Ulster MTB XC Championships

Superb racing, rain, thunder, sunshine, fun, and a Slovak rider called Lubo, yes that was the 2006 Ulster Cross Country MTB Championships, promoted by Dromara CC on Sunday at Tievenadarragh Forest near Seaforde. The event proved to be one of the best ‘Ulster’s’ in recent years, and perhaps best of all was the entry in the Youth races, the future stars.

Dromore rider Roger Aiken (Terry Dolan) took his first ever MTB Title when he came from behind to take the Elite crown from Lewis Ferguson (Team BHB).

Held over six laps, it was Lewis Ferguson who led for most of the way. Conor McConvey was forced to retire from third place with two laps remaining due to having only one gear to choose from. For five laps Lewis Ferguson led the way, but as each lap passed Roger Aiken was eating into his lead. At the half way point heavy rain interrupted the proceedings, affecting all the Senior Classes. Setting out on the final lap Ferguson had an eight seconds lead. By the finish Aiken had moved to the front, to win by just over one minute. Tim Edgar had a rare MTB outing to finish third.

Ray O’Shaughnessy (Cuchulannin) took the honours in the 5 lap Experts race, which had a large number of non finishers. Runner up, Simon McConnell, is the new Ulster Experts Champion, the Belfast rider being the first Ulster rider to finish. Third place went to David O’Neill of the West Clare Club, who heaped praise on the course, race, organisers, in fact anything that moved! Luke Ireland took fourth, the well known downhiller also taking a silver medal as the second Ulster based finisher.

The Junior race produced a great dual between Graham Boyd (XMTB) and Robert McCabe (Cuchulannin). The pair rode in close formation for four of the five laps, with Boyd attacking on the final lap, proceeding to clinch the title. For ‘Rab’ McCabe it was second place, however he has proved to be one of the most improved riders of the season. XMTB lady Ciara McManus took the Elite Ladies title with Joanne McCallum, still struggling with injury, finishing second.

The Masters race saw Cuchulannin’s Gerry McCabe lead throughout the five laps, though the Dundalk’s Mr Muscles had to work hard to stay clear of English rider Michael Cutler, only 19 seconds between them at the finish. Banbridge rider Paul Anderson

 was third, and with it came the Ulster title, Paul the first Ulster finisher. Paul left soon after the race for a week long stay at the more sedate pace of the Dorset Steam Fair. Fourth place and a silver medal went to Andy Wallace (Dave Kane Northern) as Danny Hylands of East Antrim fame took fifth and the bronze, with Simon Curry (Banbridge CC) a mere 3 seconds behind in sixth.

The Vets race brought the usual banter and joviality, however at the head of affairs it was the three usual suspects. From the off Robbie Lamont (XMTB) charged into a strong lead as Banbridge’s

William Mulligan and Dundalks’s Johnny McCabe battled their way through the race traffic. With Lamont in total control, it wasn’t until the third of the four laps that Mulligan began cutting down the gap to the leader. On the final lap Mulligan rode like something possessed, or else he had been stung on the bum by a bee. Starting the last lap Lamont had a 51 seconds lead, at the finish Mulligan had cut this to 15seconds. Robbie Lamont crossed the line to add the Ulster title to his Irish crown, however the biggest cheer was for runner up Mulligan, who has one of the largest supporters Clubs in the country, all claiming that William is their Uncle! Johnny McCabe also had a superb closing lap, finishing third, just 21 seconds down on Mulligan. East Antrims Gary Wilson had an excellent ride to fourth as Jon Runciman (Banbridge CC) took fifth. In what had to be his best ride this season, Eamon McConvey (Newry version) took sixth just ahead of Declan McCabe (Cuchulannin) and super smiler Andy Burns (U/A).

The three lap Sports race was held in perfect conditions with victory going to Lubo Konopka, a Slovakian rider based in Dublin. Lubo took the lead on the second lap and won by almost two minutes from Fergal Killkenny (M.A.D). Gary Gray of the promoting Dromara Club was a close third, and to the delight of his fellow Club members he was crowned Ulster Sports Champion, as he was the first Ulster finisher. Another Dromara rider,Ross Galway, was fourth and silver medal winner. Taking fifth and the bronze medal was well known all round cycling legend Junior McAuley, the Apollo rider eagerly awaiting the start of the cyclo cross season. Ann Duff (Newry Wheelers) was the best lady finisher, 11th overall.

The Youth racing programme had got the day of to a great start. For the U-8 race 14 riders came to the line. The race was won by Banbridge CC’s Rachel Mayne, the young lady enjoying her first excursion with clipless pedals.

