Date: Sunday 22 July 2007
Event: National XC Champs
Location: Tollymore Forest
Host club: Banbridge CC
IRISH NATIONAL MTB XC CHAMPIONSHIPS
14 IN A ROW FOR SEYMOUR
Robin Seymour (Team Worc) confirmed his status as Ireland’s Mountain Bike Cross Country king by claiming his 14th Elite National title in a row on Sunday at Tollymore Forest Park in County Down. Promoted by Banbridge Cycling Club, the 2007 national champs attracted an entry of 170 riders and throughout the day the weather was superb. Resting in the foothills of the world famous Mourne Mountains, Tollymore Forest provided an ideal setting for the champs, the Bann Club preparing a technical course which measured 3.1 miles in length.
The Elite Mens race was an eight lap affair, and after a first lap challenge from IMBRC rider Niall Davis, Robin Seymour had little trouble in defending his title, the Wicklow rider clearly delighted as he crossed the finish line. For the organising Banbridge Club there was great celebration as Roger Aiken grabbed third place, just over a minute down on Davis. There was disappointment early in the race for XMTB rider Conor McConvey. He had been chasing Aiken for third, however a puncture on the third lap saw him drop down the leaderboard. The young Belfast based rider eventually finished 6th. Peter Buggle (Team Worc) once again performed superbly to take fourth. Ryan Sherlock (MAD) had a good ride to fifth.
Beth McCluskey (Epic) captured the Elite Womens title taking the six lapper comfortably from reigning champion Tarja Owens. The bronze medal went to UCD’s Cait Elliott, who completed a great debut season in the Elite ranks, Cait also winning the Irish Elite Womens NPS title.
One of the most popular wins of the day came in the Junior race. The six lapper was controlled from start to finish by Banbridge rider Liam McGreevy, a contrast to the same time two weeks earlier as he lay in Tallaght Hospital following a crash at Tymon Park, with what was a suspected broken leg and thinking that his season had been wrecked. Cheered on by a very partisan crowd, young McGreevy was overjoyed as he crossed the line to take his first ever Irish title, thus continuing a long family tradition in the McGreevy family. Behind the Banbridge rider a superb battle took lace for second which went all the way to the finish, XMTB’s Graham Boyd just out sprinting IMBRC rider Paul O’Reilly to the line.
French exile Yvain Sogno took the Experts title in style, the Team Worc rider ending the six lap event with over four minutes to spare over runner up, IMBRC’s Dave Barry. Evan Ryan(Team Worc) took a close third with his fellow Worc front runners Phillip Roche and Richard Felle both early retirements. As expected, Joe McCall (K Capital Source) captured the Masters title, the popular rider having no equals as he cpmpleted the six laps with almost seven minutes to spare over runner up, Englishman Mark Allen (Red Kite Cycles). Peter O’Farrell was third and Niall Quinlan(myhome.ie/Cycleways) fourth. With Allen being a BCF licence holder, O’Farrell took the Irish silver medal and Quinlan the bronze.
Cuchulainn’s Gerry McCabe as expected wrapped up the Vets title, the old men only having to face four laps. The result may have been different had XMTB’s Robbie Lamont not crashed out on the second lap, at the time he was in the wheel tracks of McCabe. Lamont was taken from the course with a suspected broken bone in his ankle, the latest news is that hopefully it may be badly damaged ligaments. Former Downhill ace, Paul McMenamin (Specialized/Leisure Lakes), took an excellent second place, the Omagh rider having been a welcome addition to the thriving Vets Class this year. The final podium position went to Newry Wheelers all rounder Peter McCConville.
A week after winning the Irish Masters DH title, Chain Reaction’s Michael Cowan stood on top of the podium at Tollymore to receive his award for winning the Sports Mens event. For two of the three laps the leader was Lakeland CC’s Michael Holland with Cowan setting off for the final circuit only a few seconds down. Holland ran out of gas on the final circuit and it was Cowan who took a fine win. A very tired Holland did well to finish second with Brain O’Driscoll in third. Anne Duffy as expected took the Sports Womens race though Jenny Kilbride (U/A) was a very close second. Making the long trip from Galway, Sadhbh Baxter (West Coast Wheelers) completed the podium.
XMTB rider Jonny Beers easily took the U-16 race, the young Antrim rider finishing well clear of runner up, fellow Club rider William Boyd. Sorrento’s Conal Higgins was third with newly crowned Irish U-16 DH Champion, David Graham (Banbridge CC) taking fourth on his XC debut. The U-14 race was a great achievement for the top three, all who rode the previous day in the fourth round of the British NPS in Plymouth. East Antrim’s Jack Wilson took the crown, this after having overcome a nasty crash in Plymouth to finish in eighth. Banbridge rider Michael Runciman was runner up, he was sixth in Plymouth with fellow Bann rider Matt Adair third, Matt having finished fourth in Plymouth and only having arrived back in Dublin Port at 6am on Sunday morning! Another member of the Cycling Ulster Squad on duty in Plymouth was XMTB’s Claire Oakley, the young Newtownards lady did well to take fifth.
