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Last Updated: Sep 9th, 2010 - 19:42:42 |
The 2007 Cyclo Cross season may only be two races old but what a thrilling season it is proving to be. On Saturday East Antrim Audi promoted the second event of the season at Larne’s Seacourt Community Centre, the seven lap Cyclo Cross race producing a superb sunshine showdown between four riders. Having finished runner up at the opening race in Lurgan, Team BHB’s Lewis Ferguson stole the show at Larne with a last gasp victory.
A huge congratulations must go to the East Antrim Club who, in conjunction with Larne Borough Council, produced a great course, what a pity all their hard work didn’t get better support from many of the Cyclo Cross regulars!
Conditions at Larne hotted up just as the riders lined up for the start of the cyclo cross race as the sun made a welcome appearance, a sign of what was to come during the following seven laps. Ross Blaney (Ards CC) raced into the lead from the start as the riders tackled the flowing grassy turns which led up to the opening set of step overs. By this stage Newry’s Gary Henning had taken the lead, his ankles tickled by the likes of Lewis Ferguson, Blaney, Conor Campbell, Peter McConville and Graham Boyd.
Ending the first lap four riders had opened up a gap over the rest of the pack, thus began the thrilling encounter for glory between Lewis Ferguson, Conor Campbell(Newry Wheelers), Graham Boyd (XMTB) and Liam McGreevy (Banbridge CC). Behind this quartet the Newry pair of Peter McConville and Gary Henning began their own battle which was to last for most of the race.
Ferguson got a lucky break at the end of the second lap when Boyd tried to bunny hop the logs but failed and crashed into the back of McGreevy, this letting Campbell into second. The ‘youngsters’ soon recovered and very soon all four riders were back together in nose to tail formation. Campbell took a turn at the front on lap three but Ferguson, Boyd and McGreevy made sure he didn’t escape. Over the next few laps both Ferguson and Boyd launched attacks without success. On the last lap Ferguson held the lead from Boyd and McGreevy as Campbell showed signs of tiring.
The leading three came into the closing section of the course and could have been covered by the proverbial blanket. In the section behind the Community Centre the trio stayed together and as they came onto the final grass climb to the finish the pace increased in readiness for the sprint. Ferguson led the way over the final set of log step overs with Boyd on his tail, at this point McGreevy hit his knee off the bike frame, and this just did enough to put him out of the short burst to the finish. The victory was Ferguson’s with Boyd and McGreevy finishing literally inches behind. Campbell completed the race in fourth, a fine ride by the oldest member of the quartet.
The all Newry battle for fifth was settled on the final lap with Gary Henning succeeding in attacking his older rival Peter McConville, Gary well pleased with his result. The Newry riders took the team prize. (Apologies to Gary for missing him from the first set of results issued after the Lurgan race last week) Ross Blaney did well to finish seventh, with course designer and chief worrier Danny Hylands (East Antrim) just holding Banbridge CC’s William Mulligan out of eighth. Ballymena’s Sean Wright completed the top ten with Flying Fred McSorley totally pleased with his 11th place.
In the U-16 race, held in conjunction with the main cyclo cross event but over five laps, XMTB’s William Boyd was the winner over Team Madigan’s Johnny Cole.
Apres Race Quotes:
Lewis Ferguson: “I really enjoyed that it was a great cyclo cross race. I launched a few attacks but couldn’t get away; the other lads were really strong. I rode that hard that I was sick after the finish.!!!!!!”
Graham Boyd: “That was a tough race and it is time that I had a result like that. I was pleased that I could stay with the pace. Liam and myself watched Lewis hopping the stopovers so I thought I would have a go. I fell and crashed into the back of Liam!”.
Liam McGreevy: “ Going for the sprint at the finish I made a mess of the final section of logs. I lifted the bike and the frame smacked off my knee. When I jumped back on the bike I couldn’t get clipped in. The race was good fun, my last cyclo cross race was in January at the Irish Champs, I didn’t finish that day due to a puncture.”
Conor Campbell: “I wish the organisers would put in more downhill than uphill! It was a case of the young lads stretching the old man to the limit.”
Gary Henning: “What a hectic start, someone must have told Ross there was a prize for reaching the opening turn first. I enjoyed the race with Peter, only managing to pull clear from him on the last lap.”
Cyclo Cross Calendar
21st October Tymon Park, Dublin IMBRC
28th October Beltoy, Carrickfergus Team Madigan
4th November Island Centre, Lisburn Dromara CC
11th November Castle Park,Bangor XMTB
25th November Corkagh Park,Dublin Team Worc
1st December Rostrevor,County Down Newry Wheelers
6th Jan 2008 Irish Champs Tymon Park Dublin IMBRC
Support Races.
