Irish XC MTB

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Race report: XC Development series Round 2!

Mar 10

Posted by irishxcmtb in Announcement, Development, Offroad Commission, Report, XC racing, Youth | No Comments

Report below thanks to Richie Byrne from EPICMTB:

Last weekend saw the penultimate round of Irelands most Successful Cross Country Race Series.
It was dry in Ballyhoura, Co Limerick, dry, sunny and a little bit chilly. A fabulous start to a fabulous race.
I was never expecting as big turnout in Ballyhoura as the previous race in Wicklow as a lot of people won’t stray too far from DunDrum Town Centre in case theirs a sale on in H&M !!

First up was the under 8′s , lucky for EPICs Caoimhe May had the race to herself. The rest of the under 8s obviously saving themselves for Galway she completed the Under 12′s course in record time with no help whatsoever from her Mum !!

Boyne MTBs Superstar Jamie Grifferty won the Under 10 race with EPICs Cian May just behind him in 2nd, and next up was Kristoff Rael !!

Jamie

Read the rest of this entry »

Race Report – XC Development Series Round 1

Feb 23

Posted by Morgan in Development, Report, XC racing | 1 Comment

Arctic conditions in Wicklow only added to the buzz in Ballinastoe Woods, Co. Wicklow on Sunday 21st February 2010.

165 eager riders from under-8 to over-60 to take part in the first race of its kind in Ireland. The brainchild of EPICmtb’s Richie Byrne, the idea was to get people racing XC for their first time without firing them untested in to the XC NPS.
I’ve always felt that if you put a human on a bike, regardless of its wheel size or whether its  tyres are slick or 2.5” of knobbily rubber, they will want to race it against another human.  I thought by running a race series just for Sports ( the entry level for adults racing) it would take the pressure off  newcomers and relative newcomers. Its also fair to say  that after 20 years involvement in MTB racing I know what people like! So I came up with a short lap without a desperate climb or unrideable descents. It had to be doable by everybody regardless of their ability. Then I split the senior category into two: Sports A for experienced riders and Sports B  for complete beginners. We also had Women, Under-16/Under-14/12/10/8.

From XC Development Race Round 1

The Offroad Commission got on board with me as did a whole host of people from across the MTB Community, with senior riders from nearly all the local MTB clubs helping out, not to mention Irelands no 1 Mountainbiker and unbeaten EPIC Blast Winner Niall Davis of Biking.ie giving a  hand with free pre-race coaching. Read the rest of this entry »

Offroad Commission members

Dec 4

Posted by irishxcmtb in News, Offroad Commission | 3 Comments

The current Offroad Commission members can be seen here.
All the commission members are looking forward to a fun and busy 2011 MTB season, so if can you recognise any of us from our photos, come up and say hello and let us know your thoughts on how the commission can help improve the sport, or drop us an email at: offroad.commission@gmail.com

Regards,
Cycling Ireland Offroad Commission

Off Road Commissaire Course success!

Nov 10

Posted by irishxcmtb in Cycling Ireland, News, Offroad Commission, Service | No Comments

The Park Avenue Hotel Belfast was the venue for the Off Road Commissaire course hosted by the Offroad Commission. There was a good turn-out of Ulster volunteers as well as a healthy representation from the South, read the full article on Cycling Ulster.

Mountain Bikers take to the Track!

Oct 20

Posted by irishxcmtb in News | No Comments

Last Saturday a group of downhill mountain bikers ventured down to Sundrive Road to have a go at what most felt was probably the potentially most dangerous bit of biking we had engaged in quite a while. Hugh and Steve, the men in charge, met us down there and kitted us out with Track Bikes. The idea of strapping your feet into a fixie with no brakes and trying to pedal real fast seemed a bit mad at first. At least there weren’t any trees. But after a couple of near death experiences most managed to get the hang of riding them. Stopping was a different story altogether, but luckily there was a fence to could use as a brake.

Unaccustomed to going in straight lines it took a while to get used to the rules but the once we figured it out things started to fall into place. The guys down at the track gave us a number of drills to get the hang of the bikes and how to ride them around the fairly busy track without ending up in a pileup. Soon we had the hang of it and people started to get ideas about going fast.

