Round 3 of the Ulster Cross-country Mountain Bike Series took place at Drumcairne Forest Park on Sunday 20 May 2018. This was the third year that local club Island Wheelers had hosted an event in this location and they had been busy developing the structure of the tracks and the set up of the site. Thanks to the Northern Ireland Forestry Service for their permission and support. The course had also benefitted from several days of dry weather which had created fast, dusty trails. The weather on race day, however, had included some light showers in the morning with overcast conditions during the day. Attendance figures were up from last year with riders coming from across Ireland to enjoy the sport at this location.
The first race of the day was for the Under 6s with their ‘fun’ race starting on the upper fire road and finishing down in the main event area. The 13 young riders, 7 boys and 6 girls, made it around the tricky course. Next up were the Under 8s who had two laps to do, starting from the same location as the Under 6s. They had an additional section just after the start which took them right and into the trees to stretch out the riders before they went into the single track. Darragh Murphy (Rostrevor Mountain Bike Club) took the win for the boys with Brodie Hull (Trail Demons CC) second and Ryan McKeown (Trail Demons CC) third. In the girls’ race Aoife Craig (VC Glendale) took the win with Anna Morris (Inishowen Wheelers) second and Aoife Kellett (Dromara Cycling Club) just nipping in front of Leah Hepburn (Island Wheelers) to take third.
The Under 10s had a longer course and had 3 laps to complete. They started from the main event area and charged up the hill past the timekeepers then into the trees. There was some really close racing between the top 5 boys with Curtis McKee (Maryland Wheelers) finally pulling away from nearest rival Elliot Maitland (Killinchy Cycling Club) to take first and second respectively. Rhys Hepburn from the host club finished third. Cara Suckling (Maryland Wheelers) was well out in front for the girls with the battle for second much closer between Aisling Smyth (Apollo Cycling Team) and Emer Heverin (Kinning Cycles). Their race finished in this order.
The Under 12s race was held over 4 laps and it was another exciting contest with the top 4 boys riding wheel to wheel. Harry Hobbs (VC Glendale) dropped out of medal position leaving the scrap for podiums between Reuben Maitland (Killinchy Cycling Club), Callum Morris (Inishowen Wheelers) and Daniel Scott (Island Wheelers). There was only a 1 second gap between these 3 riders and it finished in the order Reuben-Callum-Daniel. Without Aine Doherty in the Under 12 girls’ event the racing was much closer with Eimer Skelly (Carn Wheelers) leading after lap 1 with Aliyah Rafferty (Island Wheelers) and Cara Moffitt (Phoenix CC) on her wheel. At the end of lap 2 Cara had taken the lead but Aliyah proved to be the stronger for the latter half of the race and went on to take gold with Cara taking silver and Eimer bronze.
After a break for podiums and practice the noon races got underway with 7 race categories on the track at the same time. Setting off first were the Under 16 boys who had to complete 4 laps of the full course. Darren Rafferty from the host club made use of home ground advantage to take the win with Dean Harvey (Kinning Cycles) second and Ryan Skelly (Carn Wheelers) third. Next to start were the Under 14 boys who had to complete 2 laps of the reduced course. Scott Roberts (McConvey Cycles) put on a fine display to take the win ahead of Travis Harkness (Carn Wheelers) with Oisin Ferrity (Island Wheelers) third. Behind the U14 boys were the Senior 4 men with newcomer to the sport Nathan McCormick (Armagh BMX) proving he can carry-over his bike handling skills to take the win. Behind him was Neil Armstrong (Dromara Cycling Club) with James McVeigh (Shimna Wheelers Cycling Club), winner at Round 2, finishing third. Behind the Senior 4 men the Senior 2 women and single entry in the Under 16 girls category, Darcey Harkness (Carn Wheelers) started. The Senior 2 women’s race was one of the closest contested in some time with host club rider Janice Hepburn taking the win ahead of Wannita Broome (Dromara Cycling Club) with Angie Smyth (Apollo Cycling Team) third. Next to start were the Senior 3 women and the Under 14 girls. Erin Creighton (XMTB) rode strongly to take the U14 girls’ race win with Hannah Mullin (Trail Demons CC) second and Keela Smyth (Apollo Cycling Team) third. In the Senior 3 women’s race Louise Friel (XMTB) on the podium again but this time on the top step with Norma Rea (XMTB) second and newcomer Nicole Caldwell third.
After another break for podiums and practice time the final races of the day took place at 2 pm. Lined up were the Senior 1 men, Junior men, Senior 1 women, Senior 2 men and Senior 3 men. As expected Gareth McKee (Banbridge CC) stormed around the 6 laps to take the win in the Senior 1 men’s race. Tomasz Michalski (McConvey Cycles) and Graham Boyd (McConvey Cycles) were duking it out for second with Tomasz crashing into a tree on the final lap allowing Graham to take second. Tomasz limped home for third. Richard Felle (Team WORC) was fourth with Aiden McDonald (Chuculainn CC) fifth. Niamh McKiverigan (Powerhouse Sport) was the only entry in the Senior 1 women’s race but put in some consistent times over the 4 laps.
Thomas Creighton (McConvey Cycles) was trying to hold onto Gareth McKee’s wheel in the early part of the race which helped him to take first place in the Junior men’s race with Lee Harvey (Kinning Cycles) finishing a strong second.
In the Senior 2 men’s race Johnny McRoberts (Banbridge CC) improved on his third place finish at Round 2 to take the win at Drumcairne. Gary Sheils (Newry Wheelers CC) secured his second second place for the series with Richie Lenehan (Lakeside Wheelers) third. Edward Shannon (Velo Club Mourne) finished fourth with Thomas Hepburn from the host club finishing fifth.
In the Senior 3 men’s race host club rider Dean Burnside lead from start to finish.
Milos Hajek (IMBRC) got his best result this season taking second with James McCourt, also from the host club, taking third.
Many thanks to all those who helped to host the race. The next cross-country race on the calendar is Round 2 of the National Point Series (NPS) which takes place in Slade Valley, County Dublin on 3 June hosted by IMBRC (details on www.irishxcnps.ie). The next Ulster round will be at Lady Dixon Park in Belfast on 17 June hosted by Xmtb.
Commissaires: Lisa Millar and Martin Grimley
Report by Martin Grimley
Results here