The third and final round of the 2024 Ulster Cyclo-cross Series took place on Sunday 17 November 2024 at Palace Demesne in Armagh. This was the 7th year that Square Wheels has hosted an event in these stunning grounds. As before, the youth races up to Under 12s were held in the gardens of the Palace which was the former home of the Archbishop of Armagh.
The main course started up at the car park and finished in the parkland near the event village. The lead up to the race was relatively dry with the course in good condition and running well. There were just a few slippery corners which did catch out some riders. Race day was a cold damp start with some light drizzle during the youth races. The forecasted rain did arrive around 11 am and was in place for the Under 14s, 16s and Women. The rain did pass and we were left with scattered clouds with hardly any wind. A great day in Armagh.
There were 12 riders lined up for the Under 6s fun race which was held over two laps around a short course in the garden. There were chocolate goodie bags at the finish for them.
The Under 8s had a longer course and had 2 laps to complete. Séan McGahan (Square Wheels) completed his hattrick of wins in the boys’ race with Noah Finnegan (Square Wheels) second and Max Beattie (Square Wheels) third. Elianna Logan (Omagh Wheelers Cycling Club) got ahead of lap 1 leader Chloe Eagleson to take the win. Chloe was second with Sally Mowbray (Belfast City BMX Club) third.
The Under 8s overall standings were
Boys
- Séan McGahan (Square Wheels)
- Noah Finnegan (Square Wheels)
- Ewan Corey (Apollo Cycling Team)
Girls - Chloe Eagleson
- Elianna Logan (Omagh Wheelers Cycling Club)
- Sally Mowbray (Belfast City BMX Club)
The Under 10s had a longer course than the Under 8s and they had 4 laps to complete. Despite the fact the girls started a few seconds after the boys, Ríonach Campbell (Square Wheels) managed to pass all the boys and crossed the line first. Her third win of the series. In the boys’ race Conor McGahan (Square Wheels) took the early lead and held it to the finish which was just behind Ríonach. Josh Ruddell (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) was second with James Kavanagh (Lakeland) third and Thomas Crymble (Apollo Cycling Team) fourth. Joining Ríonach at the finish was Eabha Connolly (Square Wheels) who finished second, Ciara McCool (Square Wheels) was a close third with Erin Silcock (Island Wheelers) fourth.
The overall standings for the series for the Under 10s were
Boys
- Conor McGahan (Square Wheels)
- James Kavanagh (Lakeland)
- Josh Ruddell (Shelbourne/Orchard CC)
Girls - Ríonach Campbell (Square Wheels)
- Eabha Connolly (Square Wheels)
- Ciara McCool (Square Wheels)
The Under 12s had the longest course in the garden, making use of the hill at the back. They had 5 laps to complete. Just like the Under 10s race the girls started behind the boys but it was Aoife Campbell (Square Wheels) who was the first to cross the finish line taking her third win from the three races. First boy was Lewis Bell (Shelbourne/Orchard CC). Second boy was Jack McGahan (Square Wheels) with Nathan Baker (Breffni Wheelers) joining Lewis and Jack on the podium. Joining Aoife on the podium was Fiadh Craig (VC Glendale) with Amelia Finnegan (Square Wheels) third.
The overall series standings for the Under 12s were
Boys
- Jack McGahan (Square Wheels)
- Lewis Bell (Shelbourne/Orchard CC)
- Nathan Baker (Breffni Wheelers)
Girls - Aoife Campbell (Square Wheels)
- Fiadh Craig (VC Glendale)
- Amelia Finnegan (Square Wheels)
Once the youth races were done, the timing crew moved over to the main course finish. The podium presentations were carried out. Practice got underway and coffee was had.
The Under 14s, 16s and Women were the next to start their race, lining up at the car park.
In the 4 lap Under 14 boys’ race Rory McCool (Square Wheels) repeated his win from the last round and also repeated his win from this event last year. Dylan Finnegan (Square Wheels) was second with Daragh Quigley (Foyle CC) third. Just one entry in the Under 14 girls race with Ava Baker (Breffni Wheelers) completing her 4 laps.
