CX National Championship
The 2014 Irish National Cyclo-cross Championships took place on Sunday the 12th January in Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park in Belfast. Host club Phoenix CC, in association with McConvey Cycles, had been on site over the weekend preparing the course which was based on their round of the 2013 Ulster Cyclo-cross series but with new sections included. Still in place were the steps (newly constructed again with sand but moved to a different location), the wooded section at the boundary of the park and the infamous “Carnage Corner”. This off-camber left hand turn was very tricky to negotiate and attracted a large contingent of spectators ready to watch the fallers. Hay bales had been well placed to prevent riders hitting the trees.
From Dromara we had Lisa Millar(5th) taking part in the very competitive ladies race, Martin Grimley(26th) & John McGuigan(35th) fighting it out in the vets and finally Barry Kellet(10th), Richard Cowan(32nd) & John Shanks(33rd) giving the Elite race a bit of a bash.
Please go to the forum for the reports from the riders themselves but needless to say it was tough going in the muddy conditions for all competitors. With such a long and tiresome race the Dromara support was second to none – nothing beats hearing your name being shouted when the legs are telling you to stop and lie down.
Congratulations to Roger Aitken for defending his CX crown – respect.
For those reading this who are tempted by this fantastic sport I have one request – come and have a go (Season starts in October) – you never know you might enjoy it.
There are plenty of photos online but here are the reports