Then they brought out the motor bike. Its some machine, straight out of world war two movie. We all started getting a bit excited when we where told we could have a go, we thought they meant on the motor bike, they meant a go trying to keep up with the yoke. Which is not easy at all. Its starts of slow and just gets quicker, you hang on as long as you can. For most of us the was a few laps the Wolfeingtons though showed us how it should be done and stuck with it for a load of laps, the Gurney, as its called eventually pulled away from them, but we reckon they definitely had the moral victory.

When we had about as much pedalling as we where able for, Hugh suggested a test of the old bike handling skills. We where well up for that. It involved all of us going around and around on the grass inside a pretty small circle that had been marked out with cones.
On the track bikes of course, the object of the exercise was to knock the rest of the lads out of the circle. It had been sold to us on the old ‘no rules’ basis, and we liked the sound of it. Bedlam ensued, but once Hugh had introduced the ‘keeping you hands on the bars’ rule and the ‘no kicking people off the bike’ rule and the ‘no going anti clockwise, and trying to hit people head on’ rule, all that remained was the old fair shoulder, which still got the job done.

Lessons learned were:

  • Track bikes are pretty cool, once you get used to them.
  • They are no use for jumping.
  • The Track is Sundrive road is a great facility.
  • It could do with a pump track.
  • Ger Wolfe in a full lyrca skin suit, its like he’s wearing nothing at all, nothing at all, nothing at all…..
  • Its pretty good training for DH.
  • We are all going back.

A big thanks to Hugh, Steve and all the lads at the Track for looking after us and making us feel welcome.

If you are interested in having a go send a quick e-mail to either myself:
seanherlihy38@googlemail.com
or Hugh:
trackcyclingireland@gmail.com

Connacht Mountain Bike Winter League 09

Oct 20

Posted by irishxcmtb in News, Regional racing, Results | No Comments

The weather in the picturesque village of Cong Co.Mayo started out like a spring morning but then somebody realised there was a Mountain Bike race on so down came the rain to make the going soft, but this did not deter a large group of over fifty mountain bikers the youngest being 8years old.

Start of the Senior event

Start of the Senior event

The under 10 race had newcomers Andrea Connolly from Westport and Declan Maloney from Louisburgh both in Covey Wheelers Westport Cycling Club both put in good performances but Maloney had the power to take first place.

Under 12 Had a lot of new comers some of whom were unable to start but Ciaran Needham from Louisburgh also in Covey Wheelers Westport C.C Showed good pace to take 1st place from Mark Finnerty Western lakes C.C

Mike Flanagan The Edge, leading from Padraic Marrey Western Lakes and Anthony Testa Westcoast Wheelers.

Mike Flanagan The Edge, leading from Padraic Marrey Western Lakes and Anthony Testa Westcoast Wheelers.

Edel Burke Innishfree was 1st lady.

Chris Kennedy and Kieran Coughlan both Covey Wheelers Westport C.C had a great battle for top honours but on the last lap Kennedy pulled away to take 1st place from Coughlan with Shane Mulchrone Covey Wheelers Westport C.C in 3rd

Hazel Scullion was 1st lady.

Under 16 Gavin Burke Innishfree C.C is again this season the strong man of Mountain biking taking 1st place by 3 min from Aaron Chambers Covey Wheelers Westport C.C.

The senior expert race was a cracking one, Mike Flanagan The Edge got off to a great start, leading by 13 sec from Anthony Testa Westcoast Wheelers and 20 sec from Padraic Marrey Western Lakes C.C on lap 2 but on the following laps Marrey dug deep to pull back the lead and win by nearly 40 sec from Mike Flanagan with Anthony Testa in 3rd.

Garry Collins Western Lakes C.C had a good win in the sports section and Padraic Conway Covey Wheelers Westport C.C took the Vets, Sadhbh Baxter Westcoast Wheelers was 1st lady

Padraic Marrey winner of the expert section Connacht MTB League 09

Padraic Marrey winner of the expert section Connacht MTB League 09

Padraic Marrey winner of the expert section Connacht MTB League 09

Mike Flanagan The Edge, leading from Padraic Marrey Western Lakes and Anthony Testa Westcoast Wheelers.

