Date: Sunday 11 November 2018
Event: Ulster Cyclo-cross Series – Round 8 – 2018
Location: Ormeau Park, Belfast
Host club: Xmtb
The last round of the 2018 Ulster Cyclo-cross series took place at Ormeau Park in Belfast on Sunday 11 November. Host club Xmtb has had many years experience running off-road racing events in the park and thanks have to go to Belfast City Council for their ongoing support. The week leading up to the race had seen weather warnings for heavy rain so the riders knew to expect some mud on the course. Thankfully for the course designers the Saturday before race day was dry. Race day morning started with light rain which cleared up before the first riders arrived to register. The day remained dry, with little wind and wonderful autumn sunshine. A super day for bike racing.
The club had redesigned the course from last year chosing to run the race in reverse and making good use of the grassy slopes. There was lots of mud to challenge the riders. As per the other 7 rounds, the day started off with the ‘fun’ race for the Under 6s. There were 27 young riders on the start line for the 2 lap race around the short circuit. All competitors received a goodie bag for their efforts.
The Under 8s started next taking on a 2 lap circuit. Series leader Eunan Campbell (Square Wheels) took the win, his 4th in a row, which also secured him the overall league prize. Brodie Hull (Trail Demons CC) finished second today with Rory McCool (Square Wheels) third. That meant that Brodie finished 2nd overall in the league with Rory finishing third overall. In the girls’ race Aoife Campbell (Square Wheels) improved on her 2nd place at Round 7. This was the first race of the season that Leah Hepburn (Island Wheelers) was not first across the line but Leah finished 2nd with Skye Spence (Shimna Wheelers Cycling Club) 3rd. The overall series was then won by Leah with Skye 2nd and Annie Ervine (Apollo Cycling Team) taking 3rd.
Next up were the Under 10s who had 4 laps to complete of the same course with their start line further back down the track. The entry for the Under 10s was the largest of the youth categories with 40 riders lined up, 27 boys and 13 girls. In the boys’ race there was a close battle for the lead between the series leader Rhys Hepburn (Island Wheelers) and Jamie Rockett (Ards CC). Rhys had won all previous 7 rounds but it was Jamie who took the win with Rhys just a few seconds behind. Ryan McBride (Banbridge CC) completed the podium in 3rd place. In the girls’ race it was business as usual for Emer Heverin (Kinning Cycles) as she completed the full sweep of 8 wins out of 8 rounds. Maeve McCool (Square Wheels) finished 2nd with Aoife Craig (VC Glendale) 3rd. This left the overall series winners in the Under 10s as
BOYS: (1) Rhys Hepburn, (2) Jamie Rockett, (3) Ryan McBride
GIRLS: (1) Emer Heverin, (2) Aoife Craig, (3) Maeve McCool
Just before the start of the Under 12s race there was a one minute silence to mark the 100 year anniversary of the signing of the Armistice to end World War 1. The Under 12 then got started on their 4 lap race which was an extension of the Under 10s course. James Armstrong (Dromara Cycling Club) got his 5th win in a row with Karl Rockett (Ards CC) 2nd and Conor Murphy (Rostrevor Mountain Bike Club) making his return to racing taking 3rd after 4 weeks off as a result of a crash on a downhill track. In the girls’ race Aliyah Rafferty (Island Wheelers) got her 7th win out of 7 appearances in the series with Tori Moffitt (Phoenix CC) 2nd and Aisling Smyth (Apollo Cycling Team) 3rd. This resulted in the overall series winners in the Under 12s being
BOYS: (1) James Armstrong, (2) Karl Rockett, (3) Harry Hobbs
GIRLS: (1) Aliyah Rafferty, (2) Tori Moffitt, (3) Aisling Smyth
After a short break for the podium presentations and some course practice time for the older riders, the next race got underway at 11:45 with the Under 14s, Under 16s and Women. In the Under 14 boys’ race series leader Shane Scullion (Island Wheelers) took the win with Travis Harkness (Carn Wheelers) 2nd and Oisin Ferrity (Island Wheelers) 3rd. Aine Doherty (VC Glendale) got her 7th win out of 7 rounds in the Under 14 girls’ race with Cara Moffitt (Phoenix CC) 2nd and Lucy Brown (Phoenix CC) 3rd. The overall series winners in the Under 14s are
BOYS: (1) Shane Scullion, (2) Oisin Ferrity, (3) Travis Harkness
GIRLS: (1) Aine Doherty, (2) Cara Moffitt, (3) Keela Smyth
