Round 7 2018 – Donard – Report

Date: Sunday 4 November 2018
Event: Ulster Cyclo-cross Series – Round 7 – 2018
Location: Donard Park, Newcastle
Host club: Shimna Wheelers

Donard Park in Newcastle has the majestic background of the Mourne Mountains with the foreground being taken up with a cyclo-cross race on Sunday 4 November 2018.  This was Round 7 of the Ulster Cyclo-cross series and the third year the host club Shimna Wheelers has ran a race at this location.  As before, the course took in the large expanses of grass, a small wooded area and a patch of sand.  There were separate courses for the youth with the seniors using the full course.  There was heavy rain on the Saturday but the park is well known for its good drainage and it wasn’t long before the ground was dry again.  Race day was very pleasant with no rain, little wind and some warmth in the air.  A great day for racing and a great atmosphere around the park appreciated by the 300+ riders.

The day kicked off, as it always does, with the Under 6s ‘fun’ race.  The 27 young riders had just one lap to complete, much to the relief of the parents running alongside.  A goodie bag awaited them at the end.

The Under 8s used the same course but had a couple of extra sections added in and had 4 laps to complete.  In the boys’ race the usual suspects were at the front of the race with league leader Eunan Campbell (Square Wheels) taking his 4th win of the series.  Brodie Hull (Trail Demons CC) finished 2nd with Rory McCool (Square Wheels) 3rd.  Newcomer to the series, Eoin Campbell finished 4th.  In the girls’ race, Leah Hepburn (Island Wheelers) continued her clean sweep of the series taking her 7th chequered flag.  Aoife Campbell (Square Wheels) was 2nd with Skye Spence (Shimna Wheelers Cycling Club) 3rd.

The Under 10s course was an extension of the Under 8s and the riders had 6 laps to complete.  This was a fast paced race with a big turn out of riders (41).  Rhys Hepburn (Island Wheelers) won the boys’ race and Emer Heverin (Kinning Cycles) won the girls’ race which means both have won 7 out of 7 rounds.  Jamie Rockett (Ards CC) finished 2nd in the boys’ race with Jamie Ervine (Apollo Cycling Team) 3rd and Ryan McBride (Banbridge CC) just missing out on a podium place for the first time this season as he finished 4th.  Aoife Craig (VC Glendale) was 2nd in the girls’ race with Maeve McCool (Square Wheels) taking the 3rd step on the podium.

The Under 12s race was an extension of the Under 10s course with the additional section through the wet sand.  The 32 riders were set off with 8 laps to complete.  James Armstrong (Dromara Cycling Club) got to the front of the bunch by lap 2 and stayed there to the finish.  This was his 4th win in a row.  Harry Hobbs (Killinchy Cycling Club) was second among the boys’ with Karl Rockett (Ards CC) third.  Tori Moffitt (Phoenix CC) got her first win of the series with Rhiannon Dolan (Cuchulainn CC) 2nd, Aisling Smyth (Apollo Cycling Team) 3rd and Cara Suckling (Maryland Wheelers) 4th.

The prize giving ceremony for the youth races then took place.

The start line for the next races was alongside the football pitch.  This provided a long run in, past the timing tent, sharp right hand turn and away off around the course.  Lined up were the Under 14s, Under 16s and Women.

The Under 14 boys’ race saw Shane Scullion (Island Wheelers) take his 3rd win of the series with Travis Harkness (Carn Wheelers) 2nd and Oisin Ferrity (Island Wheelers) 3rd.  Aine Doherty (VC Glendale) was up racing with the senior women again and finished well clear of Cara Moffitt (Phoenix CC) with  Keela Smyth (Apollo Cycling Team) completing the Under 14 girls’ podium in 3rd place.  The Under 16 boys’ race was dominated by Somhairle Owens Fisher (Omagh Wheelers Cycling Club) who took a comfortable win ahead of club mate Joseph Owens with Johnnie McAuley (Team Madigan) 3rd.  Annie Roche (Scott Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) took the win in the Under 16 girls’ race with Maia Simmons (The Bike House CC) 2nd, Katie Neill (Carn Wheelers) 3rd and Grace Kearns (Dunloy CC) 4th.

