Date: Sunday 25 May 2014
Event: Ulster Series Round 3 / NPS Round 3
Location: Lady Dixon Park, Belfast
Host club: Xmtb McConvey Cycles
Lady Dixon Park in Belfast was the venue for third round of the 2014 Irish National Point Series (NPS) which took place on Sunday 25 May. This round also doubled up as Round 3 of the Ulster Cross-country mountain bike series and was hosted by local club Xmtb McConvey Cycles. This venue has known some great racing over the last 5 years and normally the riders would be enjoying dry dusty and fast trails around the beautiful park which is managed by Belfast City Council. This year however the skies were overcast and the threat of rain was in the air. There had been rain on several days in the lead up to the race and the course designers had made many amendments to the usual track. Parking was provided in the main field overlooking the rose gardens, which was also the location of the start/finish line.
Over 260 riders had pre-registered for the race with the final count on the day taking the overall attendance up to 262. Sign on opened at 09:30 with the first race of the day going off at 10:30 with the Under 6s. They had their own small circuit over towards the trees where they had to complete 2 laps. With great cheers from the spectators the big field of 21 riders set off anti-clockwise around the flat circuit on their 6 speeds, single geared and no pedal bikes. First across the line was Elliot Maitland, with Cameron Henry second and Austin Henry third. All the riders got a medal for taking part in this fun event.
Timekeepers then moved back to the main start/finish area for the Under 8s race. A good turn out of young riders with 14 boys and 6 girls taking on 2 laps of their circuit. Oisin May took the win for the boys with Aine Doherty (VC Glendale) finishing second overall and first girl. This despite the girls starting a few seconds behind the boys!!
The Under 10s lined up next for 3 laps of their course, which was slightly longer than the Under 8s course. There were 17 boys and 7 girls raring to go. Brendan Conroy (Epic MTB) took the win in the boys race with Lily Brown (VC Glendale) winning for the girls. Starting a little later than scheduled, the Under 12s had almost equal number of boys and girls racing (12 and 11 respectively). Dean Harvey from the host club won the boys race with Ellie Kelso (East Tyrone) taking gold in the girls race.
At noon the Under 16s took to the start line followed by the Senior 4 men, Senior 3 women and finally the Under 14s. There were 13 male and 3 females in the Under 16s race which was held over 2 laps of the full course. The Senior 4 men waited 2 minutes after the Under 16s before the large field of 37 riders set off on their 2 laps. Starting behind the Senior 4 men were the three Senior 3 women. Lined up behind them were the 17 male and 2 females in the Under 14s race which was over most of the main course expect for a section cut out near the far end of the course.
The Under 16s was won by David Conroy (Donnybrook Landscapes) and Klaudia Bajolek (KS Lubon). The first male Under 14 rider was Jack Murphy (Killarney CC) with Emma Elder (Carn Wheelers) winning the U14 female race. The Senior 4 mens top 3 were Aaron Parks (Shelborne Motors/Orchard), Gordon Roberts (Island Wheelers) and Kieran Gilligan (Island Wheelers). Janice Hepburn (Island Wheelers) was the only finisher in the Senior 3 females race.
Towards the end of these races the rain started. It was quite heavy for a sustained period. This unfortunately left parts of the course unrideable so the organisers quickly moved to switch tape and signs around before the 2pm races got underway. Essentially the course now followed the route that the Under 14s had used. Back at the start line the Senior 1 men were at the front of the column with the Junior males next, the Senior 1 women behind them, a large group of Senior 2 men and behind them the biggest group of the day, the Senior 3 men.
There were 19 in the Senior 1 men’s race and they had to complete 5 laps. Gareth McKee (ChainReaction Cycles) had a poor start but worked his way up to the front and rode away on the chasing pack. Glenn Kinning (Kinning Cycles) had made his way up from 4th to 2nd and put in a good gap on chaser Graham Boyd (Xmtb McConvey Cycles). In the Senior 1 women’s race, Claire Oakley from the host club domineered the race to finish almost 5 minutes ahead of closest rival Ciara MacManus with Kathryn Aiken (Banbridge CC) taking bronze. In the Junior male’s race James Curry (Banbridge CC) lead from start to finish with Darnell Moore (Caldwell Cycles) maintaining second place throughout with Daniel Brickenden (Epic MTB) in third. The Senior 2 race had the same number of laps as the Senior 1 women and Juniors, i.e. 4, with Peter Boaden (Gravity BC) finishing around a minute and a half ahead of veteran cyclist Robert Lamont from the host club, with Brendan Doherty (VC Glendale) in third. The 40 riders in the Senior 3’s had 3 laps to complete. Sean Scullion (Island Wheelers) improved on his 5th place at Rostrevor to take the win today. Thomas Hepburn, also with Island Wheelers, took second with Gavin Anyon from the host club taking third.
When the final races were over the riders were able to enjoy the great spread of food laid on in the sign on tent. Many thanks to Xmtb McConvey Cycles for putting on a super event and to Belfast City Council for allowing the use of the venue. Round 4 of the Ulster XC series will be at Garvagh Forest on 22 June 2014.
Results
here
Photos
Toby Watson (Facebook) – here
Adrian Van der Lee (own website) – here
Gareth Gibbons (Facebook) – here or here (black umbrella site)
Report by Martin Grimley