
The Under 10s used the Under 8s course but then had the extension into the trees and, at the far side of the grassy expanse, they had to face the steps 3 times. Conor McGahan (Square Wheels) got his first win of the series in the boys’ race. James Kavanagh (Lakeland) was second with Josh Ruddell (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) third. Ríonach Campbell (Square Wheels) just finished behind the top 3 boys to take the win in the girls’ race – her second win of the series. Eabha Connolly (Square Wheels) was second with Ciara McCool (Square Wheels) third.
The Under 12s had a longer course than the Under 10s and had 4 laps to complete. There was an exciting finish to the boys’ race between Jack McGahan (Square Wheels) and Lewis Bell (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) which came down to a sprint finish with Jack just getting ahead of Lewis. Nathan Baker (Breffni Wheelers) completed the podium. Aoife Campbell (Square Wheels) was the fastest of the girls finishing just behind the sprint finish with Jack and Lewis. Fiadh Craig (VC Glendale) picked up the silver medal with Amelia Finnegan (Square Wheels) getting the bronze.
After the usual break in proceedings it was the turn of the Under 14s, Under 16s and Women. In the Under 14 boys’ race Rory McCool (Square Wheels) got his first win of the series. Kealan Doherty (Foyle CC) finished second with Daragh Quigley (Foyle CC) third. In the Under 14 girls’ race Ava Baker (Breffni Wheelers) got her second win of the series. Ciara O’Connor (Drogheda Wheelers) was second with Carmen Buchowicz (Team Caldwell Cycles) third.
Caleb McGreevy (VC Glendale) put on another fine performance in the Under 16 boys’ race taking his second win of the series. Rian McCrystal (Bellurgan Wheelers) finished in second place with Eoin Davis (Bohermeen CC) taking the remaining place on the podium. There were no Under 16 girls in this race.
Greta Lawless (Team WORC) continued her excellent cyclo-cross season by taking a win at this event. Elena Wallace (Harps CC) finished second which took her to the top of the series table. Rachel Newell (McConvey Cycles) was third with Masters rider Helen White (Stamullen RC) making her return to the series taking fourth and the first unplaced Masters prize. Caroline Martinez (First Tracks) was fifth with Trudy Brown (VC Glendale) sixth.
The next race was the A’ race which was held over 7 laps. The race was a quick one with lots of changes in the top 4 riders. Darnell Moore (Team Caldwell Cycles) lead for the first 4 laps. Travis Harkness (Spellman-Dublin Port) took over the lead at the end of lap 5. Junior rider Conor Murphy (Team Caldwell Cycles) took the lead at the end of lap 6 but Travis managed to get back to the front on the final lap to take the win. Conor Murphy was second with Darnell Moore third. Junior rider James Armstrong (VC Glendale) was fourth and picked up the first unplaced Junior prize, finishing just ahead of another Junior rider Cameron Henry (Inspired Cycling). Graham Boyd (McConvey Cycles) was sixth with Jason Henry (Inspired Cycling) 7th, picking up the first unplaced M50 prize. Barry Kellett (Dromara Cycling Club) picked up the first unplaced M40 prize, Johnny McCabe (Cuchulainn CC) the first unplaced M60 prize. The team prize went to Inspired Cycling when David O’Neill joined Cameron and Jason Henry at the finish. Well done to our visiting rider Jason Livingood, from Philadelphia USA, finishing 26th out of the 38 finishers.
The final race of the day was the B’ race and the mountain bike support race. They both had 5 laps to complete. Leading the B’ race from the start was Jamie Clarke (North Down CC) . He lead for the first 5 laps but it was Lawrence Chandler (Square Wheels) who crossed the line first. Jamie arrived a short time later walking his bike as he had managed to roll a tube on his final lap. The third place came down to a sprint finish between Alex Bell (North Down CC) and Michael Cowan (First Tracks) who is making his return to the series. Alex just passed Michael on the line. Vinny Mort (Dunloy CC) was fifth with Aidan Reihill (Lakeland) sixth.
In the mountain bike support race Gerard Curran (Tir Chonaill Gap CC) took his second win of the series. Gavin Thompson was second with Stuart Suckling (VC Glendale) third, Conrad Kettyles (VC Glendale) fourth and Richard Nicholl (Banbridge CC) fifth.
With blue skies still over Windmill Park the organisers dismantaled the course. A big thanks to all at Island Wheelers for hosting the event. The next round will be on Sunday 17 November 2024 at Palace Demesne hosted by Square Wheels. Details on www.ulstercyclocross.com.
Commissaires: Jim Adams, Martin Grimley
Results here
Series table after two rounds here
Report by Martin Grimley
Photos
Toby Watson (Facebook) – here
Dany Blondeel (Facebook) – here