Having recently swept the board at the Irish Youth Road Race Champs, Banbridge rider Mark Downey added to his medal collection by taking the U-12 race at Tollymore, Mark overcoming a determined challenge from fellow Bann rider Dan Runciman. XMTB’s Chris Oakley was third. Aimee Ogilby was the best lady finisher in 5th place. Banbridge scored again with James Curry winning the U-10 title for the second year in succession. Runner up was Newry’s Cian McConvey with XMTB rider Conor Nairn taking third.
In an all Banbridge dominated podium in the U-8 class John Buller won from Richard Baird and Shannon Buller. Banbridge rider Shenna McKiverigan was best of the lady riders taking fifth, the same position achieved by her dad Liam on his mtb debut in the Sports Class!
Banbridge CC would like to thank all the riders who supported the event, an event that almost didn’t take place due to ridiculous red tape set by a few governmental departments. A big thanks to the staff at Tollymore Forest and to medic Mary Hardy.
Andy Potts
Results:
Name Club Time
1 Robin Seymour Team Worc 2.13.02
2 Niall Davis IMBRC 2.17.53
3 Roger Aiken Banbridge CC 2.18.56
4 Peter Buggle Team Worc 2.24.21
5 Ryan Sherlock MAD 2.26.37
6 Conor McConvey XMTB 2.28.40
7 Lewis Ferguson TEAM BHB 7 laps
8 James McCluskey Team Worc 7 laps
9 Simon McConnell MTB Rider 6 laps
Elite Women 6 laps
1 Beth McCluskey EPIC 2.08.36
2 Tarja Owens Team Worc 2.15.43
3 Cait Elliott UCD 2.16.57
4 Ciara McManus XMTB 5 laps
5 Mel Spath MAD 5 laps
JUNIOR 6 laps
1 Liam McGreevy Banbridge CC 1.51.40
2 Graham Boyd XMTB 1.54.59
3 Paul O’Reilly IMBRC 1.55.00
4 Steve Scrivener MAD DNF
5 Neil McGimpsey XMTB DNF
EXPERTS 6 laps
1 Yvain Sogno Team Worc 1.52.30
2 Dave Barry IMBRC 1.56.56
3 Evan Ryan Team Worc 1.58.00
4 Oisin Boydell UCD 2.06.05
5 Luke Manning IMBRC 2.09.08
6 Matthew Ferguson Team BHB 2.10.36
7 Sean Downey MAD 2.12.30
8 Matt Blaney U/A 2.13.15
9 Alfie Wallace Epic 2.15.01
10 Ben Morrow East Antrim/Audi 2.17.11
11 Dave O’Neill Swords CC 5 laps
12 Darragh Maloney ULMTB 5 laps
13 Luke Small Epic 5 laps
14 Conor Campbell Newry Wheelers 5 laps
15 Andreas Gercsenyi Myhome,ie/Cycleways 5 laps
16 Dwayne McCreadie North Down 5 laps
17 Liam Baxter Newry Wheelers 5 laps
18 Alistair McSorley Apollo 3 laps
19 Damien Duggan Epic DNF
20 Phillip Roche Team Worc DNF
21 Ricahrd Felle Team Worc DNF
22 Alan Clogher TC Racing DNF
MASTERS 6 laps
1 Joe McCall K Capital Source 1.50.52
2 Mark Allen Red Kite Cycles 1.57.33
3 Peter O’Farrell U/A 2.01.21
4 Niall Quinlan Myhome,ie/Cycleways 2.02.52
5 Gordon Lucas Team Worc 2.03.28
6 Rory Walsh Epic 2.07.00
7 Don Travers Banbridge CC 2.07.27
8 Aaron O’Donohue U/A 2.09.48
9 Stuart Galloway Team Worc 2.10.08
10 Tadeusl Denes MBLL 2.24.16
11 Seb Szarkowicz MBCC 2.34.28
12 Tony Brennan Bray Wheelers 5 laps
13 Oscar Mac Ananey Epic 5 laps
14 Brian Keogh U/A 5 laps
15 Morgan O’Connell MAD 5 laps
16 Paul Anderson Banbridge CC 5 laps
17 Colm Ahern Orwell 5 laps
18 Joe Jackman Epic 5 laps
19 Derk Hanna Dromara CC 5 laps
20 Clive Caldwell Total Cycling 5 laps
21 Carsten Schmicht MAD 5 laps
22 Jim Laird XMTB DNF
23 John Mason Myhome,ie/Cycleways DNF
24 Stephen Coogan XMTB DNF
25 Craig Brady K-Capital Source DNF
26 Andrew Wallace Northern/Dave Kane DNF
27 Martin O’Hagan Newry Wheelers DNS
VETS 4 laps
