Date: Sunday 30 September 2018
Event: Ulster Cyclo-cross Series – Round 3 – 2018
Location: Delamont Country Park, Killyleagh, Co. Down
Host club: Killinchy CC
Delamont Park near Killyleagh County Down was the venue for the third round of the 2018 Ulster Cyclo-cross series. The park boasts superb views over Strangford Lough within a short walk of the main car park area. This was the second time that host club Killinchy CC has used this venue and the course designers had taken on board the feedback from last year to provide a well-received new course. All races started and finished on the wide, freshly mown straight which was located on the grass expanse near the entrance road. There was different youth courses depending on the age category. Sign on took place inside the hall which was also where the podium ceremony took place. Also in the hall there was hot food served throughout the day. The weather was a mixture of warm autumn sunshine and short, intermittent showers, some heavy at times. The wind was a factor on the day with some strong gusts.
Kicking off the day was the Under 6s ‘fun’ race with 25 young riders taking on the short course. All received goodie bags at the end. Next up were the Under 8s. The riders were gridded as per the current Ulster CX league with the boys starting a few seconds ahead of the girls. They had 3 laps to complete and taking the win overall was Eunan Campbell (Square Wheels) with Rory McCool (Square Wheels) second and Sean Heverin (Kinning Cycles) third. Among the girls it was Leah Hepburn (Island Wheelers) who took her third gold out of 3 races, with silver going to Skye Spence (Shimna Wheelers Cycling Club) and bronze being awarded to Annie Ervine (Apollo Cycling Team).
The Under 10s had an extended course and 4 laps to complete. As per the other rounds, there was a big turn out in this age category with 22 boys and 10 girls lining up. Rhys Hepburn (Island Wheelers) has won all the rounds of the boys’ race this season. Ryan McBride (Banbridge CC) was second with Ben Shaw (XMTB) third. Emer Heverin (Kinning Cycles) made it three wins out of three in the girls’ race, finishing well ahead of Aoife Craig (VC Glendale) with Maeve McCool (Square Wheels) completing the podium.
The Under 12s had their own course and had to complete 6 laps. Conor Murphy (Rostrevor Mountain Bike Club) worked hard to get ahead of Karl Rockett (Ards CC) and Harry Hobbs (Killinchy Cycling Club) who finished in this order. Aliyah Rafferty (Island Wheelers) continued her dominance of this race category taking another comprehensive win (3 out of 3). Tori Moffitt (Phoenix CC) was second, Rhiannon Dolan (Cuchulainn CC) third and Cara Suckling (Maryland Wheelers) fourth.
After a short break for the podium presentations for the Under 8s, 10s and 12s and to allow some course practice time, the next races got underway at 11:45. This race had 6 race categories:- Male and Female Under 16s, Male and Female Under 14s, Cyclo-cross Women and the Mountain Bike Women’s Support race.
Cara Moffitt (Phoenix CC) won the Under 14 girls’ race with Keela Smyth (Apollo Cycling Team) second and Lucy Brown (Phoenix CC) third. In the Under 14 boys’ race Travis Harkness (Carn Wheelers) took the win ahead of Shane Scullion (Island Wheelers) with Curtis Neill (Carn Wheelers) third. In the Under 16 girls’ race Maria McAllister (Island Wheelers) finished almost a minute ahead of Maia Simmons (The Bike House CC) in their four lap race with Grace Kearns (Dunloy CC) taking third. As per Round 2 Darren Rafferty (Island Wheelers) put on another fine display of racing in the 5 lap Under 16 boys’ race. Somhairle Owens Fisher (Omagh Wheelers Cycling Club) finished second with Joseph Owens (Omagh Wheelers Cycling Club) third.
With the winner of rounds 1 and 2 missing (Fran Meehan) it was time for someone else to shine and today it was Joanna Bula’s turn. The rider from Lakeside Wheelers Mullingar CC lead from start to finish but had to keep her wits about her as Rachel Irvine (The Bike House CC) was never too far behind. It was a surprise to see Rachel on the start line this week after her nasty fall at Round 2. Finishing third was junior rider Darcey Harkness (Carn Wheelers) with another junior, Niamh McKiverigan (Powerhouse Sport) finishing fourth. In the Women’s Mountain bike support race Karen Wynne (Foyle CC) took the win, her second of the series. Debbie Boyd (Apollo Cycling Team) finished second with Leslee Sunderland (Apollo Cycling Team) third.
Next up was the Cyclo-cross Men’s A’ race. League leader Darnell Moore (Caldwell Cycles) was absent as he was off winning the National Hill Climb Championships. This left the door open for a strong race between Glenn Kinning (Kinning Cycles) and Angus Fyffe (Caldwell Cycles Omagh) however the course suited Angus the best and he powered round the 7 lap race. Glenn finished second with Graham Boyd (McConvey Cycles) third and Dominic McCartan (Apollo Cycling Team) fourth, taking the unplaced M40 prize. Fifth place went to Andrew Hicks (Newry Wheelers CC) with Christian Nachtigall (Phoenix CC) sixth. First unplaced Junior was Ciaran Dixon (McConvey Cycles), first unplaced Espoir (Under 23) was Kyle Fisher (Lakeland). Anthony Boyle (VC Glendale) took the Unplaced M50 prize. Newry Wheelers claimed the team prize when Andrew Hicks, Gary Sheils and Colm Quinn crossed the line.
The final race of the day was for the Cyclo-cross Men’s B’ race and the Men’s Mountain Bike Support Race, both held over 6 laps. Necomer to the series, Paul Antoine Hagan (Team Vision Racing), put in a strong performance which would easily have seen him at the front end of the A’ race. Chasing hard was Sean McCourt (VC Glendale) who finished second with Raymond Rocks (Island Wheelers) third. Just outside the podium positions was Tomas Knapcok (Clogher Valley Wheelers) who finished fourth with Lee Somerville (Lakeland) fifth and Marek Pluciniczak (Portadown Cycling Club) sixth. In the MTB race Gavin Thompson (Maryland Wheelers) was looking set to take the win until a puncture on the final lap saw him retire. Brian McAuley (Unattached) then took the win with Denver Irvine (Unattached) second and Jonathan Sims (Banbridge CC) third.
After the races the riders could then head back to the hall for the hot soup, hot dogs and sweet treats. Many thanks to all the volunteers from Killinchy Cycling Club for hosting the race and providing the hospitality. The next cyclo-cross race in Ulster will be the UCI International race at Mallusk Park in Belfast hosted by Kinning Cycles. NOTE: This is a pre-entry only event with entry closing on Wednesday 3rd October 2018. See link on www.ulstercyclocross.com. The next Ulster Cyclo-cross race will be the following Sunday at Palace Demesne, Armagh on 14 October hosted by Square Wheels.
Commissaires: Lisa Millar and Martin Grimley
Report by Martin Grimley
Results here
Photos
Belgium Project – here
Bronagh Kirk – here
Video
