Date: Sunday 22 November 2015
Event: Ulster Cyclo-cross Round 7
Location: Ormeau Park, Belfast
Host club: Xmtb McConvey Cycles
The sun was shining on Ormeau Park for Round 7 of the Ulster Cyclo-cross Series 2015. Host club Xmtb McConvey cycles had set up a new course this year with the start/finish area close to back entrance of the park along the Ormeau Road. The course was a mixture of dry, fast, sections and sticky, muddy sections made worse by storm Barney which had hit in the week leading up to the event. All races finished along one of the auxiliary tarmac paths. There were different courses for all of the youth races (Under 6s up to Under 12s). The host club has had a great history of running off-road races at Ormeau Park and, with the support of Belfast City Council, always seem to attract a big crowd of riders and spectators to their events.
The Under 6s race was the first of the day and they had two laps of a short course to do. There were 23 young riders in the line up with all riders getting a goodie bag when they finished. The Under 8s had their own race course and had to complete two laps of it. Rhys Hepburn (Island Wheelers) won the boys race with Fionn McCloskey (Roe Valley CC) second and Riley Gibson (Carn Wheelers) third. In the girls race Grace McVeigh (Shimna Wheelers) crossed the line first ahead of Aisling Smyth (Apollo CT), Luighseach Murnaghan (Xmtb McConvey Cycles) and Beth Campbell (Xmtb McConvey Cycles).
The Under 10s had their own course and had 3½ laps to complete. In the boys race Calum Hepburn (Island Wheelers) was first ahead of Reuben Maitland (Killinchy CC) who had a close finish with Daniel Scott (Island Wheelers). Eimer Skelly (Carn Wheelers) won the girl’s race finishing ahead of Cara Moffitt (Phoenix CC) with Aliyah Rafferty (Island Wheelers) completing the podium.
The Under 12’s course was an extension of the Under 10s circuit and the 30 strong riders had 3½ laps to complete. Adam Rafferty (Island Wheelers) took the win ahead of his club mate Scott Roberts with Travis Harkness (Carn Wheelers) third. Trail Demons CC riders Lily McGibbon and Hannah Mullin took first and second respectively with Clodagh Doherty (VC Glendale) third.
Next up were the races for the Under 14s, Under 16s and mountain bike men. In the 3½ lap race for the Under 14s Darren Rafferty (Island Wheelers) took the win ahead of Dean Harvey (Xmtb McConvey Cycles) with third place going to Ciaran Dixon (Phoenix CC). In the girls race Maia Simmons (North Down CC) was the first girl home followed by Ellie Kelso (East Tyrone Cycling Club) and Maria McAllister (Island Wheelers). The Under 16s had 5½ laps to complete and it saw a fine performance by riders from the host club, most notably Craig McCarthy who dominated the race from start to finish crossing the line over 3 minutes ahead of Lee Harvey who in turn had a good gap over Thomas Creighton. In the girls U16 race Emma Elder (Carn Wheelers) was the clear winner ahead of Niamh McKiverigan (Powerhouse Sport) with Anna Russell (Carn Wheelers) third. Scott Maitland (Killinchy CC) took the win in the mountain bike men’s support race as he finished almost a minute ahead of Johnny Reid (Kinning Cycles) who had a close battle with Thomas Hepburn (Island Wheelers).
The cyclo-cross women, mountain bike female support race and cyclo-cross B’ race men’s races started next in this order. All had to do 6½ laps of the main course which was getting more and more muddy as the day went on. National champion Fran Meehan (Team Aquablue) made her first visit to the 2015 Ulster series at this round and showed that she still has what it takes to win as she finished over a minute ahead of another first timer to this year’s series Ciara Macmanus (Summit MTB) with regular racer Gill Smith (Phoenix CC) finishing third. In the mountain bike women’s support race Trudy Brown (VC Glendale) took her fifth win of the series as finished ahead of Angie Smyth and Nicola Nelson (both from Apollo CT). In the cyclo-cross men’s B’ race Ciaran O’Hagan (Caldwell Cycles Omagh) crossed the line over a minute ahead of Glenn Dunwoody (Shelbourne Motors/Orchard Wheelers) with Colin Deane (Ballymena Road Club) third. All 3 riders now upgrading to the A’ race for the remainder of the season.
The final race of the day was for the cyclo-cross men’s A’ race which was held over 8½ laps of the course. Roger Aiken (Team Asea) put his stamp on this event with an impressive display of off-road racing to finish well clear of the field with Graham Boyd (Xmtb McConvey Cycles) the nearest challenger. Junior rider Cameron Mcintyre (Banbridge CC) was third overall with Jason Henry, the first unplaced M40 rider, fourth. Barry Kellett (Dromara Cycling Club) was fifth ahead of the first placed Espoir rider Darnell Moore (Caldwell Cycles Omagh). John Bogues (Phoenix CC) finished 10th overall but the first of the unplaced M50 riders.
Post-race the riders were able to enjoy hot food supplied by the club and stand around in the bright sunshine and chat about their experiences in the race. Many thanks to the hardworking volunteers from Xmtb McConvey Cycles for putting on this round of the series. Many thanks to the series sponsor – ChainReaction Cycles Flagship store in Belfast. Round 8 will be at St. Columb’s Park in Londonderry. For more details see www.ulstercyclocross.com.
Report by Martin Grimley
Commissaires: Martin Grimley, Lisa Millar and Gary Sheils.
