Date: Wednesday 15 June 2005
Event: Round 3 Ulster MTB XC League
Location: Barnetts Demesne, Belfast
Host club: Team BHB
Ulster MTB XC League.Round 3.Barnets Demense
New Race Format At Barnets Race
Round three of the Ulster MTB Cross Country League took place on Wednesday evening at the picturesque setting of Barnets Demense in Belfast promoted by Team BHB. Conditions proved ideal for both racing and spectating as organiser Billy Ferguson introduced a new handicapped style of racing which certainly proved popular with all concerned.
The Senior race was held over six laps of the sprawling parkland course with all the normal classes being included in the 33 strong entry, the only difference this time was that instead of a separate winner of each class, there was an overall winner. Riders will be awarded the normal points for their various classes. The Sports/Ladies set off first, three minutes later came the Vets, one minute ahead of the Masters, the Juniors another minute down and the Pro/Elite Class last away with an overall handicap of seven minutes.
The early laps of the race saw Cuchullian’s Gerry McCabe soar into a runaway lead and many on the sidelines reckoned he was capable of overall success. By the end of the third lap, half distance, Robbie Lamont had chased down the Dundalk rider and snatched the lead just before the end of the lap, with Lewis Ferguson in second and in search of a ‘home’ win for Team BHB. On the penultimate lap Ferguson moved into the lead leaving XMTB’s Lamont in a strong second with Connor McConvey (XMTB), the leading Junior, in third. Tim Edgar was moving well after a slow start, the XMTB rider now in fourth ahead of early leader McCabe who was about to come under attack from Banbridge rider William Mulligan, the latter increasing his pace when he learnt that there were only prizes for the first five!
At the finish Lewis Ferguson took a popular win, his second Ulster League success in a row. Robbie Lamont took second, and first Vet finisher, just over one minute down on Ferguson with McConvey a strong third, his main rival in the Junior Class,Andy McCullough having retired in the early part of the race with mechanical problems. Tim Edgar held fourth as a battle ragged behind
him for fifth, William Mulligan having an embarrassing fall at the final corner and still snatching fifth, and the last prize, from Gerry McCabe, Gerry taking maximum points in the Sports Class. Martin O’Hagan (Newry Wheelers) was and first Master to finish, followed by Vet riders Johnny McCabe and Andy Burns. Team Madigans Danny Hylands completed the top ten, running the closing stages after the chain became jammed in his wheel. Caira McManus was the first woman finisher with Dromara CC’s Caroline Adams second on her MTB debut.
The U-14/U16 riders had their own two lap version of the Senior event, the U-14’s getting a one and a half minute start on the U-16’s. At the end of the first lap Michael Gordon was the clear leader ahead of a very close train of U 16 riders made up of Graham Boyd, Andy Hunter, Neil McGimpsey and Sean Downey. On the last lap U-14 rider Gordon was passed by the U-16 ‘train’ and as expected the race came down to a sprint finish with Graham Boyd just having the edge over fellow XMTB riders Andy Hunter and Neil McGimpsey. Banbridge rider Sean Downey lost touch with the XMTB riders after crashing three times on the last lap, Sean just managing to hang onto fourth ahead of early leader and U-14 winner Michael Gordon. Liam McGreevy (Banbridge CC) grabbed sixth from his hero, XMTB’s Andy Godfrey. The remainder of the U-14 riders provided superb action as Johnny Beers just edged out Chris Cameron from eighth overall, and in a battle of the local rivals Matt Quinn of Banbridge outsprinted Sam Patterson from Dromara to grab tenth.
Banbridge rider Michael Runciman was a clear winner of the U-12 race as another Banbridge rider Mark Downey took the honours in the U-10 Class. With series leader James Curry missing, the U-8 race saw a great dual between winner Ty Mackness and runner up Johnny Dunlop.
A hectic night of racing came to an end with Short Course racing. The U-14 event was won by Dan Runciman from Banbridge with Peter McKeown of XMTB taking the Over 14 event. Well done to all on an excellent event,to Team BHB, fantastic commentary by Ian Brown and to the bicycle mounted members of St.Johns who had more than a few blooded riders to attend to.
