Date: Sunday 25 September 2005
Event: Ulster & NPS round – E2 event
Location: Leadmines, Conlig
Host club: XMTB
E2 Success For Seymour
The penultimate race of the Irish Cross Country season took place at the Leadmines, Conlig with the XMTB Club promoting their annual E2 event. The hard working members of XMTB put a great effort into running the event with a superb well marshalled course, only to be let down by the MTB fraternity, many of whom failed to support the event. The entire race programme was completed in superb sunshine with the course taking no prisoners after a night of non stop rain.
The feature race was the six lap Pro/elite event which had world ranking points on offer with multi Irish Champion Robin Seymour in a class of his own to confirm his position as Irish number one. The Team WORC rider led from start to finish with only visiting rider James Ouchterlony providing a challenge in the early stages, the Scot eventually taking second. Lewis Ferguson (Team BHB) was the best placed Ulster in third place, the young star holding this position for most of the race. Find of the season, Nial Davis (IMBRC) was a lone fourth, a good result for the Pro/elite newcomer especially as he finished one place ahead of top English rider Phil Cooper (Blue Sky Cycles). Having enjoyed a good run of form since returning from injury, Aiden McDonald (Apollo) waited until the last lap before snatching fifth place from Team WORC’s James McCluskey. Expected front runners Peter Buggle (Team WORC) and English visitor Steven Roach (Trek) were unfortunate early retirements due to mechanical problems.
Race organiser Robbie Lamont overcame an early challenge from visiting English rider Phil Roach (Rugby Velo) to capture the four lap Vets race, this pair well clear of third placed William Mulligan (Banbridge CC). Team WORC rider Paul Coyne was a strong fourth as Declan McCabe fell over the finish line in exhaustion and with a rear wheel puncture, the Cuchullian rider having one of his best rides of the season. Banbridge rider John Runciman came through the field from a slow start to clinch a fine sixth ahead of Eamon McConvey with EPIC star Ritchie Byrne talking his way to eighth place.
The Masters race saw Andy Wallace score a very popular win, the Dave Kane rider leading for three out of the four laps. Martin O’Hagan (Newry Wheelers) was runner up as first lap leader Paul Anderson (Banbridge CC) faded to third. Regular Masters star Danny Hylands was an early retirement with a broken rear mech. Connor McConvey (XMTB) took the honours in the Junior race with Matt Ferguson (Team BHB) a strong second. Expected pace setter Andy McCullough saw his efforts thwarted by cramp though he managed to finish third in front of Apollo rider Alistair McSorley who took fourth despite suffering a nasty hand injury.
As usual the best entry of the day came in the Sports race which was won by muscle bound Cuchullian rider Gerry McCabe. Leader at the end of the first of four laps was EPIC’s Sports class supremo Damien Mullhrone. Next time round the lead was taken by another EPIC rider Damien Duggan who held the lead until the last lap. McCabe swept ahead on the final circuit to clinch a fine win as Alfie Wallace (EPIC) snatched the runner up spot from young XMTB rider Peter McKeown who rode the race of his short career to take a brilliant third. Former race leader Duggan was fourth with Gareth Maguire (IMBRC) fifth just ahead of Kevin Conlon (EPIC). Early leader Mullhrone had been sixth but came to the time keepers afterwards to declare he had cut the course and in a gesture of true honesty asked to be deleted from the results.
In a superb battle for eighth involving four Ulster riders, Banbridge CC’s Simon Curry came out on top ahead of Luke Ireland (U/A), Gareth Adamson and Jim Laird, both XMTB. The race was marred on the opening lap by a nasty crash Matt Blaney son of photographer Eric. Matt sustained a broken collar bone, we all wish him a speedy recovery. Tarja Owens won the Ladies race.
As usual the Underage events provided a superb opening to the racing programme. In the U-8 race the action centred on Irelands top two, with Sorrento’s Jamie Thomas just having the edge over Banbridge CC’s Ulster Champion Curry. Jill Curry (Banbridge CC) a certain future ladies champion was third. In the U-10 class Mark Downey came from behind to clinch victory from Banbridge team mate Dan Runciman. Runciman saw his hopes blighted with gear problems and was lucky not to be caught in the run to the finish by XMTB rider Chris Oakley. Robbie Lamont gave XMTB their first success of the day with victory in the U-12 race, though still way ahead in the points table was runner up Michael Runciman. Banbridge rider Michael Downey was third. Johnny Beers was a convincing winner of the U-14 race in which fellow XMTB rider Michael Gordon was runner up. Top XMTB lady Jessica Laird inherited third after Chris Cameron had to retire due to illness. Banbridge lady star Harriet Mayne was another retirement due to illness, ending up in hospital. We are glad to report that Harriet was not as serious as first reported and is well on her way to recovery looking forward to the next race.
Andy Hunter (XMTB) took the honours in the U-16 race though he was pressured all the way by Banbridge CC’s Sean Downey, the pair well clear of third finisher, English visitor Ben Roach.
Well done to all at XMTB for an excellent, friendly promotion!
For pics of the action click the link below
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Report Andy Potts (Banbridge CC)
Pics courtesy of Paul Byrne Photography
Original report location here