XCO NPS 2007 Round 2
NPS Round 2 Ballinastoe 6/May/2007
Round Two of the Irish Cross Country NPS took place on Sunday at Ballinastoe Forest in County Wicklow, promoted by Sorrento CC.For the first time in many years the famous old MTB course was in fine condition and even the odd shower of rain throughout the day failed to have any effect, with the humid conditions making the infamous grass climb a ‘stairway to sweat’!.
The main course was shorter than usual and in the dry conditions fast lap times were the norm, what it all meant was a day of superb action with many races producing a high degree of drama.
The Elite Mens race may have only attracted three entries, yet James McCluskey and Peter Buggle(both Team Worc) produced a thrilling dual for the lead and ending with both riders suffering mixed fortunes.The race was developing into a great battle until Buggle slammed into a tree with his left shoulder on the second lap, forcing the birthday boy, he was 45 the previous day, to slow the pace for a few minutes.
By the fifth lap Buggle had caught and passed McCluskey , but it was then McCluskeys turn to suffer misfortune when a branch got caught in his rear wheel and broke his rear hanger.
Buggle continued to the finish to claim victory; however it had come at a cost.
Immediately after the race he went to hospital to have his injured shoulder checked, the news was not good.
Although nothing was broke, the ligaments of his shoulder had been torn away from the bone, this nasty injury may keep the remarkable ‘youngster’ out of action for some time.
I am sure everyone involved in MTB will join with me in sending best wishes for a speedy recovery to Peter.
Runner up in the race was Ryan Sherlock (MAD), as the luckless McCluskey pushed his bike over the line to take third.
Beth McCluskey(U/A) scored another fine win in the Elite Womens event, held over five laps.Cait Elliott (UCD) finished runner up in another fine outing in her first season in the Elite Class. Inga Doak, another newcomer to the Elite Class, and Off Road Commission Womens rep, was third, with her fellow MAD Club member Mel Spath fourth after having lost time as she became one of the days many puncture victims.
Yvain Sugno (Team Worc) may have suffered a rare defeat at the opening round of the NPS at Glenarm, yet on Sunday at Ballinastoe he controlled the five lap Masters event from start to finish. Richard Felle (Team Worc) opened his account in the series with a superb second place as winner of the opening round Dave Barry (IMBRC) had to settle for a close third. Swords CC’s Dave O’Neill produced another fine ride to finish fourth as Oisin Boydell(UCD) crossed the finish line a mere 28 seconds down on O’Neill.
The top six was completed by Luke Manning of IMBRC fame, he finished the race on a flat rear tyre forcing him to run for almost half of the final lap.
Once again the Masters race attracted a superb entry and provided the first meeting of the NPS of the main contenders. Rocky Mountain’s Joe McCall dominated the race from start to finish, the Irish MTB legend in awesome form as he tackled the major climb on the course lap after lap, almost blinded by sweat. The first couple of laps saw Damian Mulchrone (Epic) and first round winner Peter O’Farrell (U/A) wage a close battle for second, this was until O’Farrell was forced out with a broken rear hanger on the third lap.
Mulchrone then had to contend with Team Worc’s Gordon Lucas, whose contorted, sweat drenched face showed just how much effort he was putting in to grab the runners up position.
On the last lap Lucas finally overtook Mulchrone to proceed to score a superb second place.
Mulchrone settled for third and subject to confirmation he should share the lead in the points table with Lucas.
For the promoting Sorrento Club John Dorris took fourth ahead of Noel Carr (MAD). Having his best outing for some time, Team Worc’s Stuart Galloway completed the top six.
The old men of the Vets Class provided some of the best action of the day, with a battle for the lead akin to ‘the clash of the Titans’ between Gerry McCabe (Cuchulainn) and Aiden McDonald (Apollo CT). For three of the four laps it was McCabe that led the way as McDonald seemed to take a while to make up for a sluggish start, perhaps old age is catching up with him at last!
At the grass climb on the final lap McCabe gasped for breath as he looked behind to see McDonald only a few metres behind.
It wasn’t long before McDonald pounced to take the lead and crossed the line with 8 seconds to spare over the ‘youngest’ Vet on the circuit McCabe.
