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Last Updated: 2 Apr 2018 - 8:45:17 PM |
As expected, Connor McConvey dominated the Irish national cross country mountainbike championships at Dunmore Mountain on Saturday, taking gold after finishing as runner up in 2008. The overseas-based De Brink Ten Tuccher rider beat Ryan Sherlock (MTB Assoc of Dublin) and Lewis Ferguson (Curran Racing) by nine minutes and three seconds and ten minutes 24 seconds respectively.
McConvey was clearly strongest from the start and by the end of the first lap, he was over a minute clear of Sherlock, his closest challenger. He was faster than the other riders on each of the seven laps, showing the full benefits of his international programme this year.
“The race was straightforward,” he told Irishcycling.com. “I prepared for a hard race and so just rode it as usual. It just a different style of race [than the ones he normally does]. You have much more time to think and race tactically rather than constantly fighting for position. like in the usual races. So its second nature to really be on the limit for all the race and that’s why I rode like that at the start. After a few laps, when the gap went out to three to four minutes, I really backed off and started thinking of the next [few] weeks.”
Robin Seymour, who took the last of his fifteen consecutive titles last year, did not complete this time round. He indicated beforehand that he would not be taking part.
“I made a pledge to myself last year that I wouldn't ride the nationals and try to continue the 'record',” he told Irishcycling.com in the build-up to the race. “Fifteen wins straight is enough, I think, and maybe it’s time to let someone else shine.
“Of course this will throw up the suggestion that I'm worried this year about being beaten. But to be honest, I recently had my best ride in the UK for about 3 years, finishing second behind Liam Killeen. It’s a case that with the pressure of the nationals, so little to win and so much to lose, I found I just was not enjoying the championship any more. In fact, that and Beijing were the only races I didn’t enjoy last year.”
McConvey described his national title as ‘really something special,” but expressed his disappointment that Seymour was not there. “It’s a pity that Robin didn't turn up, because it almost creates a bit of a negative spin. I can only beat who turns up, though, and so I’m very happy [with the win]. It’s important for the team, and also for my PR it is a good step…really, the distinction of it.”
Beth McCluskey (Epic) had a strong win in the women’s race, completing the five lap race two minutes and 33 seconds quicker than that of Caitlin Elliott (UCD). They were separated by just two seconds at the end of lap one and 28 seconds one lap later, but from there the gap went out at a higher rate. The bronze medal went to Ciara McManus, who was nine minutes back.
In terms of time difference, the most dominant performance of the day was achieved in the junior race. Jonny Beers (East Antrim - Audi) was a full eleven minutes 57 seconds faster than Tadhg Griffin (IMBRC) in their clash, and a lap up on David McKenna (Sorrento). The Experts’ race was much tighter, with Griffin’s team-mate Kevin Stanley prevailing by just 33 seconds over Sean Downey (MAD) and 56 over Luke Smaul (EPIC).
Other races:
The day saw two victories for the McCluskey family, with Beth’s brother James winning the Masters’ event. He took the title by a one minute 16 second margin; John Mason (Engravitic/BCBC Cycleways) and Stuart Galloway (Team WORC) had to be content with the silver and bronze medals. Peter Buggle (Rocky Mountain) was comfortably clear of John Doris (EPIC MTB) and Johnny McCabe (Cuchulainn CC) at the end of the veterans’ race, while Ger Jackson (EPIC MTB), Rory MacLiam (Edge Sports) and Daragh Smith (EPIC MTB) were the first three in the sports races.
A number of underage events were also held, and in those the Banbridge CC squad took every gold medal. The winners were Mark Buller (under 8), John Buller (under 10), James Curry (under 12), Mark Downey (under 14) and Matthew Adair (under 16), making it a remarkable day for the Ulster team.
