Date: Sunday 29 May 2011
Event: Ulster Series Round 3, Irish NPS Round 5
Location: Lady Dixon Park, Belfast
Host club: Xmtb McConvey Cycles
Round 3 of the 2011 Ulster Cross-Country Mountain Bike Series took place at the beautiful Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park in south Belfast. This was also Round 5 of the Irish National Points Series (NPS). The park, which is managed by Belfast City Council, has proved to be a popular venue over the last two years and the host club, Xmtb McConvey Cycles are very grateful to the council for supporting the sport.
The track was much the same as last year with a few new sections added in and the organisers had had mixed fortunes with the weather in the lead up to the race with the course going from wet and muddy to bone dry. Despite the heavy rain in the run up to Sunday the track was dry for race day with no rain on the morning of the event but a gusty wind was the main feature of the day. The windy conditions were playing havoc with the sign on tents with the organisers hastily trying to secure them down with support straps attached to large pins into the ground and to the wheels of parked cars. While all this was happening the sign on team continued with the administration of the day. The car park soon filled up and racing got underway at 11 am.
The Under 8s race attracted the biggest field of riders this season with 37 lined up to take part, 29 boys and 8 girls. They had to complete 2 laps of the mini course and were gridded according to the NPS league. All got away safely heading for the first right hand bend before narrowing down for the entrance into the trees. Among the trees there was a fast, sweeping, flat circuit before they popped back out of the trees to head parallel to the start line into the trees on the far side of the grass. The entrance to these trees had a short, sharp ‘kicker’ which the top riders sailed over and the others hopped off and pushed. A short loop through this part of the circuit before they appeared again onto the grass for the home straight. Christopher Curry (Banbridge CC) unsurprisingly lead from the start and completed his hat-trick of wins. In second place was Donnacha Desmond (MBCC) who was also second at the race in Tollymore with Fraser Harrower (Dromara CC) third, David McGarr 4th, Morgan Steele (Dromara CC) 5th and Shea O’Kane (Phoenix CC) in 6th. First girl was Charley Dunlop (Banbridge CC) who finished just ahead of Ashling Dalton with Eva Gordon (Carn Wheelers) in third.
The Under 10s lined up next and it was another large field, this time 22 young riders, including 8 girls. They had the same course as the Under 8s but with 3 laps. Mark Buller (Banbridge CC) completed his hat-trick of wins with Drew Armstrong from the host club chasing him again to the line. Adam McGarr was third with Andrew Gordon (Carn Wheelers) 4th, Ross Ennis (Epic MTB) 5th and Callum Stewart (Phoenix CC) in 6th. Niamh McKiverigan (Banbridge CC) was the first girl home, 10th overall, with Kelly Wilson (Dromara CC) second and Emma Dalton third.
The Under 12s had their own course laid out which they had three laps to complete. There were 12 riders in this category, 5 girls, and it was again another hat-trick of wins this time for Jamie Grifferty (Boyne MTB) with John Buller (Banbridge CC) finishing in second with the first girl, Leah Maunsell in third place well clear of Craig McCarthy from the host club with John Quinn 5th and Max Anderson (Orchard Wheelers) 6th. Second girl was Rebekah Ogilby from the host club with Kathryn Doyle (Carn Wheelers) third.
The next races started at noon and these were for the Under 14s, Under 16s and the first of the senior races, Senior 4 men and Senior 3 women. The Under 16s were lined up first with the 10 riders having to complete 3 laps of the full circuit. Behind them, starting one minute later, were the Senior 4 men (40) and Senior 3 women (5). Behind this large gathering were the fourteen Under 14s who set off one minute behind the seniors.
The Under 16s race was dominated by Banbridge Cycling Club’s David Montgomery, who finally got a bike that works for him and with it managed to finish over 5½ minutes ahead of nearest rival Robert Deegan (Newbridge CC) who in turn finished well clear of Aaron McCann (Cuchulainn CC) with Zak Hanna (Dromara CC) 4th and the only female, Marlena Drozdziok (Epic MTB) 5th overall.