RESULTS

UNDER 10

1…Declan Maloney Covey Wheelers Westport C.C
2…Andrea Connelly Covey Wheelers Westport C.C

1…Lady, Lydia Sheridan Covey Wheelers Westport C.C

UNDER 12
1…Caran Needham Covey Wheelers Westport C.C
2…Mark Finnerty Western Lakes C.C
1…lady Edel Burke Innishfree C.C

UNDER 14
1…Chris Kennedy Covey Wheelers Westport C.C
2…Kieran Coughlan Covey Wheelers Westport C.C
3…Shane Mulchrone Covey Wheelers Westport C.C

1…Lady, Hazel Scullion Western Lakes C.C

UNDER 16
1…Gavin Burke Innishfree C.C
2…Aaron Chambers Covey Wheelers Westport C.C
3…Robert Staunton Covey Wheelers Westport C.C

Expert

1…Padraic Marrey Western Lakes C.C
2…Mike Flanagan The Edge
3…Anthony Testa Westcoast Wheelers
4…Peter Rimmer Lakeside Mullingar
5…Colm Staunton \covey Wheelers Westport C.C
6…Paul Crowley Lakeside Mullingar
7…Richard Leneghan Lakeside Mullingar

Sport

1…Garry Collins Western Lakes
2…Joe Carroll Galway Bay C.C
3…Garry Daveron U/A
4…Donnacha McShane Predator
5…Gordon Monaghan Westcoast wheelers
6…Con Bartels Western Lakes
7…James O’Donnell Westcoast Wheelers
8…Jamie O’Connor U/A
9…Andrew Whelton MBCC
10..Ruaidh Geraghty Galway Bay
11..Mike O’Donnell, Westcoast Wheelers
12…Rory Conroy, Swinford

Vet

1…Padraic Conway Covey Wheelers Westport C.C
2…David Dowdall Dolman C.C
3…Danny Maloney Covey Wheelers Westport C.C

Lady

1…Sadhbh Baxter Westcoast Wheelers

Offroad Commission 2009 XC report

Oct 12

Posted by irishxcmtb in Cycling Ireland, News, Offroad Commission | No Comments

Overall, 2009 was a very successful year for Irish XC racing, with many clubs raising the standard of the NPS series to a level where the series needs to be in order to retain competetive interest and attract new riders.
It was good also to see new venues, such as Dixon Park in Belfast, Rossacroonaloo in Kerry and 3Rock in Dublin being used for the first time as NPS venues, thanks to the clubs for negotiating the new venues.

The Commission introduced several initiatives in 2009 to assist the clubs in running quality events, including purchase and configuration of laptop based registration timing, and results system, which was used to great benefit by many of the hosting clubs.

The Commission also facilitated and funded the use of chip timing system at several NPS races. Upon review and comparison of the chip system to the laptop system, it was decided that the recommended method for clubs in 2010 will be the use of the laptop system (in conjunction with a manual system) – as this is totally free of charge for clubs and has proved to be as effective & accurate as the chip timing system when used correctly.

Another area of improvement was in the use of web-based race registration system (from Active Europe) – use of a race registration system significantly reduced the admin overhead for clubs on race day, and will be recommended as a mandatory requirement for clubs hosting rounds of the NPS 2010.

The Irish XC website (www.irishxcmtb.com) was migrated to a new content-management system which is much easier and faster to edit, it allows comments/feedback from users, and also automatic news posting to club forums – thanks to Morgan O’Connell for all his work on this, the system also allows automatic news item posting to various forums to help improve communications to club members.

The Sports initiative introduced was designed to encourage experienced riders to race in their appropriate age category, while allowing Sports to resume it’s capacity as an introductory/beiginners category. This initiative was deemed to be very successful and will be continued into 2010.

Many clubs in 2009 demonstrated enthusiasm & capability by hosting very successful rounds of the NPS through co-operation with the Commission, and were willing and able to make improvements where needed – and these clubs who will be given priority selection for hosting rounds of the NPS in 2010.

Thanks to the 2009 XC NPS hosting clubs:

  • Killarney CC
  • MADMTB
  • CuChulainn CC
  • EPIC MTB
  • Madigan CC
  • XMTB
  • Sorrento CC

Unfortunately, Banbridge had to cancel their round of the NPS due to issues in dealing with NI Forestry, and XMTB were required to secure a new venue for the same reason.

