Date: Sunday 3 November 2013
Event: Ulster Cyclo-cross Round 5
Location: Moira Demesne, Moira
Host club: Dromara CC
Moira Park was looking picturesque bathed in autumn sunshine on the first Sunday in November for Round 5 of the Ulster Cyclo-cross series. Event organisers from Dromara Cycling Club had been soaked by heavy rain the day before when they were doing their first day of set up, but were thankful to be squinting into the early morning sunshine when they were out putting out the rest of the posts and tape around the park on Sunday. The club would like to thank Lisburn City Council for the use of the park, changing facilities, bike wash and pedestrian barriers. This was the third year that the club have used the park and this year the course designers had reversed the direction of the race, built some steps for the cyclo-cross riders and added in a spectator friendly feature called “the hammerhead”.
Despite the previous day’s rain the course was running well with only the usual muddy sections towards the perimeter of the park. Racing got underway at 10:30 with the Under 6s who had one lap of the small course to complete. The big race of the day was held at 2pm with the A’ race mens race. Favourite to win was Roger Aiken (Banbridge CC), the current 2013 Irisih cyclo-cross champion, however when the riders came around to complete their first lap the spectators all had one question on their lips “Where’s Roger?”. The champion had suffered a mechanical on the first lap and dropped back to 12th place, however a quick bike change and he was away again. Matthew Adair (Xmtb McConvey Cycles) was leading the race for most of the 8 laps as Roger started to gain position behind him. For a long time it was Matthew, Ray O’Shaughnessey (Cuchulainn CC) then Roger until around lap 6 when Roder suddenly got up to first and put some clear space between himself and Matthew. Matthew battled on to hold 2nd place despite suffering an injury to his knee during practice. Ray showed his class in retaining third spot. James McMaster (North Down CC) was fourth with pro rider Ronan McLaughlin (An Post) finishing 5th. There was a great battle for 6th place between Tim O’Regan (DID), Jason Henry and John Bogues (Phoenix CC), a repeat of the 2012 clash at Moira Park, but Tim managed to pull away from the other two to hold onto sixth.
Cyclo-cross A’ race
1. Roger Aiken
2. Matthew Adair
3. Ray O’Shaughnessy
Unplaced veteran – Jason Henry
Unplaced junior – James Curry
Unplaced supervet – John Bogues
Cyclo-cross Females
1. Fran Meehan
2. Claire Oakley
3. Lisa Millar
Cyclo-cross B’ race
1. Joseph McCrory
2. Johnny Taylor
3. Bob Talbot
First results here
Photos
Michael Armstrong (FlickR) – here
Paul Anderson (Facebook) – here and here
David McVeigh (FlickR) – here
Tody Watson (Facebook) – here
Bronagh Kirk – here
Jonathan McGlade (Google+) – here
Gavin Magowan (photobucket) – here
Commissaire: Aaron Wallace
Report by Martin Grimley
