Date: Sunday 6 January 2019
Event: Ecclesville CX
Location: Ecclesville Centre, Fintona
Host club: Omagh Wheelers
The first Sunday of the new year provided the cyclo-cross community with a new venue to race at. Ecclesville Equestrian Centre is located in the 289 square acres of land known as Ecclesville Demesne in Fintona Co. Tyrone. This was the first cyclo-cross race to be hosted by Omagh Wheelers who have a great reputation for hosting other cycling events. Councillor Sorcha McAnespy, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, was influencial in getting the race at the venue and was present throughout the day to watch the racing and hand out prizes.
The venue boasts amply parking, a large indoor facility with changing rooms, a wide open parkland and a forest. The club designed a course which made great use of the natural terrain and provided a technical course for the riders. On top of the challenge, as it had been wet in the lead up to the race, the conditions were slippery. On race day, the skies were mostly overcast with a cool wind blowing and occasional light rain.
The first event of the day was for the 11 Under 6s who had one lap of the youth course to complete. Next up were the Under 8s who completed 4 laps of the same course. Eunan Campbell (Square Wheels) took the win ahead of club mate Rory McCool with Sean Heverin (Kinning Cycles) getting third. Aoife Campbell (Square Wheels) won the girls’ race when she finished ahead of Leah Hepburn (Island Wheelers).
The Under 10s used the same course but raced over 8 laps. In the boys’ race Rhys Hepburn (Island Wheelers) finished well clear of Ryan McBride (Banbridge CC) with Niall Mackle (Square Wheels) third. Emer Heverin (Kinning Cycles) won the girls’ race. Aoife Craig (VC Glendale) was second with Maeve McCool (Square Wheels) rounding off the podium in third.
The Under 12s had a separate course which took in part of the main course. They had 4 laps to complete. James Armstrong (Dromara Cycling Club) continued his run of form to take a clear win ahead of Conor Murphy (Rostrevor Mountain Bike Club) with Harry Hobbs (Killinchy Cycling Club) third. Aliyah Rafferty (Island Wheelers) won the girls’ race and managed to finish third overall. Tori Moffitt (Phoenix CC) was second girl with Aoibhinn Sharkey (Stamullen RC) third.
The next races included the Under 14s, Under 16s and Women. Travis Harkness (Carn Wheelers) had to work hard to take the win in the Under 14 boys’ race with Shane Scullion (Island Wheelers) keeping the pressure on him. Shane finished second with Oisin Ferrity (Island Wheelers) third. In the U14 girls’ race Aine Doherty (VC Glendale) put on her usual display of power to finish well clear of second place Cara Moffitt (Phoenix CC) with third going to Lucy Brown (Phoenix CC) and fourth to Zoe Shakespeare (Navan Road Club). Darren Rafferty (Island Wheelers) was in a league of his own in the 4 lap Under 16 boys’ race. He finished almost 4 minutes ahead of Joseph Owens (Omagh Wheelers Cycling Club) with Frank Finley (McConvey Cycles) third. Among the U16 girls it was Erin Creighton (McConvey Cycles) who took the flag ahead of Maria McAllister (Island Wheelers).
The Women’s cyclo-cross race was won by Junior rider Darcey Harkness (Carn Wheelers) with Isobel Oakes (Smugglers Cycle Club) second and Helen White (Stamullen RC) third. First unplaced Masters Woman was Alison McMullan (Unattached) with first unplaced Junior woman’s prize going to Rachel McBride. In the Women’s Mountain Bike Support race Judith Russell (Phoenix CC) continued to enjoy her recent introduction to the sport and finished well clear of Alice Funston (Lakeland CC) with Michelle Irvine (Unattached) third.
Unlike the Ulster Cyclo-cross series, the next race to start was the Men’s Cyclo-cross B’ race and Men’s Mountain Bike Support race. Both were held over 5 laps. Despite the fact that the mountain bikers started one minute behind the cyclo-cross riders, it was a mountain biker who took the overall win. Stephen Daly (Termon Wheelers) crossed the finish line first. Finishing over 2½ minutes behind was Ciaran Donnelly (Termon Wheelers) with Denver Irvine (Unattached) rounding off the MTB podium. Andy Layhe took the win in the Cyclo-cross B’ race, finishing second overall. Christopher McCann (Banbridge CC) was second cyclo-cross rider with Kieran Byrne (Lakeland) third, Michael McMullan (Unattached) fourth, Bryan Gaffney (Team Cavan Racing) fifth and Lee Somerville (Lakeland) sixth.
The final event of the day was for the Men’s Cyclo-cross A’ race. This was held over 7 laps and saw a gripping battle between David Montgomery (Unattached) and Darnell Moore (Caldwell Cycles Omagh) with Junior rider Thomas Creighton (McConvey Cycles) in the mix in the early laps. It finished Montgomery, Moore, Creigton. Paul O’Reilly (UCD Cycling Club) had made the long journey to the event and was rewarded with fourth place. Glenn Kinning (Kinning Cycles) finished fifth with current Ulster Champion Graham Boyd (McConvey Cycles) sixth. The team prize went to Newry Wheelers when Alan Bingham, Drew McKinley and Mark McKinley finished.
After the races the riders could enjoy some refreshments and a shower. Many thanks to all those in Omagh Wheelers for taking on and hosting this event. It proved to be a very popular venue and we hope to see it on the Ulster Cyclo-cross calendar going forward. The riders now face the challenge of the Irish National Championships which will be held at Fota House and Gardens in County Cork next Sunday 13 January 2019.
Commissaires: Lisa Millar, Jim Adams and Martin Grimley
Report by Martin Grimley
Full results here
Photos
Photos on event Facebook page – here
Bronagh Kirk (own website) – here
Video
Davy McFall (YouTube) – here
Other report link
Belgium Project here