In the Senior 4 men’s race there was a big field of 40 riders lined up for 3 laps of the main course. At the charge for the first corner a couple of riders collided at the back but otherwise the big bunch got into the tree section successfully. Ryan Walsh (Carn Wheelers) continues to dominate in this category finishing in just over one hour with fellow club member Stephen Law second and another Stephen, Stephen Kelly (Dromara CC) third. Darren Hughes (Harps CC) continues to ride strongly and finished 4th over a minute clear of Ronnie Ogilby from the host club, who had to drop down a category in order to help marshal the later races, with Darren Mulholland (Carn Wheelers) 6th. There were 5 rider in the Senior 3 women’s category and they had 2 laps of the main course to complete. There was a close battle between Caroline Murphy (Epic MTB) and Kerryann Hughes (Harps CC) with Caroline finishing just 10 seconds ahead of Kerryann at the line. Third was Claire Breslin (MAD Mtb) with Trudy Brown (Northern CC) the only other finisher. Zana Auzina fell badly at the back section of the course and suffered a broken ankle. St. John Ambulance were in attendance and worked hard to get her lifted from the location she was in to their support vehicle.
James Curry (Banbridge CC) won the 2 lap Under 14s race which took in most of the main course. Conor Kavanagh (Boyne MTB) finished 30 seconds behind with Conor Lavelle (MAD Mtb) 3rd. Joseph Baird (Banbridge CC) was 4th ahead of newcomer to this season Anthony Quinn, with another Richard Baird (Banbridge CC) 6th. Lone female Shannon Buller (Banbridge CC) finished 8th overall.
After a short delay to allow Zana to be taken away by ambulance the remainder of the senior races got underway. The first group were the Senior 1 men, the top riders in the country and these 25 riders had 5 laps to complete. Leading from the start was olympian Robin Seymour (Team WORC) and Joe McCall (Focus MTB) who was sitting right behind Robin for the first four laps until Robin made a move on the last lap to leave Joe and set the fastest lap for the day at just under 16½ minutes. Chasing hard in third place was series leader Gareth McKee (Banbridge CC) with veteran Aiden McDonald (Cuchulainn CC) in 4th and Evan Ryan (Team WORC) 5th. From the host club was Tomasz Michalski in 6th place with Matt Slattery from the far off Killarney Cycling Club finishing 7th. John Pennefather (Focus MTB) won the Senior 2 race at the last round in Tollymore and then made the move up to Senior 1 where he came 8th. Oisin Boydell (MAD Mtb) was 9th finishing just 6 seconds ahead of Maciej ‘Max’ Staroniewicz (Epic MTB). The only male Junior rider at the event was Matthew Adair and he completed his 4 laps in 1 hour 18 minutes. There were no Senior 1 women at this round.
The Senior 2 men set off next and it was another large field of riders, 29 in total and they had 4 laps to complete. Veteran Simon Curry (Banbridge CC) took the win by just 4 seconds ahead of another veteran, Johnny McCabe (Cuchulainn CC) with Brendan Doherty (VC Glendale) third. Stephen Scrivener (DU Cycling Club) was fourth just 4 seconds ahead of Colm McGarvey (Epic Mtb) who was 12 seconds ahead of Eamon McConvey whose store was sponsoring the race.
Behind the Senior 2 men were the Senior 3 men who had 3 laps to complete. This was the biggest category on the day with 51 lined up. Bob Talbot (Harps CC) continued to dominate this category with another win. David Neill (Orchard Wheelers) was second with Barry Kellett (Dromara CC) in third. Nigel Glynn (Thinkbike.ie) was fourth ahead of Gary Shields (Cuchulainn) who is just getting back to form after a recent injury. Also from Cuchulainn was Stephen Kelleher who finished 6th with Niall O’Hara (MBCC) 7th and Daire McCaughley (Cuchulainn CC) 8th.
The Senior 2 women got to line up along with the only female junior rider Claire Oakley (Wxc Mtb Team Uk). Claire and the other 5 women had 3 laps to complete. Claire finished in just over 67 minutes. Val O’Neill (Phoenix CC) continued to show her strength in this category finishing almost 6 minutes ahead of Gill Smith with Rose Griffin (IMBRC) third and Orla McClean (Epic MTB) fourth and Julie Rea (ChainReaction Cycles) in fifth.
Overall another excellent event by Xmtb McConvey Cycles. Well done to all those who helped put the event together. The big bouncy castle was well used by the young riders as they waiting for the older ones to finish their races. The next round will be held on Sunday 5 June 2011 at Magheramorne Quarry outside of Larne and will be hosted by Team Madigan. See www.ulsterxc.com for details.
Commissaire: Martin Grimley and Barry Russell
Full results here
Report and photographs: Martin Grimley
Report and photographs: Martin Grimley
More photographs here