Date: Sunday 28 October 2018
Event: Ulster Cyclo-cross Series – Round 6 – 2018
Location: St. Columb’s Park, Derry/Londonderry
Host club: Foyle CC
Round 6 of the Ulster Cyclo-cross Series was held on Sunday 28 October 2018 and, given it was the lead up to Halloween, there would be no better place to hold the event than in the great city of Derry/Londonderry. The city embraces the festival with a week of events and amuzements which attracts large crowds. As for the cyclo-cross, Foyle Cycling Club played host for their fourth year in a row at St. Columb’s Park which sits on the east bank of the river Foyle just off the Limavady Road. Unlike the previous years when the event headquarters was based in the Foyle Arena, this year the registration and food were set up on the side of the gravel running track, which was in the heart of the race itself. There was a cold start to the morning with temperatures below zero but the cloudless day and lack of wind soon allowed the warm autumn sun to raise the temperatures up to ‘very pleasant’.
The riders did not have the park to themselves as the ever popular Junior Park Run took place around 9:30 am. The day’s schedule was adjusted to accommodate this event. During the delay there was a guided cycle for all ages around the main gravel track and onto the Under 6s course. Well done to all those who came along in fancy dress for the occasion.
The Under 6s fun race did then start with 18 young riders lining up for 2 laps of their race which was around the perimeter of the football pitch. A goodie bag was available at the finish line.
The main races then got underway. Among the racers there were four riders who have had an unbeaten run of wins in the series so far. Leah Hepburn (Under 8s), Emer Heverin (Under 10s), Rhys Hepburn (Under 10s) and Aliyah Rafferty (Under 12s).
The Under 8s had a new course this year which took them up from the gravel track and into the woods. They had just 2 laps to complete. The Square Wheels riders, Eunan Campbell and Rory McCool were again locked in battle with Eunan getting his fourth win of the series. Brodie Hull (Trail Demons CC) finished third. In the girls’ race it was league leader Leah Hepburn (Island Wheelers) who took the win with Cassie Rocks (Island Wheelers) second and Annie Ervine (Apollo Cycling Team) third.
The Under 10s used a similar but extended course and had to complete 3 laps. Rhys Hepburn (Island Wheelers) took another chequered flag with Jamie Rockett (Ards CC) second and Ryan McBride (Banbridge CC) third. League leader, Emer Heverin (Kinning Cycles), took home another gold medal in the U10 girls’ race with Maeve McCool (Square Wheels) taking silver and Adria McAllister (Dunloy CC) bronze.
The Under 12s used the same course and had 5 laps to complete. Getting his third win in a row, James Armstrong (Dromara Cycling Club), had pulled out a good lead over second place Harry Hobbs (Killinchy Cycling Club) with Curtis McKee (Maryland Wheelers) third. Karl Rockett (Ards CC) would normally have been up among the leaders but a crash on lap 1 seen him retire from the race. Continuing her clean run of wins in the U12 girls’ race, Aliyah Rafferty (Island Wheelers) put on another strong performance which had her as first girl and 4th overall. Tori Moffitt (Phoenix CC) shows great consistency as she finished second again, which she has done in all previous rounds. Cara Suckling (Maryland Wheelers) finished third.
After a short break the Under 14s, Under 16s and women got started. In the Under 14 boys’ race Oisin Ferrity (Island Wheelers) had his second win of the series, with Travis Harkness (Carn Wheelers) second and Curtis Neill (Carn Wheelers) third. Aine Doherty (VC Glendale) had her 5th win of the series with league leader Cara Moffitt (Phoenix CC) second and Keela Smyth (Apollo Cycling Team) third.
Dean Harvey (Unattached) took advantage of the top two in the Under 16 boys’ race being away competing across the water. Dean put on a fine display of riding to finish well clear of second place Conor Gallagher (Errigal CC) with third going to Johnnie McAuley (Team Madigan C.C.). League leader Maia Simmons (The Bike House CC) took her second win of the series in the U16 girls’ race with Katie Neill (Carn Wheelers) finishing second and Grace Kearns (Dunloy CC) third.
