XMTB Winter XCO League – Round 1 – Castle Park, Bangor.
Brownfield scores surprise win
The 2007 Winter Cross Country League began in superb style at Castle Park Bangor on Sunday with North Down’s Ray Brownfield scoring a surprise win. The XMTB promotion took place in splendid sunny conditions, though conditions on certain sections of the course proved tricky. The event also saw plenty of new faces, of all ages, many enjoying their first experience of XC racing.
The Fun/Senior/U-16 race took place over 8 laps of a compact circuit, forty riders lining up for the start. Getting the hole shot from the start was former Downhill ace Paul McMenamin (Omagh Wheelers), the Gortin based rider planning a season of XC action. Back in 1998 Paul won three DH titles. As McMenamin led through the BMX section, there was a pile up at the first jump after Banbridge rider Jon Runciman came off in spectacular style. The incident split the field, gladly no one was injured. Runciman remounted and continued at the rear of the field. East Antrim’s Gary Wilson never even got the length of the BMX track, his chain breaking on the start line, and he finally started after a delay of a couple of minutes, having switched to his son Jack’s bike.
The opening lap ended with Ray Brownfield holding on to an unexpected lead, already at this early stage he had opened up a healthy gap over second placed Robbie Lamont (XMTB), the remainder of the leading pack included Neill McGimpsey (XMTB), Paul McMenamin, Graham Boyd (XMTB), Stuart Henry (North Down), Johnny Beers (XMTB) and Michael Hamilton (North Down). The two ‘oldies’ who had experienced problems at the start, were rapidly climbing the leader board, Runciman up to 10th and Wilson 15th.
Brownfield looked in total control as he rattled off the laps, with Lamont in a safe second. The main action centred on the battle for the remainder of the top ten placings. At the halfway point, seven riders were locked in a brilliant scrap, with positions changing constantly. Boyd led the battle ahead of McGimpsey, Henry, Paul Anderson (Banbridge CC), William Mulligan (Banbridge CC), McMenamin and Hamilton. This battle intensified in the last couple of laps with the contest being joined by Runciman and Wilson, the two Vets having inspired rides-or was it temper?
To the applause of a the large Bangor crowd, Brownfield crossed the finish line to take a comfortable victory, runner up Lamont was almost two minutes behind. A delighted Brownfield told Cycling Ulster:
“This is my first MTB success since 1995. The bike is about 12 years old, and this is probably only the fifth time I have been on it. I have no plans to switch to MTB racing, this is only a bit of fun, and I will be competing on the road when the season starts.”
On the penultimate lap, the mega top ten battle saw two retirements, Mulligan retiring with a puncture, and McGimpsey dropping out after pulling a leg muscle. The last lap saw Boyd make 3rd place his own as McMenamin just snatched 4th on the line from Wilson. Stuart Henry was best U-16 finisher, 6th overall, with Hamilton a fine 7th on his cyclo cross bike. Anderson just did enough to keep fellow Bann rider Runciman out of 8th. Well done to Jon Runciman and Gary Wilson on their never give up attitudes, or was it temper?
Womens MTB continues to see growing numbers, five in action on Sunday. Jess Laird (XMTB) finished a brilliant 10th overall to be first Lady finisher. Banbridge rider Nicola Oldham continues to improve with each outing, taking runner up in the Womans Class. Chain Reaction’s Micelle McCartney was 3rd with Joanne McCallum holding off fellow Bann rider Harriet Mayne to take 4th.
Banbridge rider John Buller became the first winner of the XC season when he won the opening race of the day, the Under 8s’. John led from start to finish with his sister Shannon runner up with Dromara CC’s Ben Colhoun in third. Team Madigan’s Kendal Mackness took 4th, just ahead of Rebekah Ogilby (XMTB), as Chris Curry (Banbridge CC) completed the top six. XMTB newcomer, Conor Nairn scored a fine debut win in the U-10 race, with Rachel Mayne just doing enough to hold off fellow Banbridge rider, Joseph Baird.
The U-12 race saw XMTB’s Chris Oakley score a narrow win over James Curry (Banbridge CC), with another Banbridge rider, Dan Runciman in 3rd. Dromara’s Dean Colhoun took 4th, as Markus Pagels (XMTB) grabbed 5th just ahead of a great battle for 6th that saw Aimee Ogilby (XMTB) just pip Ty Mackness (Team Madigan) on the line. Jack Wilson (East Antrim Audi) took a start to finish win in the U-14 event, in which Banbridge’s Michael Runciman finished runner up, and XMTB’s Robbie Lamont third. Claire Oakley (XMTB) rode well to finish 4th with Kyle McEwen (XMTB) just escaping from the efforts of Chris Millar (XMTB) in the closing stages to snatch 5th.
The Winter League continues next Sunday at Castle Park, starting at noon with the Youth events.
Results to follow. Andy Potts