Date: Sunday 23 March 2008
Event: Kcapital Cup – Round 2
Location: Moneyscalp Forest
Host club: Banbridge CC
Robin Seymour (Team Worc) moved a step closer to representing Ireland at the 2008 Olympics with victory in the second round of the K-Capital Cup, held at the picturesque setting of Moneyscalp Wood near Newcastle in County Down.
Promoted by Banbridge Cycling Club, the event attracted an entry of 176, including Belfast’s Conor McConvey who was having his first MTB race after breaking his shoulder five weeks earlier. The entry also featured three reigning Irish DH Champions. Thankfully the weather was kind, though the blasts from a chilly wind were balanced with some hot action on the new course.
The Elite Men faced seven laps of Moneyscalp, last used for an XCO event in 2000, the new course featuring some tough climbs and tricky downhill sections. Joining the leading Irish riders on the grid were visitors Adrian Lansley, Paul Beales, Lee Williams and the Belgian trio of Patrick Gaudy, Cedric Gaudy and Jorgen Flion. Seymour blasted into the lead from the start, out for the first time on his new Campagnola bike. Ending the first lap Seymour enjoyed a 30 seconds advantage over Niall Davis (IMBRC), Adrian Lansley (Pedalon) and Conor McConvey (McConvey Cycles).
By the end of lap two Lansley had moved into a clear second as Davis and McConvey battled for third. The order remained the same until lap six when McConvey attacked Davis and set off after second placed Lansley. Seymour however was keeping a watching brief on his rivals; various sections of the course enabled the riders to see time gaps to other riders.
The riders set out on the final lap cheered on by the large contingent of spectators, many willing McConvey to snatch second from Lansley. McConvey did catch and pass Lansley on the last lap, but the English rider responded by moving back to second on with less than a third of a lap to go. To he sound of the whistles blown by course marshals, Seymour exited the final single track section for the short run to the finish line, the Wicklow rider taking his first win in the series, but more importantly increasing his lead in the points table for ‘the race to Beijing’.
With the final single track section in full view of the spectators massed at the finish, the noise level erupted as they saw McConvey trying to overhaul Lansley in the dash to the finish. However it was Lansley who got the verdict as the pair charged over the line. Davis was fourth and still holds second place in the standings for Olympic qualification, McConvey scoring his first points at Moneyscalp. Welsh rider Lee Williams rode to a strong fifth with Ryan Sherlock (MAD) looking very strong as he crossed the line in sixth.
Patrick Gaudy (Team Barracuda) was the first of the Belgian trio to finish, though their weekend was somewhat wrecked by hire car problems, which saw them having to taken to and from the event by Banbridge CC, this also including leaving the team back to Dublin Airport…thanks Budget Car Hire! Young Belgian rider Jorgen Flion was happy to take some UCI points as he finished in eighth with the ageless Joe McCall (K-Capital/Rocky Mountain) in ninth. IMBRC’s Dave Barry took the final ranking point in tenth place. XMTB rider Graham Boyd just missed out on his first ever ranking point as he finished in 11th, an excellent ride by Graham. Belfast rider Simon McConnell (U/A) finished 15th, making up for his disappointment in not finishing the opening round due to mechanical problems. The final Olympic selection event will be K-Capital Round three at Djouce Woods which is already looking like a classic with entries from Sweden, Poland the Czech Republic, Switzerland and the returning BCF Team led by Oli Beckingsale.
Banbridge CC’s Liam McGreevy keep up his wining form with victory in the 5 lap Junior race, leading throughout to cross the line ahead of Paul O’Reilly (IMBRC) and Neil McGimpsey (XMTB). Scottish rider Jack Richards rode to victory in the Experts event with Luke Manning a superb runner up. The result could have been much different had Irish DH Champion Ben Reid not retired with two laps to go, Reid having dominated the event from the start. Third finisher Oisin Boydell (UCD) took the leaders jersey for the class. Special mention must go to fourth finisher, Gary Henning of Newry Wheelers, better know for his on road performances, this was by far Gary’s best ever Off Road performance. The only other Ulster finisher was Dromara CC’s Ross Galway in 15th, Ross starting to get used to the longer race distances after his move up from the Sports Class. It was good to see Dromara,s MTB king, Derek Hanna spectating at the event as he still recovers from injuries he sustained in a road spill.