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Irish MTB XC championships, Dunmore Mountain (Saturday, hosted by Dromara Cycling Club):
Elite men:
1, Connor McConvey (De-Brink Ten Tuccher) 1 hour 42 mins 30 secs
2, Ryan Sherlock (MTB Assoc of Dublin) at 9 mins 3 secs
3, Lewis Ferguson (Curran Racing) at 10 mins 24 secs
4, Evan Ryan (Team WORC) at 14 mins 54 secs
5, Ray O'Shaughnnessy (Bike Pure) at 17 mins 21 secs
6, David O'Loughlin (An Post) at 18 mins 54 secs
7, Graham Boyd (XMTB McConvey Cycles) at 1 lap
8, Richie Felle (Think Bike) at 1 lap
DNF: Paul O'Reilly (IMBRC)
DNF: Tony Mairs (Phoenix CC)
Elite women:
1, Beth McCluskey (EPIC MTB) 1 hour 31 mins 53 secs
2, Caitlin Elliott (UCD) at 2 mins 33 secs
3, Ciara MacManus (unattached) at 9 mins 7 secs
4, Jacqueline O'Hagan (MTB Assoc of Dublin) at 1 lap
Junior:
1, Jonny Beers (East Antrim - Audi) 1 hour 33 mins 26 secs
2, Tadhg Griffin (IMBRC) at 11 mins 57 secs
3, David McKenna (Sorrento) at 1 lap
DNF: Conal Higgins (Sorrento)
DNF: William Boyd (XMTB McConvey Cycles)
Experts:
1, Kevin Stanley (IMBRC) 1 hour 30 mins 23 secs
2, Sean Downey (MTB Assoc of Dublin) at 33 secs
3, Luke Smaul (EPIC MTB) at 56 secs
4, Ross McClure (EPIC MTB) at 2 mins 30 secs
5, Dave O Brien (IMBRC) at 6 mins 35 secs
6, James Pittam (Edge Sports Shop) at 7 mins 33 secs
7, Michael Flanagan (The Edge) at 8 mins 13 secs
8, Allister Macsorley (Apollo) at 14 mins 20 secs
9, Ross Galway (Dromara CC) at 19 mins 42 secs
DNF: David Askin (Lucan Cycling Road Club)
DNF: Padraig Marrey (Western Lakes)
Masters:
1, James McCluskey (IMBRC) 1 hour 22 mins 55 secs
2, John Mason (Engravitic/BCBC Cycleways) at 1 min 16 secs
3, Stuart Galloway (Team WORC) at 4 mins 2 secs
4, Gordon Lucas (Team WORC) at 6 mins 16 secs
5, Paddy Daly (Rocky Mountain) at 7 mins 3 secs
6, Don Travers (Banbridge CC) at 7 mins 28 secs
7, Dave O ' Shea (IMBRC) at 9 mins 59 secs
8, Rory Walsh (EPIC MTB) at 10 mins 49 secs
9, Richie Close (MTB Assoc of Dublin) at 11 mins 5 secs
10, David McKendry (Cookson Cycles) at 11 mins 50 secs
11, Paul Ferguson (North Down) at 12 mins 12 secs
12, Michael Laverty (Cuchulainn) at 12 mins 36 secs
13, Rudolf Brinkman (EPIC MTB) at 15 mins 8 secs
14, Gene Ryan (MTB Assoc of Dublin) at 16 mins 47 secs
15, Martin O'Hagan (Bike pure) at 17 mins 8 secs
16, Paddy O'Brien (MTB Assoc of Dublin) at 17 mins 58 secs
17, Stephen Timmons (EPIC MTB) at 17 mins 59 secs
18, Brian Hutchinson (EPIC MTB) at 20 mins 4 secs
19, Geoff Ludemann (Team WORC) at 20 mins 7 secs
20, Tony Kelly (Cuchulainn) at 1 lap
21, Morgan O'Connell (MTB Assoc of Dublin) at 1 lap
22, Philp McDonagh (MTB Assoc of Dublin) at 1 lap
23, Keith Arkins (EPIC MTB) at 1 lap
24, Brian McCarthy (MBCC) at 1 lap
25, Cormac Ahern (MTB Assoc of Dublin) at 1 lap
26, Conor Conneff (MTB Assoc of Dublin) at 1 lap
27, Cornelius Duffy (IMBRC) at 1 lap
28, Derek Malone (unattached) at 1 lap
29, Ivan Millar (unattached) at 1 lap
30, Kelvin Hughes (EPIC MTB) at 1 lap
31, Ben Marchant (IMBRC) at 1 lap
DNF: Martin O'Reilly (unattached)
DNF: John McAuley (Apollo)
DNF: Luke Manning (IMBRC)
DNF: Alfie Wallace (EPIC MTB)
DNF: Mark Mc Gauley (MTB Assoc of Dublin)
DNF: Oscar Mac Aananey (EPIC MTB)
Veterans:
1, Peter Buggle (Rocky Mountain) 1 hour 3 mins 44 secs
2, John Doris (EPIC MTB) at 3 mins 44 secs
3, Johnny McCabe (Cuchulainn CC) at 4 mins 4 secs
4, William Mulligan (Banbridge CC) at 5 mins 16 secs
5, Vinne Fitzsimons (Team WORC) at 5 mins 43 secs
6, Paul Mc Menamin (Leisure Lakes) at 6 mins 10 secs
7, Peter Mc Conville (Newry Wheelers) at 8 mins 15 secs
8, Robert Lamont (XMTB McConvey Cycles) at 10 mins 14 secs