In an equally close battle for third, Omagh’s Paul McMennamin (Team Specialized/Leisure Lakes) took his first podium of the season after chasing down and passing Johnny McCabe (Cuchulainn) on the final lap.
Paul Coyne (Team Worc) had a steady ride to fifth as the eldest of the McCabe clan, Declan, a young looking fifty, had his best outing of the season to date to take sixth ahead of a fast closing Jon Runciman (Banbridge CC).
The Junior race, a five lapper, provided a start to finish win for IMBRC rider Paul O’Reilly, in fact it was a case of pure domination by the young Dubliner. Still suffering from a reoccurring back injury, Neil McGimpsey (XMTB) rode to a brave second. After almost pulling out at the end of the opening lap with sore legs, XMTB’s Graham Boyd recovered to finish third. Cuchulainn’s Robert McCabe was forced to retire with back problems. This weekend both McCabe and O’Reilly make their debuts for the Irish MTB Squad at the second round of the British NPS at Sherwood Pines near Nottingham.
The well supported Sports race was another drama packed affair. Held over three laps, Cuchulainn rider Seamus Byrne looked to be in a class of his own as he blasted into a clear lead, in what was only his fifth ever race.
Behind the leader the action was close for the main positions, Dave Askin (Lucan) leading the charge for second from Robert Magee (Nomad), Ronan Corrigan (Ulster), Daniel Kurpisz (MAD) and Colm Keane (IMBRC).
On the final lap Byrne seemed to be tiring as the following six riders all were covered by less than two minutes, all six closing on the leader. At the halfway point on the final lap Byrne still held the lead and although fighting for energy it looked as if he could hang on to repeat his first round win. Unfortunately disaster struck Byrne when he sustained a puncture and he retired. At the finish it was Askin who crossed the line to take victory with Magee a mere four seconds behind in second place.
Belfast based Ronan Corrigan made up for an early exit in the opening round due to a broken chain to take third. Polish exile Daniel Kurpisz had his best NPS finish as he grabbed fourth just ahead of Colm Keane as Gar Maguire (IMBRC) slotted into sixth narrowly from Paul Foley (U/A).
Ann Duffy took the honours in the Sports Womens Class, the Newry rider taking victory from Banbridge CC’s Nicola Oldham.
It was very good to see Epic’s John O’Reilly at Ballinastoe, John still recovering from a horrible elbow injury sustained at the Rostrevor K-Capital race in March. John is making a good recovery though he will have restricted movement in his arm. As everyone left for home on Sunday John was seen cycling past on a road bike!
The U-16 race produced another thriller. For two of the three laps it looked as if Sorrento were going to get a winner as Conal Higgins totally dominated the proceedings. However after battling with Shane Geoghegan (MAD) and fellow XMTB rider Jes Laird over the first two laps, William Boyd set about chasing down the leader on the final lap. As the pair came into view at the end of the third and final lap, it was Higgins who led, but only just. In the uphill charge to the finish Boyd overtook Higgins to grab victory, the official gap between the pair being one second. Geoghegan produced his best outing of the year to take third, less than 30 seconds down on the first two, with Laird not far behind in fourth.
Banbridge CC’s Michael Runciman took the honours in the U-14 class, a dream debut on his new bike.
Runciman’s saw his main challenger, fellow Bann rider Matthew Adair, being stricken with a puncture on the opening lap. Runner up was Robert Scanlon (Lucan) with Adair rejoining the race to take third. Banbridge CC and the Runcimans scored again with Daniel winning the U-12 race from Team Worc’s Dylan Byrne.
James Curry gave Banbridge CC a hat trick of wins with success in the U-10 event in which Newry’s Cian McConvey took second ahead of Joseph Baird (Banbridge CC).John Buller made the day complete for Banbridge when he took the U-8 race, the young rider yet to be beaten this season.
Banbridge rider Richard Baird was second ahead of fellow Bann riders Shannon Buller and Shenna McKiverigan, Shannon loosing second place when her chain came off on the last lap.
Round three of the Irish XCO NPS takes place this Sunday at Carlingford Forest, basically using the K-Capital course though improvements have been made by the promoters Cuchulainn and Aiden McDonald. Race sign on is again at the Foy Community Centre. Report by Andy Potts.