1 Gerry McCabe Cuchulainn CC 1.16.13
2 Paul McMenamin Specialized/Leisure Lakes 1.18.40
3 Peter McConville Newry Wheelers 1.20.16
4 William Mulligan Banbridge CC 1.21.52
5 Paraig Bonnie U/A 1.22.25
6 John O’Reilly Epic 1.23.31
7 Declan McCabe Cuchulainn CC 1.24.15
8 Simon Curry Banbridge CC 1.24.32
9 Andy Burns Orchard Wheelers 1.27.02
10 Conal Higgins Sorrento CC 1.28.42
11 Steve Nicholson Team Worc 1.33.32
12 Bob Patterson Dromara CC 1.34.32
13 Richie Byrne Epic 1.35.06
14 Eamon McConvey XMTB 1.36.15
15 Maurice Mayne Banbridge CC 3 laps
16 Trevor Annett Dromara CC 3 laps
17 Fred McSorley Apollo CT 3 laps
18 Eamon McConvey Newry Wheelers DNF
19 Jon Runciman Banbridge CC DNF
20 Robert Lamont XMTB DNF
21 Cameron Burns Apollo CT DNF
SPORTS MEN 3 laps
1 Michael Cowan Chain Reaction Cycles 1.03.30
2 Michael Holland Lakeland CC 1.03.32
3 Brian O’Driscoll U/A 1.04.52
4 Steve Haugh U/A 1.06.48
5 Liam McKiverigan Banbridge CC 1.07.04
6 Colm Keane IMBRC 1.07.24
7 Gareth McKee Banbridge CC 1.07.39
8 Sean Donnelly U/A 1.07.42
9 Alan Ayling Epic 1.09.11
10 Peter Leczycki U/A 1.09.56
11 Dave O’Brien IMBRC 1.11.07
12 Matthew Casey XMTB 1.11.47
13 Flan Kearns Epic 1.12.15
14 Hagen Vogel MAD 1.12.27
15 Ross Galway Dromara CC 1.13.20
16 Martin Grimley Dromara CC 1.14.19
17 Arek Gogojewicz MAD 1.14.21
18 Chris Long U/A 1.14.50
19 Darren McGann U/A 1.15.04
20 Stephen Prentice Banbridge CC 1.15.52
21 Dave Askin Staggs Cycles 1.16.40
22 Cormac Ahern MAD 1.16.57
23 Ben Marchant IMBRC 1.18.48
24 Bill McGimpsey XMTB 1.23.08
25 Ronnie Ogilby XMTB 1.26.00
26 Conor Graham XMTB 1.26.22
27 Oliver Castle U/A U/A
28 Nigel McConnell MAD 1.28.45
29 Peter Chadwick Epic 1.33.05
30 Dale McMullan Chain Reaction Cycles DNF
SPORTS WOMEN 3 laps
1 Anne Duffy Newry Wheelers 1.19.57
2 Jenny Kilbride U/A 1.20.30
3 Sadhbh Baxter West Coast Wheelers 1.24.48
4 Natalie Jedda Epic 1.33.20
5 Joanne McCallum Banbridge CC 2 laps
6 Nicola Oldham Banbridge CC 2 laps
7 Aisling Corkery U/A DNF
U-16 3 laps
1 Jonny Beers XMTB 1.02.40
2 William Boyd XMTB 1.06.38
3 Conal Higgins Sorrento CC 1.11.15
4 David Graham Banbridge CC 1.15.15
5 Andrew Wilson Banbridge CC 1.20.40
6 Shane Geoghan MAD DNF
U-14 2 laps
1 Jack Wilson East Antrim Audi 46.25
2 Michael Runciman Banbridge CC 47.25
3 Matthew Adair Banbridge CC 49.00
4 Robert Scanlon Team Worc 54.50
5 Claire Oakley XMTB 1.00.18
6 Jack Shannon U/A 1.02.50
7 William Heslip Banbridge CC 1.06.47
8 Ryan McCarthy U/A 1.11.04
U-12 6 small laps
1 Mark Downey Banbridge CC 16.00
2 Dan Runciman Banbridge CC 16.27
3 Chris Oakley XMTB 17.18
4 Zk Hanna Dromara CC 18.12
5 Aimee Ogilby XMTB 5 laps
6 Eamonn Gatt XMTB 5 laps
U-10 4 small laps
1 James Curry Banbridge CC 12.12
2 Cian McConvey Newry Wheelers 13.38
3 Conor Nairn XMTB 14.02
4 Joseph Baird Banbridge CC 14.04
5 Rachel Mayne Banbridge CC DNF
6 Jill Curry Banbridge CC DNF
U-8 2 small laps
1 John Buller Banbridge CC 7.37
2 Richard Baird Banbridge CC 7.53
3 Shannon Buller Banbridge CC 8.16
4 Stuart Dunlop Banbridge CC 8.29
5 Shenna McKiverigan Banbridge CC 8.30
6 Mark Buller Banbridge CC 9.19
7 Fergal McConvey Newry Wheelers 10.05
8 Jack Lamont XMTB 10.06
9 Ben Hanna Dromara CC 10.31
10 Callum Stewart XMTB 10.44
11 Niamh McKiverigan Banbridge CC 12.03
12 Shane Burns Apollo CT 13.20
13 Rebekah Ogilby XMTB 13.33