The 2025 Ulster Cyclo-cross Series kicked off on Sunday 5 October at Orangefield in Belfast hosted by Kinning Cycles. Glenn Kinning started running cyclo-cross races at this event back in 2015 (see race report here). Glenn has announced that this would be the last year he will be organising this race. The CX community want to thank Glenn, his club, family and all the friends over the years who have helped to host this event.
Orangefield is the location of the only velodrome in Northern Ireland and this was used again for the start of the races for Under 12s and over. The main course then took the riders around the outskirts of the velodrome, around the football pitches and back across the green running alongside Houston Park. The weather had remained mostly dry all day with mild temperatures. The event attracted over 200 entries.
The first race was for the Under 6s who had three laps of a short course near the finish line. Well done to the 11 young riders.
The Under 8s course was longer, taking the riders along the green before they turned 180 degrees and headed back along the outside of the line of trees towards the finish line. They had four laps to complete with 9 boys and 10 girls lining up. In the boys’ race Noah Finnegan (Square Wheels) took the win ahead of Max Beattie (Square Wheels) with Darragh Millar (Square Wheels) finishing third which completed a full podium for Square Wheels. Alice Bell (Un-Attached Ulster) won the girls’ race with Mara Reihill (Un-Attached Ulster) second and Sally Mowbray (Apollo Cycling Team) third.
The Under 10s used the same course as the Under 8s but they had nine laps to complete. Oliver O’Sullivan (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) took the cheqered flag in the boys’ race. James Kavanagh (Lakeland) was second with Toby Heywood (Un-Attached Ulster) third and Séan McGahan (Square Wheels) fourth. Ríonach Campbell (Square Wheels) was the first girl and was second overall. Isabel Lopes (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) was the second girl with Zara Aiken (Banbridge CC) completing the girls’ podium.
The Under 12s race had them start in the velodrome and then head out around the back of velodrome onto the wide grass area, through the trees – including the challenging, sharp climb up around one particular tree. They had three laps to complete. Another season and another win for Benjamin Cunningham (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) in the boys’ race. Lewis Bell (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) was second with Daniel O’Sullivan (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) third, Tadhg Connolly (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) fourth and Josh Ruddell (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) fifth. Among the girls’ Eabha Connolly (Square Wheels) was the fastest, taking the gold medal with Ruby Millar (Square Wheels) silver and Pippa Ruddell (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) bronze.
After the podium presentation for the youth it was the turn of the Under 14s, Under 16s and Women. They started on the far side of the velodrome. The Under 14s and 16s had four laps to complete with the Women having five laps.
In the Under 14 boys’ race Daragh Quigley (Foyle CC) took the win. Billy Lord (Breffni Wheelers) was second with Jack McGahan (Square Wheels) third. Aoife Campbell (Square Wheels) won the Under 14 girls’ race. Eve Harrison (Banbridge CC) was second with Amelia Martin (Belfast City BMX Club) third.
Leinster rider Eoin Davis (Bohermeen CC) was rewarded for his long drive to take the win in the Under 16 boys’ race. Josh McClune (Team Madigan C.C.) was second with James Cunningham (Team WORC) third and Tomás Connolly (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) fourth. Ava Baker (Breffni Wheelers) took a decisive win in the Under 16 girls’ race. Aoife Kellett (Dromara Cycling Club) was second with Vera Cork Davis (Bohermeen CC) third.
The women’s race saw 22 riders on the line, many of them had come from the new “Cycling Ulster Intro to women’s CX” initiative lead by Gemma McNamara. This was their first race since the start of this initiative. Leading the women’s race from start to finish was Jean Wilson (EPIC MTB). Rachel Newell (McConvey Cycles) was second with Darcey Harkness (Dan Morrissey Pissei Cycling Team) making her return to CX and finishing third. Ffion Dolan (TC Racing) was fourth and picked up the first unplaced Junior prize. Hazel Murphy (Cuchulainn CC) was fifth and picked up the first unplaced Masters prize.
The next race was the A’ race with the 33 riders having to complete 7 laps. Rian McCrystal (Bear Cycling) was leading for the first 4 laps but always had Curtis McKee (Spellman-Dublin Port) sitting on his back wheel. On lap 5 Curtis made his move and got a gap ahead of Rian who had to settle for second place. Out on his own for the whole race in third place was Graham Boyd (McConvey Cycles). Darragh McCarter (Spellman-Dublin Port) was fourth and picked up the first unplaced M40 prize. Event organiser Glenn Kinning (Kinning Cycles Cycling Club) was fifth with Barry Kellett (Dromara Cycling Club) sixth. Jason Henry (Inspired Cycling) picked up the unplaced M50 prize, Johnny McCabe (Cuchulainn CC) the unplaced M60 prize and Elliott McKeegan (Team Madigan C.C.) the unplaced Junior prize. There were not enough teams for the team prize.
The final race of the day was for the B’ race riders and they had 6 laps to complete. Also starting at the same time was the Mountain Bike Support race, which only had 3 riders. In the B’ race Mark Molloy (Dunloy CC) lead from the start to the chequered flag. Cesar Lopes (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) and Paul Hamilton (Un-Attached Ulster) were battling it out for second place with Cesar holding onto second place leaving Paul to settle for third. All 3 riders are now automatically upgraded to the A race for the rest of the season. In fourth place was Bernard Mackle (Square Wheels), Fearghal Kelly (Phoenix CC) was fifth and Ciaran Campbell (Square Wheels) was sixth. In the mountain bike support race Paul Beattie (VC Glendale) was leading for the first lap until he got caught up in course tape letting Gerard Curran (Tir Chonaill Gap CC) take over the lead. Paul then spent the next 4 laps chasing after Gerard and managed to get ahead of Gerard at the end of lap 5. Paul made it to the finish line first with Gerard just 4 seconds behind. Richard Nicholl (Banbridge CC) completed the podium when he finished in third place.
A huge thanks to Glenn and all who helped put on this event. The next cyclo-cross event in Ulster will be the first round of the National Cyclo-cross series which takes place on Sunday 12 October in Falls Park in Belfast hosted by VC Glendale. The next round of the Ulster series takes place on 19 October at Palace Demesne in Armagh, hosted by Square Wheels.
Commissaires: Jim Adams, Martin Grimley
Results here
Report by Martin Grimley
Photos
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The Belgian Project (FlickR) – here