Non NPS XC events:
Thanks also to the clubs who ran national non-NPS XC race/challenge events in 2009 including;

  • The XC Nationals hosted by Dromara CC
  • The Cooley Thriller hosted by CuChulainn
  • The MAD MAX-XC hosted by MADMTB
  • The EPIC BLAST hosted by EPICMTB
  • West Cork bike fest hosted by 021 Racing
  • Djouce Challenge hosted by Team WORC
  • The K-Capital Challenge events in Kilruddery, Carrick Mtn., and Kippure House supported by Team WORC and sponsored by K-Capital Source (Thanks to K-Capital Source & Mark Kenny for sponsoring multiple XC events this year)

Thanks also to other clubs who ran events not listed here.

Special recognition goes out to clubs for hosting challenge style MTB events such as the K-Capital series and fun crossover events such as the infamous EPIC Blast being unique in attracting large amounts of DH riders as well as XC riders.
More of these crossover events are required to expose DH and XC riders to the different disciplines and encourage cross-participation.


Note re; XC NPS event dates in 2010:
Preliminary NPS calendar event dates have been set by the Commission and clubs are requested to submit requests for these dates to hold their NPS event on.
Click here to view the XC Calendar.

Clubs should send an email to offroad.commission@gmail.com advising of their desired date.
The commission will then review all submissions and advise the clubs accordingly.

Where possible, dates will be negotiated between the clubs and the Commission (where there is flexibility) but the main intention is to have an evenly scheduled series of dates 2-3 weeks apart.
Since the Commission is concerned with increasing the numbers of riders attending Irish MTB NPS events, the NPS calendars will be scheduled where at all possible to avoid any clashes between Irish XC and DH events.

Regards
Fergal Kilkenny
XC Promoter/co-ordinator
Cycling Ireland Offroad Commission

‘Da Cooley Thriller’ MTB XC Marathon report

Sep 25

Posted by irishxcmtb in Marathon, News | No Comments

Saturday 19th September 2009 saw the annual Cooley Thriller MTB marathon take place, being run by host club Dundalk’s Cuchulainn CC. The Cooley Mountains providing the back drop once again for this year’s race. A fantastic field of over 150 competitors turned up on the day, including World Superbike motorbike racer Jonathan Rea (laying 4th in the World Superbike Championships), attempting either the short course of 21k or the full 45k route which took riders on a complete traverse of the Cooley Mountains, taking in some of the Táin Trail and forest tracks to some roller coaster natural single trails once navigated by the bold Cuchulainn himself .

The riders all headed off at 10am sharp, in somewhat damp and misty conditions. But the sun was to shine for the latter half of the race which started behind the lead car on a neutralised start up through Carlingford village to the start of Slieve Foy forest where the race began in earnest. A quick blast along the side of the mountain over forest gravel and singletrack trails saw the riders quickly descend towards Omeath village before starting an arduous road climb to the top of Black Mountain above Ravensdale for the full race and half way up before splitting off towards Windy Gap and the return leg for the shorter course. For the next few hours, as the skies began to clear, riders then wound their way through misty mountain trails, over bog, boulder strewn fields and cart tracks, across rivers and through forests before reaching Golyin Pass in the shadow of Slieve Foy and a spectacular downhill descent back into Carlingford village.

The first place riders in the full marathon event saw the first four Elite men coming in, in under 3hours with Robin Seymour (WORC) ahead of Niall Davis (All Mountain Experience), from Aidan McDonald (Bikepure)who after a calculated start, powered him way up through the field into third position followed by Ray O’Shaughnessy who took the lead briefly, at the half way mark !! For the rest, that pleasure would take just a little while longer !! Ciara MacManus took the top spot in Elite women category placing 24th overall in a time of 3hrs37mins., ahead of 2nd place Elite woman Jackie O’Hagan (MADMTB). Biker Rea finished the event in 5 hours and 17 mins and was placed 100th. The last quartet of T. Sulliván, Ciaran Sulliván, Loraine Creane and James Prenty were to finish in a time of 6:55. Big thank you to all the course Marshals and course markers and Carlingford Sailing Club for there facilities.

2009 XC NPS Round 6 – Race Report

Jun 15

Posted by irishxcmtb in NPS, News | No Comments

MTB NPS Round 6 2009 – Lady Dixon Park, Belfast – XMTB McConvey Cycles.

Same report on CyclingUlster.com

Offroad events 2009 preview

Jan 30

Posted by irishxcmtb in News | No Comments

Checkout the press release from the Offroad Commission here