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Last Updated: Sep 7th, 2008 - 23:56:08 |
Round two of the Ulster MTB XC League took place on Saturday at the excellent Craigavon Lakes course promoted by Apollo CT. Organised my Irelands number one smiling cyclist, Fred McSorely, the event was held in perfect sunshine with all participants revelling in the conditions. What a pity that more of the cycling community didn’t give their support to the Apollo event, especially in an area supposedly famous for its youth cyclists. Just one week before the Ulster MTB Champs at Dunmore Mountain, it was great to see a number of the Dromara riders feature in the results.
Banbridge CC rider Mark Buller was the first winner of the day as he took the honours in the U-8 event with fellow Bann rider and Irish Champion Shenna McKiverigan in second. Dromara CC’s Ben Hanna took his best ever result in finishing third, well done Ben. In a hard fought all Banbridge CC U-10 race, Richard Baird pounced on the last of the 6 laps to pip John Buller to the finish. Shannon Buller completed the podium for the Bann club. The U-12 race took place over one lap of the main course, again Banbridge CC took the top three placings, James Curry taking the win ahead of Joseph Baird and Rachel Mayne. XMTB’s Aimee Ogilby, a winner recently on the track, was a good 4th.
One of the most improved riders of the season, XMTB’s Kyle McEwan, won the U-14 encounter, Kyle scoring an excellent win ahead of fellow Club rider Claire Oakley. Apparently U-14 supremo Robert Anderson was on duty elsewhere, hopefully Robert will be at the Ulster Champs. Dan Runciman took third for Bann ahead of Chris Oakley. In fifth it was a case of welcome back wee Robbie Lamont. Yes mini tree trunks was having his first outing since May 2007 though he no longer wee, welcome back Robbie! In the U-16 race Banbridge CC’s Matthew Adair notched up yet another success with fellow Bann rider Michael Runciman a close second and showing his form of old, Michaels season having being disrupted by injury. Wild William Boyd took third for XMTB with Juiced Orchard’s Mantas Spirgius in 4th.
The Sports race provided Harps CC rider JJ Conway with a fine debut win, JJ leading for most of the three lapper. In a close battle for second, Dromara CC’s Martin Grimley came out on top, his case helped when Banbridge rider Stephen Goan was forced to retire with a puncture on the last lap. Race Commissaire Stevie Prentice was visibly moved by Martin’s result, the pair normally arch rivals on the race track, Stevie promised to give Martin a tough time at theUlster Champs. Apollo CT’s all action hero Cameron Burns was third with MTB debutant Ian Buchannan in 4th, Ian well known in motorcycle circles for his moto cross and enduro exploits, and a member of the Andy Burns Supporters Club!. Banbridge lady Nicola Oldham took the honours in the Sport Womens class.
The Elite race was held over six laps and was a procession for Apollo ace Aiden McDonald. In the early part of the race Banbridge CC’s Liam McGreevy made the running with Wee Ali McSorely in second and McDonald third. Wee Ali had to stop to fix a chain problem and was disqualified for cutting the course, though was allowed to continue as he is in training for the Three Peaks Cyclo X event. For the Whippet McGreevy, he was forced to retire after suffering from muscle pain in his back. Graham Boyd of XMTB fame was also an early retirement due to a puncture. McDonald proceeded to a fine win with Simon ‘newly wed’ McConnell (Real Cycles) in second.
Dromara CC’s number one MTB ace, at least when Deek Hanna isn’t injured, Ross Galway, took his first ever win with success in the Experts event, congratulations Ross. Colm Mullen of the famous Unattached Club was runner up with Ronan Corrigan (XMTB) in third. Luke Ireland (Real Cycles) one of the best MTB all rounders in Ireland, was a retirement after having beeen in an early race battle for second. Having sold himself to road racing for much of the season Danny Hylands (East Antrim Audi) won the Masters event. Danny though that he was being chased by ApolloCT’s jovial joker Junior McAuley, little did Danny know that Junior was forced to retire with broken spokes in his rear wheel (Junior assisted back to the pits by the McSorleymobile). It was only at the finish that Danny realised all his hard work was wasted as he saw Junior standing on the finish line! XMTB rider Ronnie Ogilby chose to ride the Masters instead of the Sports, Ronnie rewarded with second place. What Ronnies normal rivals, Stevie Prentice and Martin Grimley, want to know is, will Ronnie return to the Sports Class now that he is an all conquering Master? Steve Coogan Ah Hah took third in the Masters for XMTB.
