Date: Sunday 24 July 2005
Event: Northern Ireland MTB Championships
Location: Woodburn Forest
Host club: Team Madigan
Northern Ireland Mountain Bike Cross Country Championships – Report
The Northern Ireland Mountain Bike Cross Country Championships took
place in rather low key fashion at Woodburn Forest on Sunday promoted by Team
Madigan. With riders away on international duty and in the middle of the holiday
period the entry was probably the worst in recent years.
However those riders who made the trip to the event were treated to an excellent course which
bathed in splendid sunshine throughout the day. The Championships also benefited
from very generous sponsorship from Carrickfergus Borough Council. This time
out there were no complaints from the Underage riders about the nature of
their courses, as from U-12 upwards used the full Senior circuit, –
race organisers would take note!
Racing began with the U-10 event which included the U-8 riders, which,
was not really fair on them as they have had their own class during the
league season. On a tough little course Banbridge CC’s Mark Downey won the race
for the third year in succession. James Curry(Banbridge CC) who normally rules
the roost in the U-8 class scored a fine second as he edged fellow club rider
Dan Runciman into third. Markus Pagels took a fine fourth ahead of another
XMTB rider Chris Oakley who was lucky to finish due to an injured knee and chain
problems with his bike. Making a rare outing Jill Curry(Banbridge CC) was
the leading lady, Jill taking sixth from another Banbridge lady Rachel Mayne.
Ty Mackness of the promoting Madigan Club returned from a training holiday in
France to finish 8th.
Overcoming his knee injury sustained at the Irish Championships,
Michael Runciman (Banbridge CC) romped to a start to finish win in the U-12 race
which took in one lap of the Senior course. The silver medal went to another of
the Banbridge squad, Michael Downey as Claire Oakley grabbed the bronze for
XMTB, with Mathew Corlett being the only other finisher. Held over two laps of
the main course the U-14 race saw Johnny Beers gave XMTB their first win of
the day, Johnny leading throughout. Jessica Laird (XMTB) has been in superb
form in recent weeks and as rewarded on Sunday with the silver medal. Chris
Cameron completed a top three for XMTB with a fine ride to take the bronze.
William Boyd (XMTB) recovered from his Bray illness to take fourth ahead of Dromara
CC brothers Mathew and Sam Patterson. Banbridge CC’s Peter McCartan overcame
a nasty crash on the last lap to finish seventh with Banbridge lady Harriet
Mayne eighth on her Woodburn debut.
Andy Hunter looked to be heading for victory in the three lap U-16
race until he retired with a puncture. The race was won by another of the XMTB
clan, Neil McGimpsey looking his old self as he took a strong win ahead of
Graham Boyd(XMTB). Peter McKeown(XMTB) has shown a vast improvement over the past
two months and took a brilliant third. Banbridge rider Sean Downey finished
fourth as Sideways Godfrey (XMTB) completed the top five.
The Pro/Elite Class saw Aidan McDonald(Apollo) continue his comeback
from injury in perfect style with a resounding win, and this was after an early
morning fall in his local shop in Omeath!!! Tim Edgar(XMTB) led for the
first two of the five laps before he fell back to finish a lone second and grump
about how well old men ride as he crossed the finish line. Before returning to
Spain Simon Loughlin(Tandem) took the bronze in the race. In the early laps
he sat just behind the two leaders but he admitted that five crashes on the
third lap lost him any chance of a higher finish. Caira McManus(XMTB) took the
Ladies title,leading from start to finish with Dromara CC’s Caroline Adams
having only her second MTB race to finish second.
Only two Vets turned out with William Mulligan(Banbridge CC) winning
the title for the third year running. Runner up was Bob Patterson, the Dromara
CC rider making a lightning start and giving Uncle William plenty to think
about in the early stages. A very popular winner of the Masters race was
Madigan’s Danny Hylands taking gold ahead of Paul Anderson(Banbridge CC) and Newry’s
Martin O’Hagan who had been on course for the title until a puncture ruined
his chances. The Sports race saw Simon McConnell(U/A) score a runaway success
with Banbridge rider Simon Curry winning anexcellent battle for dsecond with
XMTB’s Gareth Adamson. Darren McCampell took fourth from Maurice
Mayne(Banbridge CC) and Dwayne McCreadie came out of retirement to finish sixth. The only other two finishers were Jim Laird and Lowell McCreadie.
Report by Andy Potts (Banbridge CC)
Original report location here