Date: Sunday 18 October 2015
Event: Ulster Cyclo-cross Round 2
Location: Necarne Estate, Irvinestown
Host club: Lakeland CC
Round 2 of the Ulster Cyclo-cross series took place at a new venue, Necarne Estate in Irvinestown, County Fermanagh. Host club Lakeland CC, more accustomed to running cross-country mountain bike races, put their event management to good use to design a course in the grounds of the estate in front of the abandoned 16th century castle. On the castle lawn there was a winding switchback trail which took in the length and width of the grass area. This area was used by all racers but especially by the youth riders. The finish line was at the closest point to the castle’s front entrance in front of the gathered crowd of spectators. The senior course set off across the field, through a gate and onto a short tarmac road section. It then headed up a gravel lane then onto a grass covered steep climb. After a short, fast descent there was a drop off down the slope for a 180o turn and run back up (bike portage section). This followed a fast descent onto the tarmac/concrete lane up along the side of the front lawn of the castle. The course then headed off towards the side of the castle where the horse trotting pen was. This was the sand obstacle for this round. Riders exited the pen for another fast concrete section toward the steps. Another portage section. In through the bushes then out onto the castle lawn into the switchback section where the spectators could watch the racing battles unfold. The plank obstacles were in full view of the crowd. Registration, changing and catering was at the nearby Bawnacre centre which had ample car park spaces. The weather was dry and bright with solid ground conditions which made for a very fast race.
As usual, the first race of the day was for the Under 6s. A merry bunch of 14 riders lined up along the lane for a race towards the finish line. All riders received a medal for their efforts. The Under 8s were then gridded on the start line. They had to complete 2 laps of the front lawn course. This turned out to be a longer race than expected but Rhys Hepburn (Island Wheelers) took a deserved win in the boys race beating Fionn McCloskey (Roe Valley CC) and Patrick Elliott (Carn Wheelers) to the top step of the podium. In the girls race Aisling Smith (Apollo CT) was first with Harriett Abraham (Trail Demons CC) second and Sophie McCartan (Apollo CT) third. The Under 10s lined up next. They had to complete 3 laps of the same course. In an unusual twist to this race, it was a girl who lead from start to finish, despite starting a few seconds behind the boys. Aine Doherty (VC Glendale) finished well ahead of the first boy. The boys podium was made up of Calum Hepburn (Island Wheelers), Oran Anderson (VC Glendale) and Daniel Scott (Island Wheelers). Aine was joined on the podium by Cara Moffit (Phoenix CC) and Aliyah Rafferty (Island Wheelers). The Under 12s had 4 laps to complete. Island Wheelers again dominated the boys podium with Scott Roberts on the top step, Shane Scullion second and Oisin Ferrity third. In the girls race there was a close battle between club mates Hannah Mullin and Lily McGibbon (both from Trail Demons CC) with Sarah Wilson (Island Wheelers) taking the remaining podium position.
The starting zone for the remaining races was down the lane towards the Bawnacre centre. In a large gravel square the riders were able to warm up and then be gridded. For the 11:45 race the Under 16s filled the front row, with the Under 14s behind and then behind them the mountain bike mens support race riders. The Under 14s had 3 laps to complete while the others had 5 laps of the senior course to get around. In the Under 14 boys race, Darren Rafferty (Island Wheelers) took the win ahead of Ben Wilson (Dromara CC) and Ciaran Dixon (Phoenix CC). In the girls U14 race, Maia Simons (North Down CC) took her third win this season beating Carn Wheelers’s riders Sarah Elder and Katie Neill. In the Under 16 boys race PJ Doogan (Errigal CC) crossed the line first ahead of Conor Halvey (Powerhouse Sport) with Ronan McCann (Errigal CC) taking third. In the girls U16 race Summer McGibbon (Trail Demons CC) was first ahead of Anna Russell (Carn Wheelers) with third place going to Niamh McKiverigan (Powerhouse Sport). 34 mountain bike riders were in the bunch but Cormac McLaughlin from the host club made it his day after a close battle with Thomas Hepburn (Island Wheelers) and Clive Caldwell (Caldwell Cycles) who finished second and third respectively.
The women’s race attracted 12 cyclo-cross and 4 mountain bike riders. Behind them, leaving 2 minutes later, was the cyclo-cross B’ race men who numbered 60 in total. All had to complete 6 laps of the main course. Claire Oakley (Xmtb McConvey Cycles) was chased by Gill Smith (Phoenix CC) but managed to hold off Gill to take first place, Gill second with the final podium place going to Martina Hawkins (Shimna Wheelers). In the women’s MTB race, Evan Bartley, from the host club, finished well clear of Alison McMullan (North Down) with Janice Hepburn (Island Wheelers) third. There was some very close racing in the cyclo-cross men’s B race with Nathan Mullan (Dromara CC) and Paul Kelly (Four Masters CC) riding together until the final bend before the finish line when Nathan pushed ahead to take the chequered flag. Henry O’Neill (Newry Wheelers CC) took the third place slot. All 3 riders are now obliged to ride in the A’ race for the remainder of the season.
Speaking of the A’ race, this was the final event of the day, with just under 50 riders lining up for 7 laps of the course. There was another fast start from along the tarmac lane and into the course proper. The top riders remained together for much of the race but towards the final lap James Curry (Banbridge CC) pulled a substantial gap on Lewis Ferguson (North Down) to take the win. Barry Kellett (Dromara CC) finished third with Graham Boyd (Xmtb McConvey Cycles) fourth, Darnell Moore (Caldwell Cycles) fifth and the first unplaced Espoir, then Derek Finnegan (Keevan CC) sixth. Des Woods (Newry Wheelers) was the first unplaced M50 rider and seventh overall with Brendan Doherty (VC Glendale) eighth and the first unplaced M40 rider. John Buller (Banbridge CC) was the first unplaced Junior coming in in 12th place.
A great set up by the host club. Many thanks to all the volunteers for putting on a super event. Prize giving happened on the front step of the castle with hot food served up at the Bawnacre afterwards. Many thanks to ChainReaction Cycles Store in Belfast for sponsoring the series. We had two raffle prizes this week, won by Sarah Elder and Brian Kellett.
Round 3 takes place next week at Windmill Park, Dungannon hosted by Island Wheelers. For more details see www.ulstercyclocross.com.
Commissaires: Martin Grimley, Lisa Millar and Gary Sheils.
Report by Martin Grimley
Results here
Video
Belgium Project (FlickR) – here
Barry Kellett (YouTube) – here
Photos
Steven Lindsay (Facebook) – here, here and here
David McVeigh (FlickR) – here
Richard Cowan (Facebook) – here, here and here
Caolan Hawkins (Facebook) – here
Paul Carron (own website) – here
