Date: Sunday 29 November 2015
Event: Ulster Cyclo-cross Round 8
Location: St. Columb’s Park, Derry/Londonderry
Host club: Foyle CC
Round 8 of the Ulster Cyclo-cross series took place at a new venue with a new club. Foyle CC stepped up to take on this round at St. Columb’s Park in Londonderry with headquarters based at the Foyle Arena. The centre provided some of the best changing facilities and sign on hall in the country. The racing took place a short distance away taking in the wide grass expanses, tarmac paths and the gravel running track where the start/finish was located. Entries for this round were less than average partly due to the distance for some of the riders to travel but mostly because of the forecasted storm Clodagh which was due to hit during the weekend. Those from the club who were setting up on Saturday witnessed a tree falling down in the high winds, thankfully off the course and not damaging persons or property. Race day was also a challenge for the organisers as they struggled to fix all the broken course tape and anchor down all the gazebos in time for the first races. Riders definitely had to keep warm as the cold, combined with the gusting bitter winds were not ideal preparation for racing.
The day started with the Under 6s who showed that the wind was not going to put them off. They had a short course starting on the running track and returning on the grass beside the football pitch. All riders received a goodie bag at the finish.
The Under 8s had a course which was similar to the Under 6s course but they had 3 laps to complete. Fionn McCloskey (Roe Valley CC) won the boys race ahead of Aidan McAleenan (Trail Demons CC) with Peter Quigley third. There were just four entries in the girls race which finished in this order:- Grace McVeigh (Shimna Wheelers), Maia McVeigh (Shimna Wheelers), Aisling Smyth (Apollo CT) and Harriett Abraham (Trail Demons CC).
The Under 10s had an extended course from the Under 10s taking in more of the running track and had to complete 3 laps. As normal the girls started their race a few seconds behind the boys, but what has become normal is when Aine Doherty (VC Glendale) passes all the boys to finish first overall. Oran Anderson (VC Glendale) was the first of the boys to finish when he crossed the line ahead of Reuben Maitland (Killinchy CC) and Thomas McAlinden (Apollo CT). Second placed girl was Cara Moffitt (Phoenix CC) with Aliyah Rafferty (Island Wheelers) finishing out the podium.
The Under 12s course took in a section of the senior course as it exited the running track and headed up the hill along the tarmac path and then dropped down the steep grass bank onto the track again to complete the lap. Scott Roberts was the first of the three riders from Island Wheelers to take the podium in the 4 lap race with Adam Rafferty second and Oisin Ferrity third. The Lily and Hannah battle continued again at this round with Lily McGibbon (Trail Demons CC) getting the better of Hannah Mullin (Trail Demons CC) this time. Clodagh Doherty (VC Glendale) rounded off the medals taking bronze.
Next up were the races for the Under 14s, who had 3 laps of the senior course to complete, the Under 16s (5 laps) and the mountain bike men’s race (5 laps). The usual suspects were battling it out in the Under 14s race with Darren Rafferty (Island Wheelers) taking his fifth win of the series finishing ahead of Ben Wilson (Dromara Cycling Club) and Ciaran Dixon (Phoenix CC). In the girls race Maia Simmons (North Down CC) took her seventh in the series as she finished ahead of Sarah Elder (Carn Wheelers) and Maria McAllister (Island Wheelers). In the Under 16s race Pj Doogan (Errigal Cycling Club) took his third win of the series as he crossed the line ahead of Conor Halvey (Powerhouse Sport) and Breándan Flannagan (Ballymoney CC). In the girls U16 race Summer McGibbon (Trail Demons CC) took the win ahead of Emma Elder (Carn Wheelers) and Georgia Morrison (VC Glendale). In the men’s mountain bike support race Clive Caldwell (Caldwell Cycles Omagh) was back on the podium again this time on the top step when he finished ahead of Scott Maitland (Killinchy CC) and Dean Lockhart (Carn Wheelers).
The cyclo-cross races started next with the cyclo-cross women’s race starting first, the women’s mountain bike support race at the same time and two minutes later the cyclo-cross men’s B’ race. All had 6 laps to complete. In the CX women’s race Alwynne Shannon (Newry Wheelers CC) took the win keeping ahead of Lisa Millar (Dromara Cycling Club) who kept Alwynne in sight while staying ahead of the chasing Mairead McCrory (Carn Wheelers). In the MTB Women’s support race Angie Smyth (Apollo CT) finished ahead of fellow club mate Nicola Nelson with Alison McMullan (North Down CC) taking the third place podium. In the CX men’s B’ race John McGlaughlin (Cookstown Cycling Team CCT) had a clear lead over Mark McCann (Harps CC) with Alan Dunne (UCD) justifying his long trip to get onto the podium.
The final race of the day was for the cyclo-cross men’s A’ race which saw the 34 riders take on 7 laps of the course. With some of the big names missing for this round there was uncertainty over who would come out on top. It turned out to be a race for the Espoir men with all three podium spots going to the Under 23 riders. Christopher McGlinchey (ChainReaction Cycles) took the win ahead of Darnell Moore (Caldwell Cycles Omagh) with James Curry (Banbridge CC) third. Barry Kellett (Dromara Cycling Club) was the first of the 23-39 riders with Brendan Doherty (VC Glendale) holding off sixth place Jason Henry to get the first unplaced M40 rider.
Report by Martin Grimley
Commissaires: Martin Grimley and Lisa Millar.