The Women’s Cyclo-cross race was another exciting affair with a close battle for the top spot between Klaudia Bajolek (Scott Eurocycles.com) and Junior rider Lucy O’Donnell (O’Leary Stone Kanturk), the two riding wheel to wheel for the whole race with just 2 seconds separating them at the line.  Series leader Joanna Bula (Scott Eurocycles.com) finished 3rd with Rachel Irvine (The Bike House CC) 4th, Diane Wilson (Dromara Cycling Club) 5th and Darcey Harkness (Carn Wheelers) 6th and picking up the first unplaced junior prize.  In the Women’s Mountain Bike Support race newcomer to the series Judith Russell (Phoenix CC), having been nagged by her children, finally put the race number on her bike and managed to win the race, to great cheers at the finish line.  Second place went to Inge Dhaese (Tuna Triathlon) who had won this category back at Round 5.  Third went to Elizabeth Quigley (Foyle CC) with series leader Karen Wynne (Foyle CC) 4th.

The next race to line up was the Men’s Cyclo-cross A’ race.  There was a field of 55 riders setting out for a 6 lap race.  As per Round 5 and 6, Thomas Creighton (McConvey Cycles) set off at a blistering pace from the whistle.  This round, however, he needed to work hard to stay ahead of Niall Davis (Biking.ie) who kept a close eye on Thomas the whole race.  At the finish it was Thomas then Niall with Graham Boyd (McConvey Cycles) 3rd.  Junior rider Adam McGarr (Biking.ie) was lying 4th until the last lap when Lewis Ferguson (The Bike House CC) nipped ahead to take 4th place.  Adam finished 5th and took the first unplaced Junior prize, with series leader Glenn Kinning (Kinning Cycles) 6th.  Brendan Doherty (VC Glendale) was 7th and took the first unplaced M50 prize.  Christian Nachtigall (Phoenix CC) finished 8th and took the first unplaced M40 prize.  The unplaced Espoir prize went to James McCourt (Island Wheelers).  The team prize went to McConvey Cycles when Thomas Creighton, Graham Boyd, and junior rider Ciaran Dixon finished.  This is the second time this season the club has won the team prize.

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 both held over 5 laps.  Leading the CX B race from start to finish was Martin Harney (Phoenix CC), an improvement on his 3rd place back at Round 5.  Andy Layhe (Trail Demons CC) finally made the podium taking 2nd place and earning enough points to graduate to the A’ race for the final round.  Mark Gordon (Newry Wheelers CC) finished 3rd with Darren McCann (Dromara Cycling Club) 4th, Mark Irvine (The Bike House CC) 5th and Seán Maguire (VC Glendale) 6th.  In the Men’s MTB race series leader Brian McAuley (Unattached) took his 3rd win of the series.  Denver Irvine (Unattached) was 2nd with Michael Foley (Dromara Cycling Club) 3rd.

After the races the riders were able to enjoy the soup and stew laid on by the club.  Thanks to Marcus Cromie and his team of volunteers for hosting the event and to the event sponsor Mourne Cycles.  The 8th and final round of the series takes place at Ormeau Park in Belfast on Sunday 11 November 2018 hosted by Xmtb.  See more details on www.ulstercyclocross.com.

Commissaires: Lisa Millar, Jim Adams and Martin Grimley

Report by Martin Grimley

Results here

League table after 7 rounds here

Photos

Belgium Project – here
Richard Cowan – here
Toby Watson – here
Bronagh Kirk – here
Sean McGrath – here
Fran Hollywood – here
John Hammer – here

Video
Glenn Kinning – here