Date: Sunday 13 December 2015
Event: Ulster Cyclo-cross Championships
Location: Maghera High School (Former), Maghera
Host club: Carn Wheelers
Carn Wheelers stepped up to host the Ulster Cyclo-cross championships for the fourth year in a row but this time it was at a new venue, the former high school in Maghera. The site has only recently been taken over by the local council who are looking to develop it. The riders were able to park on the gravel playing field at the lower end of the site which was where the sign on, catering and start/finish was located for all age categories. The course was laid out on the different levels of ground between the gravel pitch at the bottom, up to the tarmac basketball court and then further up to where the school buildings once stood. Now a building site, the course went around the edge of the site and used the grass areas and access road effectively before returning to the start/finish area. In keeping with the spectator friendly sport of cyclo-cross, almost the whole course could be seen from the car park. The day of the race was cold with icy patches on the gravel pitch from the previous day’s rain. There has been a lot of rain in the lead up to the event and the grass sections, although initally covered in hard frost, soon broke down into tough muddy sections. Bike carrying/pushing became more prolific as the day went on.
The Ulster cyclo-cross championships are based on cyclo-cross riders aged 16 and over however, the host club had put on the full range of support events for youth and mountain bike riders. The first race of the day was a short one lap circuit for the under 6s with all finishers receiving a goodie bag. The Under 8s used the same circuit but had to complete 2 laps. Rhys Hepburn (Island Wheelers) took the win in the boys race with Fionn McCloskey (Roe Valley CC) second and Riley Gibson (Carn Wheelers) third. In the girl’s race Aisling Smyth (Apollo CT) beat her club mate Caitlin Hanna.
Next up were the Under 10s race which was an extended version of the Under 8s course with the riders having to do 4 laps. The boys were set off a few seconds ahead of the girls but Aine Doherty (VC Glendale) took less than a lap to pass all the boys and come across the line on the first lap leading all the riders. Aine pulled away from the field to finish comfortably ahead of the lead boy, Reuban Maitland (Killinchy CC). Reuban in turn had a big gap on second place Calum Hepburn (Island Wheelers) who had a close battle with Harry Hobbs (VC Glendale). While Aine topped the girl’s podium, Cara Moffitt (Phoenix CC) and Aliyah Rafferty (Island Wheelers) completed their season with getting onto the podium again in second and third place respectively.
The Under 12s course was an extension of the Under 10s course with the riders competing over 5 laps. In the boys race, as has happened for the most of the season, it was a battle between the Island Wheelers riders who filled the podium again. Scott Roberts took the gold medal with Adam Rafferty second and Shane Scullion third. In the girl’s race Hannah Mullin (Trail Demons CC) was without her close club mate rival Lily McGibbon at this event as she went on to take the win. Clodagh Doherty (VC Glendale) took second ahead of her club mate Sophie Watson.
There was a gap in the schedule to allow for some course practice. Next up with the Under 16s, Under 14s, mountain bike men and mountain bike women. Apart from the Under 14s (who had 3 laps to do) the others had 5 laps to complete. In the Under 16s race, Craig McCarthy (Xmtb McConvey Cycles) took a comfortable win ahead of club mate Thomas Creighton with Breándan Flannagan (Ballymoney CC), who came late to the season, completing the podium. Niamh McKiverigan (Powerhouse Sport) finished ahead of Anna Russell (Carn Wheelers) to take first and second respectively in the girl’s U16 race. The Under 14s race has seen as great battle between these three riders with Ben Wilson (Dromara Cycling Club) taking the win this time ahead of Darren Rafferty (Island Wheelers) with Ciaran Dixon (Phoenix CC) third. In the girl’s race Ellie Kelso (East Tyrone Cycling Club) took her first win of the season as she finished ahead of Katie Neil (Carn Wheelers) with Maria McAllister (Island Wheelers) third. In the women’s mountain bike support race, newcomer Ann Paul (Bann Wheelers) took the win ahead of the Apollo CT riders Angie Smyth and Nicola Nelson. In the men’s mountain bike support race junior rider Sean Bradley (Carn Wheelers) crossed the line first ahead of the Ulster series category winner Scott Maitland (Killinchy CC) with Gerard Craig (VC Glendale) third.
Next up were the races for the Elite women, Masters women, Masters M40 men and Masters M50 men in that order. In the Elite women’s race, Alwynne Shannon (Newry Wheelers CC) took the win ahead of Kathryn Aiken (Banbridge CC) with Mairead McCrory (Carn Wheelers) taking third out of the seven entries in this category. Introduced in 2014, the Masters women’s category attracted 5 entries with Trudy Brown (VC Glendale) changing from the mountain bike she has been competing in during the season to a cyclo-cross bike for the championships and showing that she can transfer the skills over as she took the win. Mountain runner Diane Wilson (Dromara Cycling Club) also showed that her fitness and skills were transferable as she finished second with another runner, Martina Hawkins (Shimna Wheelers) finishing third. In the Masters M40 race, Jason Henry and Brendan Doherty (VC Glendale) had a great close race with Jason just getting the edge on Brendan towards the end. Don Travers (Banbridge CC), who has been competing in cyclo-cross championships for years, finished strongly in third. The Masters M50 race seen 17 starters and finishers (!) with Des Woods (Newry Wheelers CC) pulling out a big gap lap-on-lap over his closest rival John Bogues (Phoenix CC) who in turn had an even bigger gap on third place Deon McNeilly (Shimna Wheelers).
On the 10 January 2016 the National Cyclo-cross championships will take place in County Down. More details of the event to follow. See www.ulstercyclocross.com for details.
ULSTER CHAMPIONSHIP MEDALS
Elite Men
1. Roger Aiken (Team Asea)
2. Glenn Kinning (Kinning Cycles)
3. Barry Kellett (Dromara CC)
Elite Women
1. Alwynne Shannon (Newry Wheelers)
2. Kathryn Aiken (Banbridge CC)
3. Mairead McCrory (Carn Wheelers)
Espoir Men
1. Darnell Moore (Caldwell Cycles)
2. Craig Rea (Phoenix CC)
3. Nathan Mullan (Dromara CC)
Junior Men
1. Adam Duff (Xmtb McConvey Cycles)
2. Marc Heaney (Carn Wheelers)
3. Calvin Moore (Caldwell Cycles)
MW (Masters Women)
1. Trudy Brown (VC Glendale)
2. Diane Wilson (Dromara CC)
3. Martina Hawkins (Shimna Wheelers)
M40
1. Jason Henry (unattached)
2. Brendan Doherty (VC Glendale)
3. Don Travers (Banbridge CC)
M50
1. Des Woods (Newry Wheelers)
2. John Bogues (Phoenix CC)
3. Deon McNeilly (Shimna Wheelers)
Team Prize
Phoenix CC
Luke Ireland, Craig Rea and Alex Donald
Results here
Commissaires – Martin Grimley, Lisa Millar and Maurice Mayne
Report by Martin Grimley
Photos
Richard Cowan – FlickR – here
Steven Lindsay – Facebook – here
Stephen McNally – FlickR – here
Belgium project – FlickR – here
