XCO NPS 2007 Round 4
NPS Round 4 Magheramorne 20/May/2007
The Irish Mountain Bike Cross Country Series visited County Antrim for the second time in three weeks on Sunday, as Team Madigan promoted round four at Magheramorne Quarry on the edge of the port of Larne. This new venue brought a new dimension to Irish XCO, not a tree in sight, yet the potential for MTB development of the site is endless. Landowners, Lafarge have plans to turn the site into a major outdoor sports centre with a major MTB facility one of the projects, two members of the Lafarge team flew in from England to witness the event. On Sunday the car parking was great with the added bonus of toilet and changing facilities, though due to the ‘object’ in the mens showers one or two males were spotted making use of the Ladies facilities!
The three and a half miles course used on Sunday only used a small part of the site, yet the route included water splashes, single track, a bridge, a tunnel and drop offs. In general the course was well received by the riders and with the weather superb the racing was fast and furious. For the spectators in the start/finish area, the opening, very tight, left hand corner was brilliant with a water splashes on the entrance and exit. The same spectators were also entertained by the excellent commentary and music; when was the last time the Thomas the Tank Engine theme was played at a MTB race!
The Elite race, a six lapper, saw the return to action of Team BHB’s Lewis Ferguson, the Holywood based rider having been out of action since the K-Capital race at Carlingford. For five of the six laps the race followed the same pattern, Ferguson holding a slender lead over Ryan Sherlock (MAD) and Simon McConnell(MTB Rider), each rider separated by just over one and a half minutes. Starting the final lap Sherlock had to stop at the pits to put air into a tyre. On the last lap McConnell moved into second as Sherlock had to stop out on the course with problems with the same tyre. Ferguson crossed the finish line, delighted with is victory, with McConnell just over three minutes behind. The unlucky Sherlock walked to the finish to collect third place. Cait Elliott(UCD) took the honours in the Womens Elite race, her task made easier when Inga Doak(MAD) punctured on the opening lap, rejoining the race well down on time behind Elliott.
Dave Barry (IMBRC) produced a ride of pure class as he raced to a start to finish win in the Experts event, held over five laps, Barry one of the most improved riders on the Irish scene. Team Worc’s Richard Felle had pushed Barry all the way in the previous rounds, however on Sunday he had to be content with second, crossing the finish line five minutes down on winner Barry. Hard luck story of the race belonged to Alan Clogher (TC Racing). The well known downhiller was in a brilliant third place until he was forced out with chain problems on the third lap. The race then featured a great three way struggle for third involving Luke Manning (IMBRC), Oisin Boydell (UCD) and Dave O’Neill (Swords CC). Manning looked to be heading towards his best ever NPS finish, that was until he ‘blew’ on the penultimate lap. Boydell and O’Neill subsequently overtook the struggling Manning, Boydell completing the race by taking third, his first ever podium. O’Neill was a happy fourth as a totally dejected Manning finished fifth and declared to the large IMBRC contingent that he will train for the next event!
The four lap Masters race saw Peter O’Farrell (U/A) and Gordon Lucas (Team Worc) dominate the event. O’Farrell led throughout with Lucas a close second. On the last lap Lucas suffered a rear wheel puncture, costing him any chance of snatching victory from O’Farrell. Lucas was able to limp to the finish to take second and keep his lead in the points table. Behind the two leaders four riders took part in a fantastic battle for third. Andy Wallace (Dave Kane/Northern) won the contest by grabbing the final podium position from Brian Stewart (Usher RC). For Wallace it was his best finish of the season and for former motorcycle trials rider and ‘roadie’ Stewart, it was just reward for the effort he has put into his first season in MTB. Gordon Byrne (Team Worc) was a close fifth with Banbridge rider Paul ‘Mr Buns’ Anderson in sixth. Well done to Dromara CC rider Gary Gray who took the step up from the Sports Class to ride in his first Masters event, enjoying the experience as he finished ninth. The same can not be said for his fellow Club rider Derek ‘Deek’ Hanna who finished 12th and then had to receive treatment from the St Johns staff for nasty cuts to an arm and knee.
The ‘ancient relics’ of the Vets Class brought the deserted old quarry back to life with another brilliant display of racing, featuring the ‘clash of the titans’, Gerry McCabe (Cuchulainn) and Aiden McDonald (Apollo CT). McDonald missed out on round three by marshalling as Gerry McCabe took the win. Before the Vets race began all were asked if four laps was ok, all agreed, young McCabe would regret the decision. On the opening lap Gerry McCabe quickly broke clear of the pack with Robbie Lamont (XMTB) holding second from Aiden McDonald. Next came another pair of battling Vets, Johnny McCabe (Cuchulainn) under severe pressure from Paul McMenamin (Specialized/Leisure Lakes). By the third lap McDonald had moved into second and close in on leader McCabe. Setting out on the final lap McCabe was in a state of pure panic as McDonald followed in his wheel tracks, akin to a hunter about to pounce on his prey! At the same time McCabe declared that he wished it had been a three lapper. At the finish it was McDonald who took the win with a disappointed McCabe a further 30 seconds down. Lamont finished on his own in third as Johnny McCabe pulled clear of McMenamin on the last lap to clinch fourth. Special mention must go to Banbridge rider Simon Curry who had a great dual with fellow Bann rider Jon Runciman, Simon getting the verdict to take 8th and treating the spectators to a huge wheelie as he crossed the line. The news was not so good for Simon’s mentor, Willie Forsythe, who injured his back while getting out of the car on arrival, get well soon young Forsythe.
Paul O’Reilly (IMBRC) scored a convincing win in the four lap Junior race, the young Dubliner leading from start to finish. O’Reilly’s task was made all the more easier when his only challenger Neil McGimpsey was forced to pull out after two laps with back problems. Andy Hunter (Dave Kane/Northern) was runner up with third going to Steve Scrivener (MAD), he enjoyed a race long clash with Elite Lady Ciat Elliott.
Lakeland CC’s Michael Holland scored his first ever MTB win in the three lap Sports race. Following a great ride at round three, Holland was totally at home on the fast flowing course and led from start to finish to inflict a rare defeat on Cuchulainn’s Seamus Byrne, the pair separated by over four minutes at the end of the race. Paul Foley (U/A), another great discovery this season, took a close third. Downhill ace Michael Cowan (Chain Reaction Cycles) just held off Gareth Maguire (IMBRC) to grab fourth, as Ronan Corrigan (U/A) continued his good form of late to finish fifth. The closest finish of the race featured two more riders that have come to the fore this season, Daniel Kurpisz (MAD) snatching 7th by a mere second from IMBRC’s Colm Keane.
Jonny Beers was a convincing winner in the U-16 event with fellow XMTB rider Chris Cameron in second and Banbridge CC’s Andy Wilson third. East Antrim’s Jack Wilson just held off Banbridge CC’s Michael Runciman to capture the U-14 race. Matt Adair (Banbridge CC) was third and Robbie Lamont (XMTB) fourth. Dan Runciman (Banbridge CC) held off arch rival Chris Oakley (XMTB) to win the U-12 class with Dromara CC’s Zak Hanna having another great ride to take third. James Curry (Banbridge CC) took his now customary win in the U-10 race, as Joseph Baird narrowly took second ahead of fellow Banbridge rider Rachel Mayne. Banbridge CC had riders fill the top four places in the U-8 event, John Buller winning from sister Shannon, Richard Baird and Shenna McKiverigan.
Many thanks to all who supported the race, especially those who travelled from Dublin.
Report by Andy Potts.
Race results and overall NPS 2007 standings Excel file | HTML |