DROMARA RIDERS GET THE CYCLOCROSS SEASON UNDERWAY
LURGAN PARK was awash with autumn sunshine as the first round of the Ulster Cyclocross League got underway on Sunday past, with Apollo CT being the ones to host this round.
With the sport of cyclocross booming in Ulster and right across Ireland it was fitting that the first race in Ulster would play host to some 400+ riders who had pre-registered before the event-a record number of entries for any cyclocross race in Ulster-and I’m sure down south as well-great to see!
With the week leading up to the race being very dry with no rain it left the course in top condition. Apart from the morning dew on the grass the course was bone dry, and it wasn’t too technical either, not that it made it any easier!
The course itself was pan flat with the one hurdle section and a few twisty bits in around a forest, with a ‘spiral’ added to make the riders dizzy heading round to the start/finish area.
It would appear that cyclocross is growing in the golden hills of Dromara as twelve riders had entered the main A race and B race It’s only a matter of time before more riders make the jump over to proper racing.
In the Under 10 race Alex Harrower completed 3 laps of the youth circuit to come in 16th place.
Ben Wilson rode in the under 14s on his cyclocross bike and came in an excellent 5th place with only small seconds separating him from 4th place. Quite a performance having only just coming back from injury.
Kevin Walker was the sole Dromara representative in the men’s MTB support race, and let’s hope to see more entries in the next league round!
Nathan enjoying this cx lark
In the cyclocross B race there were six riders in the club riding amongst the 99 riders who entered. After 5 laps Nathan Mullan who was riding his first cross race came in 6th. John Shanks was next in 25th with Brian Wilson 32nd, Mike Barton 48th, Gibson Chambers 65th and Stephen Nugent in 72nd. Super riding from everyone and real baptism of fire.
The main race of the day was the men’s cyclocross ‘A’ race who had 6 laps of the course to complete.
Round and Round we go
Barry Van Kellett was first Dromara rider over the line in 9th place, with Zak Hanna next in 47th. Graham Smyth, Richard Cowan, club off-road champion Adrian Booth and Derek Graham came in one lap down on the winner David Montgomery. Great to see the DCC riders stepping up to the main race.
All in all a great start to the season let’s hope the trend continues from Dromara and more enter these fantastic races. You don’t know what you’re missing.
Next week Phoenix hold their Cyclocross Trofee event at Lady Dixon Park. This isn’t a round of the Ulster league, and also there is no men’s MTB support race, so still plenty of time between now and Sunday to get a cross bike sorted.
Finally from all of Dromara a shout out to all the great work from Apollo CT to run a very professional race. We certainly appreciate the hard work that goes into running this race so we applaud the many hard working volunteers.
Report by Zako
