Date: Sunday 1 June 1997
Event: NI MTB League Round 2
Location: Moneyscalp Forest
Host club: Belfast Belvoir Road Club
NI XC League Round 2 MONEYSCALP WOOD Round 2 of the Northern Ireland Cross Country League was held at Moneyscalp Wood on a scorching hot Sunday on the first day of June by the Belfast Belvoir Road Club. Some ingenious undergrowth exploration had seen the familiar loop of the wood course altered to extend the lap length and include all of the previous day’s downhill course prompting Andy Yoong and Mark Smyth to ride on their downhill bikes despite the solitary 46 tooth chainrings. The steep, fire road climb was still there, as was the technical, singletrack climb at the back of the Wood so that must give some indication of how much they’d enjoyed the previous day’s activities.
The Under 12’s didn’t use the full course, instead they were to race on a section of the track in a back to front direction, the highlight of which was being able to descend the technical climb which would cause the Seniors headaches later on. A sprint finish saw a new name on top of the heap, Philip McLaughlin just edging perennial winner Lewis Ferguson into second place by a mere second. Thomas Jenson of the Irish Mountain Bike Racing Club was finishing third ahead of Drogheda’s ever chirpy Matthew King and James Wray. A seriously depleted field and the hard nature of the course saw only three Under 14’s finish their race on the full course, Colin Ross taking a fine weekend double of wins ahead of Graham Laird and Jamie Scott.
It was situation normal in the Under 16 class with Duane McCreadie adding to his impressive tally of wins yet again but it was a new name in second, Eamonn Prendergast, with a close call in third between fellow Toyota North Down riders, Keith Leinster and Ricky Blaney, Keith just getting the verdict from Ricky whose performances have taken a step upwards since Daddy had provided him with a nice new Gary Fisher frame. Interested in adoption Eric?
James McMaster consistent run of form continued in the Junior class with a resounding victory which must make him favourite to lift some serious medals of the gold colour later in the season. Brian Curran was rediscovering some of his early season fitness with a second place while Peter Murray was only just beating Andrew Yoong for third, downhill bike and all. Gill Smith was looking good for claiming the Overall League title for Female racers after yet another win, this time ahead of Ciara McManus and Joanne McCallum whose mind was more on the upcoming joys of a girlie holiday in Tenerife than the ups and downs of mountain biking.
Colin Starrett was an early retirement from the Senior race after taking a slightly too close look at one of the trail bordering trees although thankfully his injuries weren’t serious and his girlfriend was on hand to offer just the right amount of sympathy. Simon Loughlin was making the most of one of the favourite’s elimination taking a superb win over Liam Nelson while his McConvey’s team mate Eamon Guilfoyle had a fantastic ride to take his best result to date in third. Peter McConville was a competitive fourth with his doppelganger, Aidan McDonald one place back in fifth. Ryan Hamilton was giving it some serious race face on his way to sixth. Other highlights from the day were a resurgent Mark Welsh’s eighth place and Mark Smyth’s eleventh on the single speed chopper while the blood thirsty downhiller party dudes were enjoying the many pained expressions and failed attempts to get down the descent without mishap, none more so than Andy Laverty’s who hit exactly the same tree as on the previous day but without the benefit of body armour was taking slightly longer to get back onto his feet. A puncture not long after just added insult to injury.
RESULTS
Seniors
1 Simon Loughlin – McConvey Cycles
2 Liam Nelson – Ballymena Road Club-Raleigh
3 Eamonn Guilfoyle – McConvey Cycles
4 Peter McConville – Newry Wheelers
5 Aiden McDonald – Apollo Cycle Team
6 Ryan Hamilton – Phoenix
7 John Hatton – Sorrento CC
8 Mark Welsh – Bann Wheelers CC
9 Darren Quigg – Bann Wheelers CC-Not Just Sport
10 Paul Reid – McConvey Cycles
11 Mark Smyth – Armstrong Bike Dock
12 Owen Byrne – Mountain Cycles
13 Mark Bartely – Armstrong Bike Dock
14 Simon Fleming – Team Madigan
15 Lee Brown – Team Madigan
16 Mark Forrester –
17 Andy Laverty – Giant UK
18 Barry Russell – Queens MTB
19 Paul Brannigan –
20 Eamonn McConvey – McConvey Cycles
Vets
1 Knud Jensen – Sorrento CC
2 William Nelson – Ballymena Road Club
3 Michael Murphy – Armstrong Bike Dock
4 Geoff Coupland – Apollo Cycle Team
5 Kieran Murphy –
Juniors
1 James McMaster – Ards CC
2 Brian Curran –
3 Peter Murray –
4 Andrew Yoong – Armstrong Bike Dock
5 Darren McCluney – Chain Reaction
6 Gareth McKay – Toyota North Down
Ladies
1 Gill Smith – Armstrong Bike Dock
2 Ciara MacManus – Armstrong Bike Dock
3 Joanne McCallum – Armstrong Bike Dock
Under 16
1 Duane McCreadie –
2 Eamonn Prendergast –
3 Keith Leinster – Toyota North Down
4 Ricky Blaney – Toyota North Down
5 Neil McCluney – Chain Reaction
6 Neil McCallum – Armstrong Bike Dock
7 Daniel Coyle – Toyota North Down
8 Nathan Hogg – Armstrong Bike Dock
9 Andrew Coupland – Apollo Cycle Team
10 Owen Jeffries –
11 Andrew Murray – Belfast Belvoir Road Club
Under 14
1 Colin Ross – Armstrong Bike Dock
2 Grahame Laird – Belfast Belvoir Road Club
3 Jamie Scott –
Under 12
1 Philip McLaughlin –
2 Lewis Ferguson – Armstrong Bike Dock
3 Thomas Jensen – IMBRC
4 Matthew King – Drogheda Wheelers
5 James Wray –
6 Matthew Ferguson – Armstrong Bike Dock
7 Thomas Baher –
8 Mark Willis –
9 Chris Jones – Armstrong Bike Dock
10 Lowell McCreadie – Toyota North Down
11 Owen Watson –
Report by: Uberdog
Original report location here