Date: Sunday 5 January 2020
Event: Ulster Cyclo-cross Championships 2019
Location: Ecclesville Equestrian Centre, Fintona
Host club: Omagh Wheelers
Omagh Wheelers had originally scheduled to host the 2019 Ulster Cyclo-cross Championships on Sunday 8 December 2019 as per the other Irish provinces. However, in the lead up to the event one of the founding members of the club, Leo McKenna, passed away. The event was postponed until Sunday 5 January 2020 but did take place at the scheduled venue of Ecclesville Equestrian Centre in Fintona, County Tyrone. The site has excellent facilites, car parking, indoor sign on, changing as well as a great expanse of land to develop a cyclo-cross course.
On race day the site was busy with an equestian event at the same time which was taking place in the indoor arena and out in the paddock. It was quite a sight to see horse riders and cyclists share the same park land. The weather on race day was mild but with a strong, cold wind and only an occasional light shower. The rescheduling did have an impact on the attendance figures with a proportion of riders unable to make the new date. The host club, under race director Oliver Logan, had set up a great course. From their first hosting at this venue in January 2019 they had made modifications to the set up including moving the start/finish closer to the centre where the podium, hot food, sign on was located.
The event held non-championship support races for the youth. First to line up were the Under 6s for their fun race. The 10 riders took in one lap of the short course. They were rewarded with a goodie bag at the end from one of the event sponsors, the Spar.
The Under 8s then got on course. They had 5 laps of the same course to complete. Daragh Quigley (Foyle CC) lead the race from start to finish. Jack McGahan (Square Wheels) finished second with William Sunderland (Apollo Cycling Team) completing the boys’ podium. Aoife Campbell (Square Wheels) was the fastest girl with Cassie Rocks (Island Wheelers) second and Amelia Finnegan (Apollo Cycling Team) third.
The Under 10s used the same course as the Under 8s which kept the timing crew very busy over the 9 laps. Eunan Campbell (Square Wheels) took the win in the boys’ race when he finished ahead of Darragh Murphy (Rostrevor Mountain Bike Club) with Evan Wynne (Foyle CC) taking third. Rory McCool (Square Wheels) crashed on the second lap just behind the timing tent and had to retire. In the girls’ race Aoife Kellett (Dromara Cycling Club) took the win ahead of Clodagh Quigley (Foyle CC) with Leah Hepburn (Island Wheelers) third.
The Under 12s had a challenging circuit which took in a large section of the adult course. They had 3 laps to complete. Finishing well clear of his rivals in the boys’ race was Rhys Hepburn (Island Wheelers) with Joshua Gallagher (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) second and Adam Ward (Bann Wheelers CC) third. Aisha Gannon (Breffni Wheelers) took the win in the girls’ race with Elisa Sunderland (Apollo Cycling Team) second and Megan Lavery (Trail Demons CC) third.
After a break for podium presentations the first of the championship races took place. On track were the Under 14s, Under 16s, Junior men and Women (Juniors, Seniors and Masters). The Under 14s and Under 16s had 3 laps to complete, the women 4 laps and the Junior men 5 laps.
In the Under 14 boys’ race Conor Murphy (Rostrevor Mountain Bike Club) finished well clear of Sam Coleman (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) with Seth Dunwoody (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) taking the bronze medal. Aine Doherty (VC Glendale) put on another impressive display to take the win in the Under 14 girls’ race with Aliyah Rafferty (Island Wheelers) taking silver and Tori Moffitt (Phoenix CC) bronze.
Travis Harkness (Carn Wheelers) lead the Under 16 boys’ race from start to finish. Conor Gallagher (Errigal Cycling Club) finished second with Curtis Neill (Carn Wheelers) taking third. Erin Creighton (McConvey Cycles) was the only entry in the Under 16 girls’ race and started along with the women.
The women all started together but, up for grabs were prizes for the top 3 Junior women, top 3 Senior Women and top 3 Masters Women. In the race itself Junior rider Darcey Harkness (Carn Wheelers) and Senior rider Niamh McKiverigan (Scott Quanta Racing) were wheel to wheel the whole race making for a very interesting spectacule for the spectators. Darcey crossed the line first with Niamh just behind her. Next to finish were the top 3 in the Masters women category with Judith Russell (Phoenix CC) getting gold, Trudy Brown (VC Glendale) silver and Julie Rea (Phoenix CC) third. Joining Darcey on the Junior women’s podium was Maria McAllister in the colours of her new club, TC Racing. Joining Niamh on the Senior women’s podium was Andra Hamilton (Dromara Cycling Club) and Rachel McBride (Arcane Cycling Team).
Darren Rafferty (Island Wheelers) put on a very notable performance with consistent, fast lap times to take the win in the Junior men’s race. Dean Harvey (VC Glendale) finished a strong second with Ciaran Dixon (Team Type 1 Junior Team) third and Somhairle Owens Fisher (Omagh Wheelers Cycling Club) fourth.
After another short break for podium presentations it was the turn of the Men’s Masters race with categories for the M40s and a combined M50s/M60s, both doing 5 laps.
In the M50s race Des Woods (Newry Wheelers CC) took the win finishing well clear of Brendan Doherty (VC Glendale) with third place being strongly contested between Christopher McCann (Banbridge CC) and Derek Graham (Dromara Cycling Club). Christopher took the bronze medal, which is remarkable as he would be riding in the M60 category at the national championships!
The M40s race had the largest entry for the day with 28 riders lined up. There was an initial battle between Barry Kellett (Dromara Cycling Club) and Alan Bingham (Newry Wheelers CC) but Alan pulled away to take a clear win leaving Barry with the silver medal position. Paul McCarter (Donegal Bay Cycling Club) took the bronze. In the minor places Jason Henry and David O’Neill, both with Inspired Cycling, took 4th and 5th place respectively. Johnny Taylor (Carn Wheelers) took 6th.
After another set of podium presentations the final race of the day got underway with the Senior men who had 6 laps to complete.
Christopher McGlinchey and Darnell Moore, both with Vitus Pro Cycling p/b Brother UK, put on an impressive display of racing with the riders passing the timing tent wheel to wheel. That was until lap 5 when Christopher got clear of Darnell and stretched his lead to the finish. Darnell took silver with Espoir rider Thomas Creighton (McConvey Cycles) taking bronze. Fourth place was strongly contested between Lee Harvey (VC Glendale) and Graham Boyd (McConvey Cycles) with Lee getting the better of Graham. Darragh McCarter (Spellman-Dubin Port) finished 6th.
After the races the riders could enjoy hot drinks and hot food from the supplier on site. Many thanks to all the hard-working team at Omagh Wheelers for hosting the event. Thanks also to the sponsors and local council for their support. Next up will be the National Cyclo-cross Championships which take place at Enniscrone in County Sligo.
Commissaires: Lisa Millar, Jim Adams and Martin Grimley
Report by Martin Grimley
Results here
Photos
Smugmug – own website – here
Richard Cowan (Facebook) – here
Omagh Wheelers (Facebook) – here
Report and photos
Belgium Project – here
