The fifth and final round of the 2025 Ulster Cyclo-cross Series took place on Sunday 23 November at the McCrystal CX Track in Jenkinstown, County Louth. The round had originally been earmarked for Dunloy Cycling Club to run but they had issues getting access to the venue they wanted to use. Thankfully Newry Wheelers were able to step in to take on this round. Bryan McCrystal had offered his site and, along with Bellurgan Wheelers and friends, the event was able to go ahead. It had been raining on the way down along the A1 but once over the border we were greeted with sunshine and blue skies. This private track has hosted National Championships and National Series events with its challenging hill climbs, sand and steps. There was plenty of parking, a café van on site and a shop nearby. Just over 140 riders had registered for this event, smaller numbers than at other rounds, but the location is quite far for those coming from the west of Ulster.
The first race of the day was for the Under 6s who had to complete a loop around the start/finish, over the jumps and back to the finish line. Well done to the 7 young riders who got their well deserved goodie bag at the finish.
The Under 8s had two laps of the ‘youth’ course to race around. Charlie McCarter (Un-Attached Connacht) got his first win of the series in the boys’ race. Noah Finnegan (Square Wheels) finished second and took the overall series prize. Rory Manogue (Apollo Cycling Team) was third. Alice Bell (Un-Attached Ulster) got her third win of the series which was enough to retain the overall series win. Sally Mowbray (Apollo Cycling Team) was second with Hope Corey (Apollo Cycling Team) third and Ava Mowbray (Apollo Cycling Team) fourth.
The Under 10s used the same course as the Under 8s but they had 4 laps to complete. Naoise Cunningham (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) repeated his win at Round 4 in the boys’ race and this was enough to win the series. James Kavanagh (Lakeland) was second with Séan McGahan (Square Wheels) third and Toby Heywood (Un-Attached Ulster) fourth. Ríonach Campbell (Square Wheels) got the clean sweep of 5 wins from 5 rounds. Zara Aiken (Banbridge CC) was second with Chloe Eagleson (Omagh Wheelers Cycling Club) third and Meabh Farrell (Newry Wheelers CC) fourth.
The Under 12s course was longer than the Under 10s course and they had 5 laps to complete. Lewis Bell (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) stormed around the course to take his third win of the series which gave him the overall series win. Josh Ruddell (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) got ahead of Logan McAreavey (Bellurgan Wheelers) on the final lap leaving Logan having to settle for third. In the girls’ race Eabha Connolly (Square Wheels) finished well clear of Emily Jennings (Un-Attached Ulster).
After the podium presentations it was time for the Under 14s, Under 16s and Women. Billy Lord (Breffni Wheelers) got his first win of the Ulster series in the Under 14 boys race. Jack McGahan (Square Wheels) was second with Oisin McKenna (Omagh Wheelers Cycling Club) third. Aoife Campbell (Square Wheels) was the only entry in the Under 14 girls race and would have finished second overall among the Under 14 boys.
The Under 16 boys’ had 5 laps and it was Darragh Murphy (Rostrevor Mountain Bike Club) who took the win, his first of the season. Kealan Doherty (Foyle CC) was second with Corran McCourt (VC Glendale) third. Ava Baker (Breffni Wheelers) got her fourth win of the series in the Under 16 girls’ race with Aoife Kellett (Dromara Cycling Club) finishing second.
In the 6 lap Women’s race Elena Wallace (Harps CC) powered around the track to take her second win of the series. Junior rider Emer Heverin (All human/VeloRevolution Racing Team), who has two wins to her name, had to settle for second place. Rachel Newell (McConvey Cycles) was third, Darcey Harkness (Dan Morrissey Pissei Cycling Team) was fourth with Hazel Murphy (Cuchulainn CC) fifth and picking up the first unplaced Masters prize. Emma Weir crashed heavily in the race. Thankfully nothing broken. Wishing her a speedy recovery.
The Cyclo-cross A’ race attraced 42 riders who competed over 9 laps. Current Senior National Champion Dean Harvey (Martigues Sport Cyclisme) was out to put on another display of his current fitness level taking his second win from two appearances in the series. Junior rider Roch Morgan (Un-Attached Ulster), over visiting from Derby, finished second. David Montgomery (Spellman-Dublin Port) made his first appearance this year and took third. Graham Boyd (McConvey Cycles) was fourth, which was enough to take the overall series win. Darragh McCarter (Spellman-Dublin Port) was fifth and took the unplaced M40 prize. Declan McEntee (Emyvale CC) got the first unplaced M50 prize, James Mackey (Foyle CC) the first unplaced Junior prize and Fred Macsorley (Apollo Cycling Team) the first unplaced M60 prize. There were not enough entries for a team prize.
The final race of the day was for the B’ racers and one entry in the MTB support race, Conrad Kettyles (VC Glendale), who suffered from mechanical issues throughout the race but managed to get across the finish line. Pierce Doheny (Cuchulainn CC) got his first win of the series in what would be his home circuit. Shane Trimble (Newry Wheelers CC) was second with Kevin McDowell (Un-Attached Ulster) third, Niall McCarron (Newry Wheelers CC) fourth and Phil Harris (Killinchy Cycling Club) picking up fifth place in his first ever cyclo-cross race.
A huge thanks to Drew McKinley, Bryan McCrystal and all those from Newry Wheelers and Bellurgan Wheelers for putting on this final round. Next up will the National Series event at Limerick Racecourse on Sunday 30 November. The Ulster Cyclo-cross Championships are taking place on Sunday 7 December at Windmill Park, Dungannon hosted by Island Wheelers.
Commissaires: Jim Adams, Martin Grimley
Results
Series table after 5 rounds
Report by Martin Grimley
Photos
Toby Watson (Facebook)
Damian Sports Photos (Facebook)
Dany Blondeel (Facebook) – set 1
set 2
Fran Hollywood (Facebook)
Caroline Kerley (Facebook) – set 1
set 2
set 3
Emmanouil Klontzakis (Facebook)