Carryduff rider Phil O’Neill took the honours in the 5 lap MTB race, but only after a great scrap for the lead with North Down’s Paul Ferguson. Banbridge CC’s Paul Anderson was third with fellow Club rider Liam McKiverigan in fourth. Matthew Adair was the lone U-14 rider, the Bann ace having a useful workout over the five laps as he finished fifth overall. In a sprint to the line for sixth, Glen Armstrong (U/A) just edged out Team Madigan’s Steve Farr. In a similar finish Phoenix rider Ed Boyle grabbed eighth from Banbridge CC’s Stevie Prentice. The O’Neill’s had double cause for celebration when Phil’s wife Valerie took the Womens event ahead of Banbridge rider Nicola Oldham. Bann’s Harriet Mayne was third with yet another Bann rider, Joanne McCallum in fourth.
The U-12 race produced a superb dual between Banbridge CC’s Dan Runciman and XMTB’s Chris Oakley. The pair battled throughout the five laps of the small course constantly swapping positions, with Dan just winning the sprint to the finish. Rachel Mayne (Banbridge CC) gave her new bike a fine debut by taking third. Conor Nairn (XMTB) won the U-10 race from Banbridge CC rider Joseph Baird. Well done to Kelly Colton for making the long trip to Larne from Emyvale and finishing third in the U-10 race. In the U-8 event it was a case of business as usual as John Buller scored yet another victory ahead fellow Bann riders Richard Baird and Shannon Buller.
Well done to the few East Antrim members who put on a great show at Larne, Danny, Gary, Jimmy and Madigan’s Bill Mackness and team. Thanks also must go to the folk from the Seacourt Community Centre for the use of their facilities. Top marks to the chef who prepared the soup, just perfect.
Report and pictures © Andy Potts
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| Cyclo cross start |
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| Lewis Fergusion leads |
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| Conor Campbell hopping the logs |
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| Gary Henning |
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| Juniors chase |
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| Step over |
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| The leaders |
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| The Newry dual |
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| Conor Campbell |
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| Top four |
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| The Vets battle |
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| Women's MTB race |
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| Battle for lead in men's MTB race |
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| U 8 start |
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| U 8 Winner - John Butler |
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| U 12 Start |
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| U 16 winner William Boyde |
EAST ANTRIM AUDI CYCLO CROSS - LARNE 13/10/2007
Cyclo Cross Race 7 laps
1 Lewis Ferguson Team BHB 39.54
2 Graham Boyd XMTB 39.54
3 Liam McGreevy Banbridge CC 39.54
4 Conor Campbell Newry Wheelers 39.55
5 Gary Henning Newry Wheelers 41.21
6 Peter McConville Newry Wheelers 41.44
7 Ross Blaney Ards CC 42.20
8 Danny Hylands East Antrim Audi 43.12
9 William Mulligan Banbridge CC 43.18
10 Sean Wright Ballymena RC 43.51
11 Fred McSorley Apollo CT 44.44
12 Kevin Lynch Newry Wheelers 45.08
13 Sam Craig North Down 45.13
14 Simon Curry Banbridge CC 46.35
15 Liam O'Connor Bann Valley 46.47
16 Jon Runciman Banbridge CC
17 Dale McMullan Chain Reaction
18 Michael Hamilton North Down
19 Liam Baxter Newry Wheelers
20 Junior McAuley Apollo CT
21 William Forsythe Banbridge CC
22 Conor Graham XMTB
23 Maurice Mayne Banbridge CC
U-16 Cyclo Cross 5 laps
1 Willam Boyd XMTB 32.40
2 John Cole Team Madigan 33.01
MTB Race Men 5 laps
1 Phil O'Neill U/A
2 Paul Ferguson North Down
3 Paul Anderson Banbridge CC
4 Liam McKiverigan Banbridge CC
5 Matthew Adair Banbridge CC U-14
6 Glen Armstrong U/A
7 Steve Farr Team Madigan
8 Ed Boyle Phoenix CC
9 Steven Prentice Banbridge CC
10 Andy Rea North Down
11 Ronnie Ogilby XMTB
12 Bug McAfee Banbridge CC
MTB Race Women 5 laps
1 Valerie O'Neill U/A
2 Nicola Oldham Banbridge CC
3 Harriet Mayne Banbridge CC
4 Joanne McCallum Banbridge CC
YOUTH MTB RACES
U-12 5 small laps
1 Dan Runciman Banbridge CC
2 Chris Oakley XMTB
3 Rachel Mayne Banbridge CC
4 Daniel Gordon U/A
5 Ty Mackness Team Madigan
6 Aimee Ogilby XMTB
U-10 3 small laps
1 Connor Nairn XMTB
2 Joseph Baird Banbridge CC
3 Kelly Colton Emyvale CC
U-8 2 small laps
1 John Buller Banbridge CC
2 Richard Baird Banbridge CC
3 Shannon Buller Banbridge CC
4 Shenna McKiverigan Banbridge CC
5 Mark Buller Banbridge CC
6 Joel Smyth U/A
7 Kendal Mackness Team Madigan
8 Scott Hylands East Antrim Audi
9 Jack Baird U/A
IMAGES COPYRIGHT:
Any images included in this article remain the property of the photographer, by whom all rights are retained, 2007 ©. Use of images for electronic or print purposes is may be possible with the express, written permission of the photographer.
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