XCO NPS 2007 Round 2
NPS Round 3 Carlingford, Co. Louth 13/May/2007
The third round of the Irish MTB XCO NPS took place on Sunday at the very picturesque setting of Slieve Foy Forest overlooking Carlingford Lough in County Louth. Promoted by Cuchulainn, a new course had been built for the event, the hard work undertaken by Clan McCabe and their ‘adopted’ brother Aiden McDonald. The course was superb though rain during the week had left a few sections very tricky and following the recent excellent spell of weather we now have riders complaining about wet races! Fortune shone on Team McCabe on Sunday with the forecasted heavy rain not showing up, racing being held in fine conditions.
The Elite race (5 laps) attracted only three entries with the surprise being the appearance of Banbridge CC’s Roger Aiken who starts the Ras this weekend. Roger confirmed that mountain biking was the perfect way to finish his training for the Ras, indeed he had rode for 90 miles on the road using his mtb on the day prior to the Carlingford race. The Dromore based rider scored a start to finish win at Carlingford, then rode home! Runner up was Ryan Sherlock (MAD), Ryan having raced at the British NPS event at Sherwood Pines the previous day. Simon McConnell of MTB Rider was the only other finisher. Ciat Elliott (UCD) won the Elite Womens race with Mel Spath riding for almost three hours to finish second. Steve Scrivener was the only Junior on duty and duly won the Junior event.
Yvain Sugno (Team Worc) was a convincing winner of the four lap Experts race, leading from start to finish. However the battle for second was far from a formality. Conor Campbell (Newry Wheelers) held the early advantage from Richard Felle (Team Worc) and Dave Barry (IMBRC). On the second lap Felle moved into second as Campbell and Barry disputed third. On the final lap Campbell relinquished third place to a charging Barry, the IMBRC rider having competed in England the previous day. In the uphill run up to the finish, Felle was almost caught by Barry, at the line the pair were only split by two seconds. A totally exhausted Campbell did well to hang on to fourth. Better known for his DH exploits, Alan Clogher (TC Racing) snatched a fine fifth ahead of Oisin Boydell (UCD). Swords CC rider Dave O’Neill punctured on the start line and did well to recover to finish seventh.
The undoubted rider of the day had to be that of Joe McCall Rocky Mountain/K-Capital) who was a revelation as he powered to success in the Masters race, another four lapper. Not only did he Irish MTB legend completely dominate the race from start to finish, he held second place overall on the course behind Elite rider Aiken! McCall enjoyed the trcky nature of the course, crossing the finish with almost ten minutes to spare over runner up Gordon Lucas (Team Worc). Lucas held second from the start but on the final lap he faced a determined challenge from John Mason (My Home.ie/Cycleways), the former Elite rider having his first mtb outing of the season. Mason just failed to catch Lucas and had to settle for third while Dave Gill (Team Worc) finished less than a minute down on Mason in fourth. Team Worc’s Stuart Galloway is at last showing good form as he took a good fifth, closely followed by Noel Carr of MAD fame. Another close finish saw Niall Quinlan (My Home.ie/Cycleways) just keep Ian Sutton out of seventh. Former motorcycle racing champion, Maurice Ruddock finished his first mtb race in ninth, this after being disqualified from his debut event at Glenarm two weeks earlier!
The youngest of the McCabe racing brotherhood, Gerry, scored his first ever win in the Vets class with a complete domination of the three lap event. The race however was missing leading Vet Aiden McDonald who chose to help out by marshalling instead of racing, and this after building the course, what a true hero! Back to Gerry, the Cuchulainn ace led from start to finish, celebrating with a wheelie as he crossed the line, and very nearly ending up in a heap! Paul McMenamin (Specialized/Leisure Lakes) took his best finish to date with a fine second place, his task made easier when his sparring partner Robbie Lamont retired on the opening lap with a broken free wheel. McMenamin also celebrated with a wheelie as he crossed the line, much to the amusement of Gerry McCabe.
Race organiser Johnny McCabe made up for a slow start to eventually take third, this after a great last lap battle with Andy Burns (Orchard Wheelers). Behind the all smiling all singing Burns, Paul Coyne (Team Worc) took fifth with Banbridge CC’s Jon Runciman narrowly grabbing sixth from Team Worc’s Steve Nicholson. The race was one to forget for Banbridge rider Maurice Mayne, he retired with a broken chain, his first ever none finish due to mechanical problems! The Vets event also included the first ever Super Vets class, with the oldest of the McCabes, Declan taking a great win, he was the only entrant, the former motorcycle racer even having time to take a break and talk to marshal Aiden McDonald! So all those out there over 50, make yourselves known and join Declan in the Super Vets Class.
Cuchulainn rider Seamus Byrne made up for the disappointment of puncturing while leading the previous week at Ballinastoe by notching up a runaway success in the two lap Sports race. IMBRC’s Colm Keane continued to show excellent form as he grabbed second place on the final lap from Michael Holland (Lakeland CC). Belfast based Ronan Corrigan had another fine ride to grab fourth from the pervious weeks winner Dave Askin (Staggs Lucan). In an all IMBRC battle for fifth Gareth Maguire just triumphed over Joe Jones. Dromara CC’s Ross Galway finished eighth with Masters DH ace Michael Cowan an excellent ninth. The top ten was completed by yet another of the IMBRC mob, Dave O’Brien just winning the sprint up the hill ahead of a very determined Daniel Kurpisz. The Womans Sports class again was won by Newry’s Ann Duffy with Nicola Oldham (Banbridge CC) runner up.
XMTB’s Chris Cameron took the honours in the U-16 race with Sorrento rider Conal Higgins a strong second. Shane Geoghegan (MAD) completed the podium. XMTB took another win when Robbie Lamont scored his first success of the season in the U-14 race. Robert Scanlon (U/A) had another fine outing to take second as Team Worc’s Jordan Sutton took third. Chris Millar (XMTB) was fourth and having just returned from racing in England, Claire Oakley (XMTB) did well to finish fifth. Having taken a bronze medal in the previous days Ulster Road Race Champs, Banbridge rider Dan Runciman won the U-12 race ahead of Team Worc’s Taylor Sutton and Aimee Ogilby (XMTB).
Banbridge rider Joseph Baird pipped fellow Bann rider Rachel Mayne to win the U10 race as Paddy Furlong made the trip from Wexford to ride in his first ever race and be rewarded with third. John Buller led the Banbridge domination of the U-8 event, crossing the line ahead of his sister Shannon and Richard Baird. XMTB’s Jack Lamont was fourth.
Round four of the NPS takes place this Sunday at Magheramorne Quarry near Larne in County Antrim promoted by Team Madigan. This is an exciting new venue which features lakes, bridges, tunnels etc. It is hoped that this venue will be turned into a MTB Centre of Olympic standard so it is hoped that everyone will give their full support on Sunday. Just one thing….the couArse is not open for practice on Saturday…so please do not go near it!
Report by Andy Potts.