For pics of all the excitement click gallery link below.
Report and Pics : Andy Potts
Results
UNDER 8
1 T. Mackness Team Madigan
2 J. Dunlop X-Mtb
3 T. Bowden U/A
4 S. Hylands Team Madigan
UNDER 10
1 M.Downey Banbridge CC
2 D. Runciman Banbridge CC
3 M. Pagels X-Mtb
UNDER 12
1 M.Runciman Banbridge CC
2 M.Corlett X-Mtb
3 K.McEwan X-Mtb
4 Claire Oakley X-Mtb
5 L. Doran U/A
6 G.Dunlop X-Mtb
7 B. McKelvy Dromara CC
UNDER 14 & 16 COMBINED HANDICAP (under 16 plus 90 secs.)
1 G.Boyd X-Mtb Under 16 32-45
2 A.Hunter X-Mtb Under 16 32-46
3 N.McGimpsey X-Mtb Under 16 32-47
4 S.Downey Banbridge CC Under 16 33.40
5 M.Gordon X-Mtb Under 14 33.49
6 L.McGreevy Banbridge CC Under 16 34.12
7 A.Godfery X-Mtb Under 16 35.02
8 J.Beers X-Mtb Under 14 37.35
9 C.Cameron X-Mtb Under 14 37.42
10 M.Quinn Banbridge CC Under 14 38.35
11 S.Patterson Dromara CC Under 14 38.36
12 W.Boyd X-Mtb Under 14 39.28
13 J.Laird X-Mtb Under 14 39.34
SENIORS HANDICAP
Name Club/Team Cat. H’Cap Time Laps
1 L.Ferguson BHB Elite 7 mins 1-31-27 6
2 R.Lamont X-Mtb Veteran 3 mins 1-32-35 6
3 C.McConvey X-Mtb Junior 5 mins 1-35-16 6
4 T.Edgar X-Mtb Elite 7 mins 1-35-58 6
5 W.Mulligan Banbridge CC Veteran 3 mins 1-37-35 6
6 G.McCabe Cuchulainn CC Sports 0 1-38-34 6
7 M.O’Hagan Newry Wheelers Master 4 mins 1-40-40 6
8 J.McCabe Cuchulainn CC Veteran 3 mins 1-41-01 6
9 A.Burns U/A Veteran 3 mins 1-44-32 6
10 D.Hylands Team Madigan Master 4 mins 1-45-18 6
11 A.Wallace Northern CC Master 4 mins 1-49-13 6
12 J.Runciman Banbridge CC Veteran 3 mins 1-50-10 6
13 E.McConvey X-Mtb Veteran 3 mins 1-32-20 5
14 P.Jennings U/A Sports 0 1-33-16 5
15 P.Anderson Banbridge CC Master 4 mins 1-33-39 5
16 R. Corrigan U/A Sports 0 1-33-49 5
17 D.McCabe Cuchulainn CC Veteran 3 mins 1-35-11 5
18 G.Adamson X-Mtb Sports 0 1-36-09 5
19 C.McManus U/A Female 0 1-37-20 5
20 J.Laird X-Mtb Sports 0 1-39-50 5
21 D.McCamphill U/A Sports 0 1-40-10 5
22 M.Bloomer U/A Sports 0 1-41-57 5
23 C.Adams Dromara CC Female 0 1-42-43 5
24 T.Annett Dromara CC Veteran 3 mins 1-44-12 5
25 G.Gray Dromara CC Sports 0 1-46-13 5
26 P.McCormack Apollo RT Master 4 mins 1-34-36 4
27 J.Cousins U/A Sports 0 1-41-37 4
28 C. Graham U/A Sports 0 1-42-00 4
29 L.Ireland U/A Sports DNF
30 B.Patterson Dromara CC Veteran DNF
31 A.McCullough X-Mtb Junior DNF
32 M.Harman U/A Female DNF
33 C.Burns Apollo RT Sports DNS
Original report location here