 Fellow Bann rider Richard Baird was a close second as Newry’s non stop talking Cain McConvey collected the bronze. Banbridge scored again when James Curry easily took the U-10 race, young James having already won the Irish title. Having only arrived a few minutes before the start, Team Madigan’s Ty Mackness did well to finish second with Young Dylan Byrne making the trip all the way from Dublin to take third, Dylan a member of Team Worc. Banbridge CC’s Jill Curry was best lady in the U-10 class in fifth place.

The U-12 race saw young Robbie Lamont notch up another victory, however Claire Oakley produced a superb result as she took runner up behind her fellow XMTB rider. Bann’s Mark Downey was third. The expected contest in the U-14 race between William Boyd (XMTB) and Banbridge’s Michael Runciman came to an early end when William retired with gear problems. Enter Jack Wilson, yes the East Antrim rider made Michael work all the way for his win with only 16 seconds between them at the finish. New Banbridge CC member Matt Adair was well pleased with third and the bronze in only his second ever race. The U-16 race was an all XMTB affair with Neil McGimpsey leading throughout to win from Johnny Beers and Jess Laird.

A big congratulations is due to the Dromara Club for putting on a very successful event, even with the last minute change of car park.

Special mention must go to the touring members of Dromara CC who put off their ‘lap of the lough’ until Monday in order to help out at the MTB race…other Clubs please take note.

Andy Potts

RESULTS


U-8 (small course)
1 Rachel Mayne
2 Richard Baird
3 Cain McConvey
4 Luc Hanna
5 Jack Lamont
6 John Buller
7 Shannon Buller
8 Joseph Baird
9 Matthew Jameson
10 Stuart Dunlop
11 Scott Hylands
12 Christian Gerring
13 Kendal Mackness
14 Fergal McConvey

U-10 (small course)
1 James Curry
2 Ty Mackness
3 Dylan Byrne
4 Thomas Magennis
5 Jill Curry
6 Patrick Magennis
7 Aimee Ogilby
8 C.Graham
9 Zoe Jameson

U-12 1 lap
1 Robbie Lamont 24.43
2 Claire Oakley 26.01
3 Mark Downey 27.34
4 Dan Runciman 28.05
5 Chris Oakley 29.41
6 Stuart Ballantine 31.12
7 William Heslip 31.59
8 Kyle McEwan 33.39
9 Dylan Byrne 36.12

U-14 2 laps
1 Michael Runciman 41.40
2 Jack Wilson 41.56
3 Matthew Adair 44.56
4 Michael Downey 48.38
5 Matthew Patterson 50.53
6 Andrew Wilson 52.13
7 Chris Millar 1.00.09

U-16 3 laps
1 Neil McGimpsey 56.07
2 Johnny Beers 58.05
3 Jess Laird 1.00.33

SPORTS 3 laps
1 Lubo Konopka 1.01.38
2 Fergal Killkenny 1.03.20
3 Gary Gray 1.03.34
4 Ross Galway 1.05.53
5 Junior McAuley 1.06.19
6 Sam Curran 1.07.07
7 Derek Hanna 1.10.15
8 Aidan McManus 1.11.07
9 Martin Grimley 1.11.19
10 Stephen Prentice 1.11.35
11 Ann Duff 1.20.11


JUNIOR 5 laps
1 Graham Boyd 1.35.40
2 Robert McCabe 1.36.10


VETS 4 laps
1 Robert Lamont 1.17.23
2 William Mulligan 1.17.39
3 Johnny McCabe 1.18.01
4 Gary Wilson 1.20.43
5 Jon Runciman 1.22.57
6 Eamon McConvey 1.26.29 (Newry)
7 Declan McCabe 1.26.35
8 Andy Burns 1.27.44
9 Eamon McConvey 1.32.14 (B'Fast)
10 Andy Ruck 1.37.53
11 Maurice Mayne 1.46.13
12 W.Forsythe at 1 lap

MASTERS 5 laps
1 Gerry McCabe 1.38.19
2 Michael Cutler 1.38.28
3 Paul Anderson 1.40.30
4 Andy Wallace 1.43.30
5 Danny Hylands 1.53.56
6 Simon Curry 1.53.59
7 Cahal McGreevy 1.55.14
8 Gareth Adamson 2.05.00
9 Jim Laird at 1 lap

LADIES 5 laps
1 Ciara McManus 1.51.39
2 Joanne McCallum at 1 lap

EXPERTS 5 laps
1 Ray O'Shaughnessy 1.39.48
2 Simon McConnell 1.43.50
3 David O'Neill 1.46.37
4 Luke Ireland 1.57.44


ELITE 6 laps
1 Roger Aiken 1.38.19
2 Lewis Ferguson 1.39.36
3 Tim Edgar 1.55.23

some photos here