Darren Rafferty (Island Wheelers) had another superb win in the Under 16 boys’ race with Dean Harvey (Unattached) 2nd and Somhairle Owens Fisher (Omagh Wheelers Cycling Club) 3rd. Maria McAllister (Island Wheelers) won the Under 16 girls’ race with 2nd place going to Maia Simmons (The Bike House CC) and Grace Kearns (Dunloy CC) taking 3rd. The overall series winners in the Under 16s category are
BOYS: (1) Somhairle Owens Fisher, (2) Darren Rafferty, (3) Johnnie McAuley
GIRLS: (1) Maia Simmons, (2) Grace Kearns, (3) Maria McAllister
In the Women’s Cyclo-cross race, series leader Joanna (Asia) Bula (Scott Eurocycles.com) had a fall on the opening lap which allowed the junior women Niamh McKiverigan (Powerhouse Sport) and Darcey Harkness (Carn Wheelers) to power off and have a battle between themselves. And what a battle it was with the riders keeping in close contact with each other over the 5 laps with Niamh taking the win and Darcey finishing 2nd just 3 seconds behind. Gill Smith (Unattached) was lying third until the last lap when Joanna overtook and got the last step on the podium. Gill finished 4th with Rachel Irvine (The Bike House CC) 5th and Diane Wilson (Dromara Cycling Club) 6th. First unplaced Junior was Rachel McBride (Omagh Wheelers Cycling Club). The Women’s overall series winners are:
(1) Joanna Bula, (2) Rachel Irvine, (3) Darcey Harkness
The Women’s Mountain Bike Support race was held over 4 laps. Taking back to back wins was Judith Russell (Phoenix CC) with series leader Karen Wynne (Foyle CC) taking 2nd, Debbie Boyd (Apollo Cycling Team) 3rd and Elizabeth Quigley (Foyle CC) 4th. The Women’s MTB overall series finished as:
(1) Karen Wynne, (2) Debbie Boyd, (3) Elizabeth Quigley
After the podium presentations for the Under 14s, 16s and Women, the Men’s Cyclo-cross A’ race riders got lined up for their 7 lap race. Out of the starting grid like a greyhound was Thomas Creighton (McConvey Cycles) who lead the race from start to finish. Fellow club mate Graham Boyd finished second with series leader Glenn Kinning (Kinning Cycles) 3rd. Current National Champion Darnell Moore (Caldwell Cycles Omagh) finished 4th with Junior rider Lee Harvey (Unattached) finishing 5th and taking the first unplaced Junior prize. Lewis Ferguson (The Bike House CC) finished 6th with Christian Nachtigall (Phoenix CC) 7th and taking the first unplaced M40 prize. Brendan Doherty (VC Glendale) was 8th and collected the first unplaced M50 prize. James McCourt (Island Wheelers) won the first unplaced Espoir prize. Team prize went to McConvey Cycles when Thomas, Graham and Ciaran Dixon finished. This was the club’s 3rd win of the series.
Round Club1 Newry Wheelers
2 Dromara Cycling Club
3 Newry Wheelers
4 Newry Wheelers
5 McConvey Cycles
6 Newry Wheelers
7 McConvey Cycles
8 McConvey Cycles
The last race of the day was for the Men’s Cyclo-cross B’ race and the Men’s Mountain Bike Support race. Host club rider William Boyd (XMTB) took the win in the CX-B race with Martin Harney (Phoenix CC) 2nd, Mark Gordon (Newry Wheelers CC) 3rd, Darren McCann (Dromara Cycling Club) 4th, Mark Irvine (The Bike House CC) 5th and Paul Hamilton (Dromara Cycling Club) 6th. It was also good to see Ray Brownfield (North Down CC) back racing as he finished 7th out of a field of 71 riders who started. In the MTB support race series leader Brian McAuley (Unattached) took the chequered flag with Tony O’Doherty (Carn Wheelers) taking 2nd on his first appearance in the series this year. Michael Foley (Dromara Cycling Club) finished 3rd and was back on the podium for the second week in a row.
After the races the riders could enjoy the food that was laid on by the club. Many thanks to all the volunteers who helped host this race. This was the final round of the series but not the final race of the season with the Ulster Cyclo-cross Championships happening on Sunday 9 December 2018 at Windmill Park, Dungannon hosted by Island Wheelers. Looking ahead to the new year and Omagh Wheelers is hosting a cyclo-cross race on Sunday 6 January at the Ecclesville Centre in Fintona. More details to follow on www.ulstercyclocross.com.
For details of the other cyclo-cross races around the country click here.
Commissaires: Lisa Millar, Jim Adams and Martin Grimley
Report by Martin Grimley
Results here
League table after 8 rounds here
Photos
Derek Clegg – here
Toby Watson – here
Bronagh Kirk – here
Fran Hollywood – here
Video
Glenn Kinning – here
