Date: Sunday 21 October 2018
Event: Ulster Cyclo-cross Series – Round 5 – 2018
Location: Musgrave Park, Belfast
Host club: VC Glendale
Round 5 of the Ulster Cyclo-cross series saw over 300 riders head to Musgrave Park in Belfast. This was the second year that host club VC Glendale have used this site and thanks have to go to Belfast City Council for their continued support. The morning started off with light rain with a strong gusty wind, but by the time the first riders started to appear on course for practice the rain and wind had died down leaving the rest of the day with more settled conditions.
The majority of the races started on the tarmac path except for the Under 6s ‘fun’ race which started on grass. Their race involved two short laps around their own mini course. The youth then received a Belgium themed goodie bag in keeping with VC Glendale’s cycling jerseys. In fact there were a lot of Belgium flags flying in the park this day.
The Under 8s then lined up for 3 laps of their course. Starting with a long tarmac start the riders took a sharp left up the kerb and onto the grass part of the course, negotiating the obligatory dismount section, lots of twists and turns before returning to tarmac at the end of each lap. There was a really close battle at the front of the boy’s race between the Square Wheels riders’ Eunan Campbell and league leader Rory McCool with Brodie Hull (Trail Demons CC) not far behind. With mere seconds between them it finished Eunan, Rory and Brodie. In the girls’ race Leah Hepburn (Island Wheelers) continues to dominate this age category taking her fifth win out of five races. Skye Spence (Shimna Wheelers Cycling Club) again finished second with Annie Ervine (Apollo Cycling Team) third.
The Under 10s race was a very busy affair with 41 riders on the short 2 minute course at the same time! The timekeepers had their work cut out for them during the 5 lap race. Rhys Hepburn (Island Wheelers) took his fifth win out of five rounds of the series with Jamie Rockett (Ards CC) taking the silver and Ryan McBride (Banbridge CC) bronze. Emer Heverin (Kinning Cycles), became another rider to achieve an uninterrupted string of 5 wins in the Under 10 girls category. Aoife Craig (VC Glendale) finished second with Maeve McCool (Square Wheels) rounding off the podium.
The Under 12s had a longer course and 6 laps to complete. James Armstrong (Dromara Cycling Club) took his third win of the series. Not far behind him was Karl Rockett (Ards CC) with Harry Hobbs (Killinchy Cycling Club) taking third place. As per usual Aliyah Rafferty (Island Wheelers) was right up among the boys competing strongly. Aliyah finished third overall, first girl. Tori Moffitt (Phoenix CC) finished second with Cara Suckling (Maryland Wheelers) third.
After a short break, racing resumed with the Under 14s, Under 16s and Women. In the Under 16 boys’ race, Darren Rafferty (Island Wheelers) put on another strong performance to take the win. Somhairle Owens Fisher (Omagh Wheelers Cycling Club) finished second with Dean Harvey (Unattached) third in the four lap race. Joseph Owens (Ormagh Wheelers Cycling Club) had crashed heavily just after the starting whistle and was unable to continue. Among the Under 16 girls, Maia Simmons (Bikehouse CC) took her first win of the series as she finished ahead of Erin Creighton (XMTB) with Maria McAllister (Island Wheelers) third.
League leader Shane Scullion (Island Wheelers) took his second win of the series in the Under 14 boys’ race. Oisin Ferrity (Island Wheelers) finished second with Travis Harkness (Carn Wheelers) third. Aine Doherty (VC Glendale) took her fourth win out of the four events she has attended this season. League leader Cara Moffitt (Phoenix CC) finished second but still retains the leadership. Lucy Brown (Phoenix CC) was third.
Ciara Macmanus (Summit Mountain Biking), deciding to do cyclo-cross and not riding trails on her mountaining bike, took her second win on the trot in the Women’s Cyclo-cross race. Current league leader, Joanna Bula (Scott Eurocycles.com), finished second with Rachel Irvine (The Bike House CC) third. Diane Wilson (Dromara Cycling Club) had a steady start and worked her way up from seventh to fourth. Gill Smith (Unattached) finished fifth with first unplaced Junior, Darcey Harkness (Carn Wheelers), finishing sixth. In the Women’s Mountain Bike Support race, Belgian born Inge Dhaese (Tuna Triathlon) took the win in her first appearance in the series. Elizabeth Quigley (Foyle CC) finished second with Debbie Boyd (Apollo Cycling Team) third.
Next up was the Men’s Cyclo-cross A’ race. This was held over 7 laps. Despite being gridded towards the back of the 53 strong field of riders, Thomas Creighton (McConvey Cycles) finished the first lap at the front of the bunch. Thomas went on to stretch his lead over the course of the race to finish a minute ahead of his club mate Graham Boyd (McConvey Cycles) who’s second place makes him the current leader of the series. Despite not starting the series until the third race, Lewis Ferguson (The Bike House CC) continued to show his form by finishing on the podium two weeks in a row. Christian Nachtigall (Phoenix CC) finished fourth and took the first unplaced M40 prize. Des Woods (Newry Wheelers CC) finished fifth and took the first unplaced M50 prize. Barry Kellett (Dromara Cycling Club) was coming back to form to finish sixth with a close race behind him for the first unplaced Junior position which went down to a sprint finish between Lee Harvey (Unattached) and Ciaran Dixon (McConvey Cycles) with Lee getting his wheel across the line first. Ciaran’s finish provided the team prize for McConvey Cycles, their first of the series. Jack Ferguson (Dromara Cycling Club) took the first unplaced Espoir (Under 23) rider prize. Missing from the top results was Alan Bingham (Newry Wheelers) who had a disastrous lap 1, having to run to the pits to change bikes, completing lap 1 as fourth last and managing to finish 11th at the end of the race.
The final races of the day were for the Men’s Cyclo-cross B’ race and the Men’s Mountain Bike Support race. Host club rider Sean McCourt received a great cheer when he crossed the line to take the win in the CX B race. Achieving his best result of the season, Marek Pluciniczak (Portadown Cycling Club), finished second with newcomer to this season Martin Harney (Phoenix CC) finishing third. Paul Ferguson (The Bike House CC) finished fourth with Andy Layhe (Trail Demons CC) fifth and William Boyd (XMTB) sixth. Marek, Paul and Sean are among six riders who have graduated from the B’ race to the A’ race. In the mountain bike support race, Calvin Moore (Caldwell Cycles Omagh) made his debut to this year’s series with a comfortable win. There was some friendly banter on the start line as his dad, Philip, was also competing in the same category but had to pull out after 3 laps. Finishing second was league leader Brian McAuley (Unattached) with Gavin Thompson (Maryland Wheelers) finishing third.
After the races the riders could purchase a burger from the BBQ tent which was raising money to help a child seek treatment in the USA via Solving Kids Cancer. Back at the registration hall there was more food available along with hot drinks. A big thanks to all the volunteers who came together to put on this event under the leadership of event organiser Brendan Doherty. The next round (Round 6 of 8) takes place at St. Columb’s Park in Derry/Londonderry on Sunday 28 October 2018. A great location and, as it is close to Halloween, there will be some themed events for the season. See www.ulstercyclocross.com for details and to register.
Report by Martin Grimley
Results here
League table after 5 rounds here
Photos
Belgium Project – here
Bronagh Kirk – here
Paul Lavery – here
Toby Watson – here
Sean McGrath – here
Video
