The Ulster Cyclo-cross series is a reduced affair this year, dropping from 9 rounds to just 5 with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The host clubs have had to take on board extra administration, put in sanitising stations and encourage social distancing. The pandemic has meant that we cannot have spectators at the events, we have to scale down the prize ceremony and we have to remove the food/drink offerings that are a great attraction at these events.
It was great, therefore, on Sunday 4 October 2020 to get the series started with a return to the beautiful Palace Demesne in Armagh. For host club, Square Wheels, this was their 4th year at this venue and thanks have to go to Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council for their support. Square Wheels has been awarded the 2021 National Cyclo-cross Championships which are to be held at this venue on 9/10 Janary 2021.
On the morning of the event the park was looking great in autumn colours with grey skies. Just before the start of the first race we had light rain which stayed with us all day. It only stopped raining when the final race of the day was completed. Riders were treated to lots of muddy conditions but the course held up well.
The first race of the day was for the Under 6s. This was a short, fun race of one lap around a section of the gardens in front of the former bishop’s palace (built in 1770). The 10 young riders were rewarded with a goodie bag at the end.
Next to line up were the Under 8s with 8 boys and 7 girls on the start line. This was a two lap race with Jack McGahan from the host club getting the win in the boys’ race ahead of Larkin Polack (Unattached) and Jake McKee (Maryland Wheelers).
Aoife Campbell, also from the host club, had an impressive win in the girls’ race and finished just behind the winning boy. Evangeline Mullin (Unattached) was the second placed girl with Amelia Finnegan (Apollo Cycling Team) third.
The Under 10s had 3 laps to complete and it was gold and silver for the host club in the boys’ race when Eunan Campbell crossed the line ahead of Rory McCool. Brodie Hull (Courtown BMX Club) complete the podium taking the bronze medal. In the girls’ race Leah Hepburn (Island Wheelers) took the chequered flag ahead of Skye Spence (Shimna Wheelers Cycling Club) with Rua Convery (Unattached) finishing third.
The Under 12s had a longer course which headed up the hill and they had 4 laps to complete. Shane O’Brien (Fermoy Cycling Club) had to work hard to get past Rhys Hepburn (Island Wheelers) with Josh McClune (Team Madigan C.C.) taking third place in the boys’ race. Emer Heverin (Kinning Cycles Cycling Club) had a strong race to finish ahead of Maeve McCool (Square Wheels) with Aoife Craig (VC Glendale) third and Sarah Jane Rocks (Island Wheelers) fourth.
Racing then moved over to the main course. This year the start line and finish line were in two different locations. The new start line was on the entrance road into the park. Riders started on the tarmac road before heading through a car park and taking a right hand turn onto the main course.
At 11:45 the Under 14s, Under 16s and Women lined up for their race in the rain. On the first whistle the Under 16 boys started with a minor crash between riders at the back of the field. The Under 14 boys then started on the second whistle with the Women (plus the only entry in the Under 16 girls’ race – Aine Doherty) starting. On the final whistle the Under 14 girls started. The Women had 5 laps to complete with the Under 16 boys having to do 4 laps and all others doing 3 laps.
In the Under 14 boys’ race Conor Murphy (Rostrevor Mountain Bike Club) had a very impressive race finishing well clear of his nearest rival, Karl Rockett (Ards CC) with Curtis McKee (Maryland Wheelers) finishing third. In the Under 14 girls’ race Aliyah Rafferty (Island Wheelers) also had an impressive win as she finished well clear of second place Erin McCormack (Ballina Cycling Club) with Rhiannon Dolan (Cuchulainn CC) taking the third place on the podium.
In the Under 16 boys’ race Liam O’Brien (Fermoy Cycling Club) took the flag ahead of Travis Harkness (Carn Wheelers) with a close battle between Oisin Ferrity (Island Wheelers) and Sam Coleman (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) for third, which Oisin held onto. Aine Doherty (VC Glendale), Under 16 girl, put in 3 strong laps which was only rivalled by the top 3 women racers.
In the women’s race it was Junior rider Annie Roche (Scott Quanta Racing) who took the win ahead of Darcey Harkness (Carn Wheelers) with Stephanie Roche (Scott Quanta Racing) finishing third. Sally McHugh (UCD Cycling Club) was fourth with Judith Russell (Phoenix CC) finishing 5th and taking the unplace Masters women prize.
At 1 pm the men’s Cyclo-cross A’ race took place. This was a 7 lap race with 36 riders on the start line. Junior rider Dean Harvey (VC Glendale) was a man on a mission as he was faster than chaser Darragh McCarter (Spellman-Dublin Port) for 6 of the 7 laps. On the last lap Dean lost almost all the time he had gained and only crossed the line 2 seconds ahead of Daragh. An exciting finish. Finishing third was Lee Harvey (VC Glendale) with Junior rider Adam Gilsenan (Bohermeen CC) finishing fourth and taking the first unplaced Junior prize. Kevin McKinney (Armagh City Cyclists) was 5th with Graham Boyd (McConvey Cycles) 6th. Barry Convery (Newry Wheelers CC) took the unplaced M40 prize when he finished 7th, Kyle Fisher (Lakeland) took the unplaced Espoir prize when he finished 8th and Des Woods (Newry Wheelers CC) took the unplaced M50 prize when he finished 9th. VC Glendale won the team prize when Chris Oakley joined Dean and Lee at the finish.
The final race of the day was for the men’s Cyclo-cross B’ race. There was 51 riders at the start line. Due to the deteroriating course conditions this was a 5 lap race. It took 3 laps before David Connor (Armagh City Cyclists) got himself to the front of the race and held that position to the chequered flag. Seamus McGovern (Lakeland) was second with David McKee (Maryland Wheelers) third. Ivan Reid (Team Caldwell Cycles) was 4th with Stephen Daly (Termon Wheelers) 5th and Matthew Sinton (Portadown Cycling Club) 6th.
Many thanks to all the volunteers from Square Wheels who put on this event. A great job. Round 2 will be at Lurgan Park on Sunday 11 October 2020. Details will be on www.ulstercyclocross.com.
Results here
Commissaires: Martin Grimley and Jim Adams
Report by Martin Grimley
Photo links
Belgium Project here
Jeromy Rafferty here
Mervyn McKeown here