The overall series standings for the Under 14s were
Boys
- Rory McCool (Square Wheels)
- Kealan Doherty (Foyle CC)
- Dylan Finnegan (Square Wheels)
Girls - Ava Baker (Breffni Wheelers)
- Ciara O’Connor (Droghera Wheelers)
- Lilly McDermott (TC Racing)
In the Under 16 boys’ race Caleb McGreevy (VC Glendale) put on another impressive performance to take the win. Appearing for the first time this season was Josh McClune (Team Madigan C.C.) who finished second with Darragh Murphy (Rostrevor Mountain Bike Club) third. Emer Heverin (All human/VeloRevolution Racing Team) won the girls’ race ahead of Aoife Craig (VC Glendale).
The overall standings for the Under 16s were
Boys
- Caleb McGreevy (VC Glendale)
- Eoin Davis (Bohermeen CC)
- Darragh Murphy (Rostrevor Mountain Bike Club)
Girls - Emer Heverin (All human/VeloRevolution Racing Team)
- Aoife Craig (VC Glendale)
In the 5 lap Women’s race Elena Wallace (Harps CC) got her first win of the series. Elena won at this event last year. Rachel Newell (McConvey Cycles) was second with Trudy Brown (VC Glendale) third. Caroline Martinez (First Tracks) was fourth and picked up the first unplaced Masters prize. Laura Birley (Un-Attached Ulster) was fifth.
The overall standings for the women were
- Elena Wallace (Harps CC)
- Rachel Newell (McConvey Cycles)
- Trudy Brown (VC Glendale)
The A’ race was next with 35 riders on the start line facing 7 laps. At the end of lap one it was Dean Harvey (Trinity Cycling) in the lead. The lead then changed to Darnell Moore (Team Caldwell Cycles) for laps 2 to 5 but on lap 6 it was Junior rider Conor Murphy (Team Caldwell Cycles) who got himself to the front and held it there to the line. Darnell was second with Dean third. Graham Boyd (McConvey Cycles) was fourth with James Armstrong (VC Glendale) fifth and picking up the first unplaced Junior prize. Glenn Kinning (Kinning Cycles Cycling Club) was 6th and picked up the first unplaced M40 prize. The team prize went to Inspired Cycling, Alan Bingham, Jason Henry and David O’Neill who were fixed in 7th, 8th and 9th place respectively and were even trying to outsprint each other to the line. Alan Bingham also picked up the first unplacedd M50 prize with Derek Patterson collecting the first unplaced M60 prize.
The overall standings for the A’ race were
- Conor Murphy (Team Caldwell Cycles)
- Graham Boyd (McConvey Cycles)
Joint 3rd. Jason Henry (Inspired Cycling)
Joint 3rd. Declan McEntee (Emyvale CC)
The last race of the day was the B’ race with the mountain bike support race starting 30 seconds later. In the B’ race it was Vinny Mort (Dunloy CC) who lead at the end of the first of five laps. Vinny dropped out of the race after lap 3. Michael Cowan (First Tracks) and Derek Finnegan (Square Wheels) exchanged the lead but it was Michael who would go on to take the chequered flag. Mark Molloy (Dunloy CC) was second with Derek Finnegan having to settle for third. In the mountain bike support race Gavin Thompson repeated his win over Gerard Curran (Tir Chonaill Gap CC) from last year. Stuart Suckling (VC Glendale) was third with Conrad Kettyles (VC Glendale) fourth.
The overall standing for the MTB race were
- Gerard Curran (Tir Chonaill Gap CC)
- Gavin Thompson
- Stuart Suckling (VC Glendale)
A big thanks to Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon Council for the use of the site and their continued support of the race. A huge thanks to all at Square Wheels for creating the courses, marshalling, timekeeping, catering, supporting, breaking down the course and all the other jobs that happen in the background. That’s the end of the Ulster series but not the end of the cyclo-cross season. Next week we are off to Tipperary for the National Series Round 3, the week after we have the World Cup in Dublin and the week after we have our Ulster Championships up in L’Derry hosted by Foyle CC.
Commissaires: Jim Adams, Martin Grimley
Results here
Series results after 3 rounds here
Report by Martin Grimley
Photos
Toby Watson (Facebook) – here