Joanna Bula (Scott Eurocycles.com) extended her lead in the Women’s Cyclo-cross series with another win. Joanna accepted the win as a present to herself after celebrating her birthday the day before. Rachel Irvine (The Bike House CC) lies second in the table and finished second today. Junior rider Darcey Harkness (Carn Wheelers) had another great race to keep her on the podium and moves her into third in the league. Julie Rea (Phoenix CC), last year’s winner, was holding third place for the first 3 of 5 laps but dropped off the pace and allowed Gill Smith (Unattached) to finish 4th with Julie finishing 5th. In the Women’s Mountain bike Support race, the host club had riders taking the top 2 spots on the podium with Elizabeth Quigley (Foyle CC) taking the win and Karen Wynne (Foyle CC) second. Third place went to Debbie Boyd (Apollo Cycling Team) with Michelle Irvine (Unattached) 4th.
The next set of riders to line up at the start signs were the Men’s Cyclo-cross A’ race. This was held over 7 laps and had 47 riders take part. As per the previous round in Belfast, Thomas Creighton (McConvey Cycles) set off at a blistering pace to take the early lead. A few minor falls through lost him his lead after two laps with the seasoned rider Glenn Kinning (Kinning Cycles) taking to the front and finishing the race just ahead of Thomas. Lewis Ferguson (The Bike House CC) put in another fine performance to finish 3rd. Alan Bingham (Newry Wheelers CC) was pleased to not have the same issues he had in the last round and put in a more usual performance towards the front of the group, in this case finishing 4th and taking the first unplaced M40 prize. Dominic McCartan (Apollo Cycling Team) was 5th with Kevin McKinney (Armagh City Cyclists) 6th. Des Woods (Newry Wheelers CC) received the first unplaced M50 prize with Lee Harvey (Unattached) as the first unplaced Junior and James McCourt (Island Wheelers) the first unplaced Espoir. The team prize went to Newry Wheelers when Alan Bingham, Des Woods and Barry Convery crossed the line. This is the club’s 4th team prize this season.
The final race of the day was for the Men’s Cyclo-cross B’ race and the Men’s Mountain Bike Support Race. These were held over 6 laps. Matthew Sinton (Portadown Cycling Club) was simply delighted to take the win in the CX B’ race, cheered on by fellow club rider Marek Pluciniczak who was upgraded to the A’ race this week. Finishing second was Mark Johnston (V.C. Iveagh) with Marty Henderson (Race WBR) third. These three riders are now upgraded to the A’ race for the remainder of the season. Colin Deane (Unattached) finished 4th with Dean Lockhart (Carn Wheelers) 5th and Mark Irvine (The Bike House CC) 6th out of 48 riders.
The top 3 riders in the Mountain Bike support race were making their appearance for the first time in the 2018 season. Andrew Gordon (Ballymoney CC) put on a great performance to take the win with John O’Neill (Cavehill Mountainbikers) second and Niall Skelly (Carn Wheelers) third. League leader Brian McAuley (Unattached) finished 4th.
With the hour change and the delay in the race schedule the sun was starting to set at the end of the CXB/MTB race. And when the sun started to drop the temperature also started to drop!! The riders were glad of the food and hot drinks that were provided by the host club at the race village on the gravel track. Many thanks to all those at Foyle CC for putting on a great event. The next round takes place at Donard Park in Newcastle hosted by Shimna Wheelers. Get signed up at www.ulstercyclocross.com.
Commissaires: Lisa Millar, Jim Adams and Martin Grimley
Report by Martin Grimley
Results here
League table after 6 rounds here
Photos
Toby Watson – here
Richard Cowan – here and here
Bronagh Kirk – here
Belgium Project – here
Foyle CC – here
Video
Jonny Collins – here