The best entry of the day came in the old mans event, the Vets, with Tree Trunks Lamont back to form after his ankle operation at the start of the summer, apparently his thighs got that big that his ankles couldn’t support the weight! Tree Trunks was chased all the way by Paul McMenamin (Leisure Lakes), Paul a close runner up and surely one of the favourites for the Vets title at the all technical Dunmore course this Saturday. Johnny McCabe (Cuchulainn) was the only one of the infamous McCabe Clan to make the trip to Craigavon, and had he not kept threatening to put our race reporter into the canal he may have finished higher up! The next two places were filled by two of Cycling Ulster’s smiliest faces, Andy Burns (Juiced Orchard) in fourth and Simon Curry (Banbridge CC) fifth.
Very well done to Fred and all the hard working Apollo CT members for an excellent day’s entertainment, the riders most appreciative of the shower facilities. At a time when The Forest Service DARD refused to move on the ridiculous £500 fee for events, it is encouraging to see Clubs like Apollo and Dromara finding alternative venues. By the way, the latest on the Forest situation is that DARD still say that the fee is used to pay for the formatting of the licence, payment for DARD Staff to visit the course, upkeep of facilities/trails etc….It seems strange that at a time when the government seem ready to pour millions into a velodrome, the same government is hampering off road cycling in the Forests, a facility ‘already built’.
Rant over….don’t forget that the Ulster MTB Champs will be held at the superb Dunmore Mountain course this Saturday, promoted by Dromara CC. The course will be signposted from Ballynahainch and Dromara. For those who have never been at the course, it is one of the best and most challenging courses in Ireland, and for spectators the views are breath taking. The following Saturday, 20th, Cuchulainn CC hold a Marathon event in the Carlingford area, race HQ is the Carlingford sailing Club. On Sunday 28th September the final round of the Irish XC NPS tales place in Castlewellan Forest Park.
UNDER 8
Mark Buller (Banbridge CC)
Shenna Mc Kiverigan (Banbridge CC)
Ben Hanna (Dromara CC)
Jack Baird (Banbridge CC)
Drew Armstrong U/A
Rebekah Ogilby (Xmtb)
Anna Russell (Carn wheelers)
Niamh McKiverigan (Banbridge CC)
UNDER 10
Richard Baird (Banbridge CC)
John Buller (Banbridge CC)
Shannon Buller (Banbridge CC)
UNDER 12
James Curry (Banbridge CC)
Joseph Baird (Banbridge CC)
Rachel Mayne (Banbridge CC)
Aimee Ogilby (Xmtb)
Rory Thompson U/A
UNDER 14
Kyle McEwan (Xmtb)
Claire Oakley(Xmtb)
Daniel Runciman (Banbridge CC)
Chris Oakley( Xmtb)
Robbie Lamont (Xmtb)
Stuart Ballantine(Xmtb)
Zak Hanna (Dromara CC)
Daniel Gordon(Banbridge CC
)
UNDER 16
1. Matthew Adair (Banbridge CC)
2. Michael Runciman (Banbridge CC)
3. William Boyd (Xmtb)
4. Mantas Spirgius (Juiced Orchard)
5. Nick Lannooti U/A
SPORTS WOMEN
1. Nicola Oldham (Banbridge CC)
SPORTS MEN
1. JJ Conway (Harps)
2. Martin Grimley (Dromara CC)
3. Camron Burns( Apollo CT)
4. Ian Buchannan U/A
5. Andy Millar U/A
6. Andrew Adair (Banbridge CC)
MASTERS
1. Danny Hylands (East Antrim Audi)
2. Ronnie Ogilby (Xmtb)
3. Stephen Coogan (Xmtb)
EXPERTS
1. Ross Galway (Dromara CC)
2. Colm Mullen U/A
3. Ronan Corigan (Xmtb)
VETS
1. Robert Lamont (Xmtb)
2. Paul McMenamin (Leisure lakes)
3. John McCabe (Cuchulainn CC)
4. Andrew Burns (Juiced Orchard)
5. Simon Curry (Banbridge CC)
6. John Runciman (Banbridge CC)
7. Paul Anderson (Banbridge CC)
8. Jonathan Buller (Banbridge CC)
9. Maurice Mayne (Banbridge CC)
10. William Forsythe (Banbridge CC)
ELITE
1. Aiden McDonald (Apollo CT)
2. Simon McConnell (Real Cycles)
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