Cyclocross Round 7 – Ormeau Park

by Rich · November 17, 2014

Before this weeks report gets started there are two announcements I’d like to get out of the way first. Friday the 21st November is the clubs AGM in Ballynahinch, and the Christmas dinner is only 2 weeks later on Friday 5th December in Killyleagh. Tickets for the Christmas dinner can be purchased online or at the AGM.

This weeks cyclocross was hosted by Xmtb McConvey Cycles who designed a changed course around Ormeau Park. The course was really split in three parts with long flat sections, mucky technical sections in the trees and finally two steep climbs forcing you to run with the bike. Those with the skills from the MTB could look forward to this course and those who’s technical riding ability is not quite up to the mark could look forward to the finish. For those trying to work out what the best tyres to go for considering the conditions then you need to see what everyone is trying out like these narrow tyres below:

In the junior races Alex Harrower held his own in the Under 8’s race to take 9th place with Ben Wilson just missing out on a podium taking 4th place in the under 14’s.

The MTB Support race saw Keri Parton and Martin Hawkins pit their skills with each other and they picked up 2nd and 3rd respectively.

In the men’s MTB race young Peter Davidson has been improving week on week and is showing the other DCC MTBers how it is done leaving Marty McAnulty, Robert Davidson & Graham Beckett in his wake.

“Less power more finesse – never heard such rubbish”

With Lisa back from injury she produced an excellent 3rd place in the Elite Womens CX race and showed how you properly change bikes with a pro pit team

Hang on my bad……wrong photo…..here we go

In the Cyclocross “B” Race the competition has been heating up between the DCC crowd. After Paul Mawhirt’s excellent podium finish last week he was the man to upgrade….i mean beat this week. The lap started with Richard Cowan shooting off at the start to lead the crowd into the technical tree section but by lap 3 the legs started to falter and it was Paul Mawhirts chance to take up the chase. Proving that he is the man in form he took another excellent 3rd place and must be busting to upgrade to the “A” race by now. Another man showing that his MTB skills are as sharp as ever is the evergreen Brian Wilson who produced a superb performance to finish 7th. The rest of the “B” Race competitiors finished Richard Cowan(13th), Derek Graham(18th), Adrian Booth(22nd), John Shanks(23rd), Graham Smyth(24th) & Mike Barton(30th).

The Cyclocross “A” Race saw Barry Kellett chase through the crowd and by the 6th lap looked in a comfortable 4th place although Luke Ireland was still keeping him honest. At this point he was a man ready to hunt Matt Adair down who was out on his own in third. By the end there was barely 10 seconds in it and he claimed another awesome 4th place season. Martin Grimley was also racing in the Vets and showing he can hold his own with the best and taking an excellent 23rd place.