9, Declan Mc Cabe (Cuchulainn CC) at 11 mins 2 secs
10, Simon Curry (Banbridge CC) at 11 mins 6 secs
11, Andrew Wallace (Northern/Dave Kane) at 11 mins 41 secs
12, Declan Hanrahan (Worldwide Cycles) at 12 mins 10 secs
13, Paddy Mackey (Sorrento CC) at 12 mins 22 secs
14, Paul Anderson (Banbridge CC) at 13 mins 2 secs
15, Paul Keogh (EPIC MTB) at 17 mins 38 secs
16, Jonathan Buller (Banbridge CC) at 1 lap
17, Derek Hanna (Dromara CC) at 1 lap
18, Padraic Conway (Covey Wheelers) at 1 lap
19, Fred MacSorley (Apollo) at 1 lap
20, Trevor Annett (Dromara CC) at 1 lap
DNF: Ken Farrar (Rocky Mountain)
Under 14:
1, Mark Downey (Banbridge CC) 28 mins 21 secs
2, Zak Hanna (Dromara CC) at 1 min 9 secs
3, Chris Oakley (XMTB McConvey Cycles) at 2 mins 49 secs
4, Craig Crawford (TSC) at 5 mins 19 secs
5, Martin McGawley (Carn Wheelers) at 6 mins 31 secs
6, Harry Millar (U/A) at 13 mins 30 secs
DNF: Daniel Runciman (Banbridge CC)
Under 16:
1, Matthew Adair (Banbridge CC) 47 mins 45 secs
2, Robert Scanlon (Team WORC) at 8 mins 15 secs
3, Brendan Scullion (Western Lakes) at 16 mins 12 secs
4, Michael Runciman (Banbridge CC) at 19 mins 22 secs
5, Jack Millar (U/A) at 21 mins 29 secs
6, Claire Oakley (XMTB McConvey Cycles) at 1 lap
Sports:
1, Ger Jackson (EPIC MTB) 55 mins 5 secs
2, Rory MacLiam (Edge Sports) at 1 min 28 secs
3, Daragh Smith (EPIC MTB) at 3 mins 22 secs
4, Damien McDonald (Dromara CC) at 4 mins 4 secs
5, John Richardson (EPIC MTB) at 5 mins 48 secs
6, Darren Weir (Dromara CC) at 6 mins 4 secs
7, David Hickey (U/A) at 6 mins 14 secs
8, Martin Grimley (Dromara CC) at 7 mins 28 secs
9, Gavin Magowan (Dromara CC) at 7 mins 29 secs
10, Michael Cummins (IMBRC) at 10 mins 27 secs
11, Raymond Doherty (North Pole CC) at 10 mins 51 secs
12, Ronnie Ogilby (XMTB McConvey Cycles) at 11 mins 33 secs
13, Chris Magowan (Dromara CC) at 12 mins 25 secs
14, Conor Graham (U/A) at 16 mins 6 secs
15, Darren McGann (West Coast Wheelers) at 16 mins 41 secs
16, Andrea Harrower (Dromara CC) at 16 mins 48 secs
17, Anne Duffy (Newry Wheelers) at 28 mins 15 secs
18, Michael Foley (U/A) at 1 lap
DNF: Caroline Patterson (Dromara CC)
DNF: Paul Barry (IMBRC)
DNF: Jonathan Graham (Juiced Orchard)
DNF: Ryan Hubbard (unattached)
DNF: Adam McGreevy (Juiced Orchard)
DNF: Stephen Prentice (Banbridge CC)
:
Under 8:
1, Mark Buller (Banbridge CC) 5 mins 2 secs
2, Drew Armstrong (Dromara CC) at 27 secs
3, Christopher Curry (Banbridge CC) at 1 min 45 secs
4, Jack Baird (Banbridge CC) at 2 mins 6 secs
5, Niamh McKiverigan (Banbridge CC) at 2 mins 21 secs
6, Ben Wilson (unattached) at 2 mins 31 secs
7, Callum Stewart (unattached) at 2 mins 32 secs
8, Anna Russell (unattached) at 2 mins 42 secs
9, James Buller (Banbridge CC) at 2 mins 50 secs
10, Frazer Harrower (unattached) at 5 mins 59 secs
11, Shea O'Kane (Phoenix CC) at 6 mins 2 secs
DNF: Ryan Stewart (unattached)
Under 10:
1, John Buller (Banbridge CC) 10 mins 13 secs
2, Jamie Grifferty (Boyne MTB) at 1 lap
3, Ben Hanna (Dromara CC) at 1 lap
4, Fergal McConvey (Newry Wheelers) at 1 lap
Under 12:
1, James Curry (Banbridge CC) 13 mins 31 secs
2, Richard Baird (Banbridge CC) at 23 secs
3, Joseph Baird (Banbridge CC) at 38 secs
4, Christopher Weir (Dromara CC) at 1 min 11 secs
5, Connor Mallon (Dromara CC) at 1 min 14 secs
6, Eoghan O'Reilly (Epic MTB) at 1 min 16 secs
7, Shannon Buller (Banbridge CC) at 1 min 54 secs
8, Conor Kavanagh (Boyne MTB) at 3 mins 20 secs
9, James Millar (unattached) at 5 mins 32 secs
DNF: Rachel Mayne (Banbridge CC)
DNF: Cian McConvey (Newry Wheelers)
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