James McCluskey (IMBRC) notched up his second win in the Masters Class, James finishing almost ten minutes head of runner up Gordon Lucas (Team Worc) who was just happy to finish after suffering a DNF at the opening round. Epic’s Rory Walsh finished a strong third with MAD’s Fergal Killkenny showing excellent form with his fourth place finish. Clive Caldwell (Total Cycling) is really back in form scoring an excellent 6th with Andy Wallace of Northen CC a great 8th, Andy showing good form early in the season, before his big move up to the Vets next year! Other Ulster finishers were, Richard Greer (U/A) 17th, Glen Armstrong (North Down) 19th. Paul Ferguson is listed as 28th, not sure if this is correct.
Aidan McDonald (ApolloCT) won the Vets race and also took the leaders jersey for the Vets category. Having spent much of the previous two days working on the course, Banbridge CC’s William Mulligan did well to hold off Cuchulainn’s Gerry McCabe to snatch second. Paul McMenamin (Leisure Lakes) took 6th just ahead of the ever smiling Andy Burns (Orchard Juiced) and Peter McConville (Newry Wheelers). Other Ulster finishers were, Simon Curry (Banbridge CC) 10th, Jon Runciman (Banbridge CC) 17th, Paul Anderson (Banbridge CC) 19th, Maurice Mayne (Banbridge CC) 20th and Fred McSorely (Apollo CT) 21st. In the Elite Ladies Class, Mel Spath (MAD) took the win ahead of Ciara McManus (U/A). North Downs Jes Laird was back in action after her nasty spill at the opening round, however Jes retired with mechanical problems.
Scottish visitor Douglas Shearer easily took the Sport Mens event held over three laps. Runner up Mark Solon took the leaders jersey as Chain Reaction’s Sean Donnelly opened his account in the series with a fine third place. Elite DH rider Gareth McKee (Banbridge CC) rode to an excellent 6th in front of a trio of Ulster riders, Matt Casey (XMTB), Justin Reid (XMTB) and Mark Potts (Omagh Wheelers). Irish Junior DH Champion Ewan Doherty ran much of the last lap to take 12th with Dromara’s Martin Grimley 13th and Ronaldo Ogilby (XMTB) in 14th. Junior DH ace Johnny McKee (Banbridge cc) was 16th, Stevie Prentice of Banbridge CC fame 18th and reigning Irih U-16 DH Champion Davy Graham (Banbridge cc) 23rd. The Sports Womens Class was won by Linda Haug (Sorrento) ahead of Rachel Wisdom (Team Worc) and Val O’Neill (Banbridge CC). XMTB ‘s Julie Watt was well pleased to take 4th in the Ladies race with Banbridge duo of Nicola Oldham and Harriett Mayne in 5th and 6th.
Banbridge lad Matt Adair took the honours in the U-16 event ahead of William Boyd (XMTB) and Robert Scanlon (Team Worc). In the U-14 race find of the season Robert Anderson (Orchard Juiced) took his first major win. Having one of his best ever outings, Kyle McEwan (XMTB) finished runner up ahead of fellow Club rider Chris Oakley.
For the promoting Banbridge Club the day began well in the youth events held over the small course. In the U-8 race, Stuart Dunlop had a narrow win over Shenna McKiverigan. Having missed the opener due to illness, John Buller won the U-10 category from round one winner Richard Baird. Spare a thought though for young Morgan Walsh who travelled all the way from Galway to suffer a mechanical on lap two of three while in second place. James Curry once again controlled proceedings in the U-12 outing, crossing the line ahead of fellow Bann riders Rachel Mayne and Joseph Baird.
Banbridge CC would like to thank the following for helping to make the event such a success. Para Medic Paul Hardy, he was able to sit and finish his crossword, thankfully with only a couple of minor incidents to deal with. UCI Commissaire Tony Ferrari, he had many kind words to say about the event. Angela Oakley from XMTB for helping with timekeeping and Eddie Boyd of XMTB for volunteering to marshal. Gavins Recovery of Kilkeel for taking our Belgian friend back to their B+B in Newry on Saturday evening, free of charge. To Banbridge CC member Maurice Mayne, who not only took the Belgians to his house dinner, brought them to and from the venue on Sunday, and then….drove them to Dublin Airport!!!!! Finally, to the small team that constructed the course, and who had to adapt it at the last minute to damage caused by the weather. Well done all.
Report by: Andy Potts
Original report location here