Date: Sunday 10 November 2019
Event: Ulster Cyclo-cross 2019 – Round 5
Location: Donard Park, Newcastle
Host club: Shimna Wheelers
Donard Park in Newcastle, County Down was the venue for Round 5 of the 2019 Ulster Cyclo-cross series. This is the fourth year that local club Shimna Wheelers has hosted a race at this pictureseque location. The venue is compact allowing spectators to see most of the course from one vantage point. The weather on the Saturday was very wet and windy making for very challenging conditions for the course designers lead by organiser Marcus Cromie. Thankfully on the Sunday the weather was dry and bright with just a cold wind blowing across the site. The views of the snow topped Mourne Mountains and the autumn colours in the park great photographic background.
The youth races were held on the lower site near the football pitches. The ground was fairly wet in places but was draining well. First up were the Under 6s in their ‘fun’ race which was held over 2 laps of the short course. There were 20 young riders on the start line and their efforts made for a great start to the day.
The Under 8s course used the Under 6s course but had an extension added in. The 18 boys and 8 girls had 4 laps to complete. Leading from the whistle was Daragh Quigley (Foyle CC) who made this his 5th win out of 5 rounds. Jack McGahan (Square Wheels) finished second with Ollie Shaw (XMTB) third. Aoife Campbell (Square Wheels) won the girls’ race, her 4th win out of 4 appearances in the series. Current series leader Cassie Rocks (Island Wheelers) finished second with Amelia Finnegan (Apollo Cycling Team) third.
The Under 10s course took in a short climb, dismount boards and the sand trap. The 32 riders (21 boys and 11 girls) were given 6 laps to complete. Series leader Josh McClune (Team Madigan C.C.) got his 3rd win of the series with Evan Wynne (Foyle CC) second and Eunan Campbell (Square Wheels) third. Aoife Craig (VC Glendale) made it 5 from 5 in the girls’ race when she finished well clear of Aoife Kellett (Dromara Cycling Club) with Isla Doherty (Apollo Cycling Team) completing the podium.
The Under 12s race course was longer again than the Under 10s and took in an additional climb and a long straight section to the far end of the football pitch. The race was gearing up to be the usual battle between Curtis McKee (Maryland Wheelers) and James Armstrong (Dromara CC) but after a race incident James ended up with a puncture and had to settle for 4th. Rhys Hepburn (Island Wheelers) finished second with Elliot Maitland (Killinchy Cycling Club) third. Cara Suckling (Maryland Wheelers) had no problems making this her 5th win out of 5 rounds. Megan Lavery (Trail Demons CC) took the silver medal with Maeve McCool (Square Wheels) getting the bronze.
The next races used the full course. Lined up were the Under 14s, Under 16s and Women. In the Under 14 boys’ race Conor Murphy (Rostrevor Mountain Bike Club) was back to winning form taking his 3rd win of the series. Sam Coleman (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) finished second with Seth Dunwoody (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) third. Aine Doherty (VC Glendale) put on another fine display of racing to take the win in the Under 14 girls race with Tori Moffitt (Phoenix CC) the only other finishers in this category.
In the Under 16 boys’ race Shane Scullion (Island Wheelers) got his third win of the series with Conor Gallagher (Errigal CC) finishing second and Niall McLoughlin (McConvey Cycles) third. Erin Creighton (McConvey Cycles) was the only entry in the Under 16 girls’ race and raced with the Women.
The Women’s Cyclo-cross race was a great spectacle with series leader Rachel Irvine (The Bike House CC) driving the pace to take the win. Judith Russell (Phoenix CC) finished second with the road racing powerhouse, Eileen Burns (Ballymena Road Club), finally getting to grips with cyclo-cross racing to take her first podium of the series. Niamh McKiverigan (Scott Eurocycles) has already got 3 wins in the series under her belt but had to settle for 4th today. Maia Simmons (The Bike House CC) finished 5th and lifted the first unplaced Junior women’s prize. Behind her was Trudy Brown (VC Glendale) who lifted the first unplaced Master’s women prize.
In the Women’s Mountain Bike Support race Leona Farrell (Unattached) took her 4th win of the series with Claire McGeever (Unattached) second and Debbie Boyd (Apollo Cycling Team) third.
Next up was the Men’s A’ race which was held over 7 laps of the course. Leading early on was Espoir rider Thomas Creighton (McConvey Cycles) who had to keep pushing hard as
Darnell Moore (Caldwell Cycles Omagh) was always close behind. A mistake on Lap 5 left Darnell through and he wasn’t for giving up. Thomas had to work had to keep ahead of club mate Graham Boyd (McConvey Cycles) and managed this. It finished Darnell, Thomas then Graham. Alan Bingham (Newry Wheelers CC) finished 4th overall and took the first unplaced M40 prize. Taking the first unplaced Espoir prize was Lee Harvey (VC Glendale) who finished 5th. Barry Kellett (Dromara Cycling Club) finished 6th. First unplaced Junior went to Somhairle Owens Fisher (Omagh Wheelers Cycling Club). There was a great ding-dong battle for the first unplaced M50 prize between Des Woods (Newry Wheelers CC) and John Bogues (Phoenix CC) with the positions changing during the race. In the end it was Des who took the that prize. The winning team this week was Newry Wheelers when Alan Bingham and Des Woods were joined on the podium by Barry Convery. There were 8 teams in this week for that competition.
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 5 laps. Colin Deane (Unattached) lead after lap 1 but it wasn’t long before Paul Ferguson (The Bike House CC) got to the front and he was not for relinquishing that position. Second place went to last week’s winner at Mallusk Colm O’Byrne (Unattached) with Espoir rider Jamie Gregg (Dromore CC) taking third. Colin finished 4th with Brian Kellett (Dromara Cycling Club) 5th and Peter McBride (Banbridge CC) 6th. The MTB support race started 1 minute behind the cyclo-cross riders. Sean McIntyre (Caldwell Cycles Omagh) was on a mission again to catch all the cyclo-crossers and, as per last week, managed to catch them all except the winner. This gave Sean his 4th win of the series. Thomas Hepburn (Island Wheelers) made his debut to the series this year taking 2nd after a tight race with Brian McAuley (Unattached).
After the races the riders could enjoy some soup and rolls laid on by the club. There was also a hot drinks van on site. Thanks to Newry, Mourne and Down for the use of the site and to the sponsors for supporting the event. The next event was due to take at Delamont Park in Killyleagh on Sunday 17 November 2019 but we have been given word that this round is cancelled due to a waterlogged site. The final round of the series will take place on Sunday 24 November at Palace Demesne in Armagh hosted by Square Wheels. See details on www.ulstercyclocross.com
Results here
Overall league table here
Commissaires: Lisa Millar, Jim Adams and Martin Grimley
Report by Martin Grimley
Photos
Fran Hollywood – Facebook here
Richard Cowan – Facebook here
Toby Watson – Facebook here
Other report link
Belgium Project – here
