Date: Sunday 8 November 2015
Event: Ulster Cyclo-cross Round 5
Location: Ballymacormick Park, Bangor
Host club: North Down CC
North Down CC had first used Ballymacormick Park back in 2012 when they first stepped back into running cyclo-cross races. After a couple of years at Castle Park the club decided to return to the West Bangor venue but this time with less restrictions on what parts of the park they could use. The park has three levels with rugby pitches, a gravel outdoor pitch and the old changing rooms which were also used for sign on. The week leading up to the event had been wet and race day was no different with light rain followed by heavy downpours. The riders still showed up and just slipped and slided through the mud as they prepared to race in the conditions. It was the same for everyone but it did challenge the supposedly waterproof clothing of the spectators.
The youth races took place up on the exposed rugby pitch. The club had set out different circuits for the different age groups. The strong winds were too much to get a gazebo erected close to the youth courses so timekeeper Eric Blayney had to make do with a pencil and damp paper to record the finish positions. The Under 6s had two laps of their short course and were well cheered on by the group of wet looking spectators. The Under 8s had two laps of their course which was won by Curtis McKee (Maryland Wheelers) with Aidan McAleenan (Trail Demons CC) finishing second and Fionn McCloskey (Roe Valley CC) third. In the girl’s race Beth Campbell (Xmtb McConvey Cycles) finished first ahead of Aisling Smyth (Apollo CT), Grace McVeigh (Shimna Wheelers), Maia McVeigh (Shimna Wheelers) and Caitlin Hanna (Apollo CT).
The Under 10s race course took in some of the other rugby pitch one level up with a sprint along the width of the pitch. With the girls starting a few seconds behind the boys it was impressive to see Aine Doherty (VC Glendale) catch and pass all the boys before half of the first of four laps was completed. Oran Anderson (VC Glendale) was second overall but first of the boys. He was joined on the podium by Reuben Maitland (Killinchy CC) and Harry Hobbs (VC Glendale). Joining Aine was Cara Moffitt (Phoenix CC) and Aliyah Rafferty (Island Wheelers).
The Under 12s race took in the same course as the Under 10s but they had to complete 6 laps. Travis Harkness (Carn Wheelers) took the win in the boys race as he crossed the line ahead of Scott Roberts (Island Wheelers) and Adam Rafferty (Island Wheelers). In the girls race Hannah Mullin (Trail Demons CC) got the best of club mate Lily McGibbon with Sarah Wilson (Island Wheelers) third.
Racing then moved over to the far right hand side of the park where the riders gathered in front of a set of rugby posts. Their aim was to charge off towards an entrance into the main course at the far right hand corner of the site. The Under 16s started first, followed one minute later by the Under 14s with the mountain bike men starting two minutes behind the Under 14s. Ciaran Dixon (Phoenix CC) won the 3 lap Under 14s race finishing ahead of Darren Rafferty (Island Wheelers) and Ciaran Dixon (Phoenix CC). In the girl’s race Maia Simmons (North Down CC) took gold with silver going to Katie Neill (Carn Wheelers) and bronze going to Ellie Kelso (East Tyrone Cycling Club). In the 5 lap Under 16s race Craig McCarthy (Xmtb McConvey Cycles) had an impressive win finishing almost 2 minutes ahead of Pj Doogan (Errigal Cycling Club) with Breándan Flannagan (Ballymoney CC) third. Summer McGibbon (Trail Demons CC) won the U16 girls race ahead of Emma Elder (Carn Wheelers) and Anna Russell (Carn Wheelers). Local lad Johnny Reid (Kinning Cycles) took the win in the mountain bike men’s support racce as he finished about 3½ minutes ahead of Scott Maitland (Killinchy CC) and Mickey Clarke (Shimna Wheelers).
The cyclo-cross women, mountain bike women and men’s cyclo-cross B’ race took place next in this order. Beth McCluskey and Michelle Geoghegan had a long drive to get to the course but it was worthwhile as they took first and second respectively in the women’s cyclo-cross race. Diane Wilson (Dromara Cycling Club) took third place. In the women’s mountain bike support race Trudy Brown (VC Glendale) took her fourth win of the series finishing ahead of Anne Duffy (Cuchulainn CC) and Nicola Nelson (Apollo CT). In the cyclo-cross men’s B’ race Matt McLaughlin (Phoenix CC) took the win as he finished ahead of Hugh Gallagher (Naas Cycling Club) with third going to Gerard Craig (VC Glendale). All three male riders get automatically upgraded to the A’ race.
The men’s cyclo-cross A’ race was held over 8 laps of a course that was getting progressively more and more muddy as the rain continued to fall. Glenn Kinning (Kinning Cycles) put on an impressive display of bike riding as he finished almost 2 minutes ahead of Roger Aiken (Team Asea) with Barry Kellett (Dromara Cycling Club) around 2 minutes behind Roger. Fourth place went to Derek Finnegan (Keevan CC) with Alex Donald (Phoenix CC) fifth and Graham Boyd (Xmtb McConvey Cycles) sixth. First unplaced M40 went to Jason Henry with Des Woods (Newry Wheelers CC) the first unplaced M50. Connor Young (Kinning Cycles) was the first unplaced Espoir rider and Will Hamilton (Kinning Cycles) was the first unplaced Junior.
After the races the riders were able to get some hot food from the stall which helped to put some heat back into the cold bodies. A huge thanks to the club members from North Down for preparing and running the race especially to those standing out in the driving rain all day. Many thanks to the series sponsor – ChainReaction Cycles Flagship store in Belfast. Round 7 will be at Craigavon Watersports centre. For more details see www.ulstercyclocross.com.
Report by Martin Grimley
Commissaires: Martin Grimley, Lisa Millar and Gary Sheils.
