K-Capital Cup Round 2
Seymour wins in Mournes
Robin Seymour (Team Worc) moved a step closer to representing Ireland at the 2008 Olympics with victory in the second round of the K-Capital Cup, held at the picturesque setting of Moneyscalp Wood near Newcastle in County Down. Promoted by Banbridge Cycling Club, the event attracted an entry of 176, including Belfast’s Conor McConvey who was having his first MTB race after breaking his shoulder five weeks earlier.
The entry also featured three reigning Irish DH Champions.
Thankfully the weather was kind, though the blasts from a chilly wind were balanced with some hot action on the new course.
The Elite Men faced seven laps of Moneyscalp, last used for an XCO event in 2000, the new course featuring some tough climbs and tricky downhill sections. Joining the leading Irish riders on the grid were visitors Adrian Lansley, Paul Beales, Lee Williams and the Belgian trio of Patrick Gaudy, Cedric Gaudy and Jorgen Flion. Seymour blasted into the lead from the start, out for the first time on his new Campagnola bike. Ending the first lap Seymour enjoyed a 30 seconds advantage over Niall Davis (IMBRC), Adrian Lansley (Pedalon) and Conor McConvey (McConvey Cycles).
By the end of lap two Lansley had moved into a clear second as Davis and McConvey battled for third. The order remained the same until lap six when McConvey attacked Davis and set off after second placed Lansley. Seymour however was keeping a watching brief on his rivals; various sections of the course enabled the riders to see time gaps to other riders.
The riders set out on the final lap cheered on by the large contingent of spectators, many willing McConvey to snatch second from Lansley. McConvey did catch and pass Lansley on the last lap, but the English rider responded by moving back to second on with less than a third of a lap to go. To he sound of the whistles blown by course marshals, Seymour exited the final single track section for the short run to the finish line, the Wicklow rider taking his first win in the series, but more importantly increasing his lead in the points table for ‘the race to Beijing’.
With the final single track section in full view of the spectators massed at the finish, the noise level erupted as they saw McConvey trying to overhaul Lansley in the dash to the finish. However it was Lansley who got the verdict as the pair charged over the line. Davis was fourth and still holds second place in the standings for Olympic qualification, McConvey scoring his first points at Moneyscalp. Welsh rider Lee Williams rode to a strong fifth with Ryan Sherlock (MAD) looking very strong as he crossed the line in sixth.
Patrick Gaudy (Team Barracuda) was the first of the Belgian trio to finish, though their weekend was somewhat wrecked by hire car problems, which saw them having to taken to and from the event by Banbridge CC, this also including leaving the team back to Dublin Airport…thanks Budget Car Hire! Young Belgian rider Jorgen Flion was happy to take some UCI points as he finished in eighth with the ageless Joe McCall (K-Capital/Rocky Mountain) in ninth. IMBRC’s Dave Barry took the final ranking point in tenth place. The final Olympic selection event will be K-Capital Round three at Djouce Woods which is already looking like a classic with entries from Sweden, Poland the Czech Republic, Switzerland and the returning BCF Team led by Oli Beckingsale.
Banbridge CC’s Liam McGreevy keep up his wining form with victory in the 5 lap Junior race, leading throughout to cross the line ahead of Paul O’Reilly (IMBRC) and Neil McGimpsey (XMTB). Scottish rider Jack Richards rode to victory in the Experts event with Luke Manning a superb runner up. The result could have been much different had Irish DH Champion Ben Reid not retired with two laps to go, Reid having dominated the event from the start. Third finisher Oisin Boydell (UCD) took the leaders jersey for the class. Special mention must go to fourth finisher, Gary Henning of Newry Wheelers, better know for his on road performances, this was by far Gary’s best ever Off Road performance.
James McCluskey (IMBRC) notched up his second win in the Masters Class, James finishing almost ten minutes head of runner up Gordon Lucas (Team Worc) who was just happy to finish after suffering a DNF at the opening round. Epic’s Rory Walsh finished a strong third with MAD’s Fergal Killkenny showing excellent form with his fourth place finish. Aidan McDonald (ApolloCT) won the Vets race and also took the leaders jersey for the Vets category. Having spent much of the previous two days working on the course, Banbridge CC’s William Mulligan did well to hold off Cuchulainn’s Gerry McCabe to snatch second. In the Elite Ladies Class, Mel Spath (MAD) took the win ahead of Ciara McManus (U/A)
Scottish visitor Douglas Shearer easily took the Sport Mens event held over three laps. Runner up Mark Solon took the leaders jersey as Chain Reaction’s Sean Donnelly opened his account in the series with a fine third place. The Sports Womens Class was won by Linda Haug (Sorrento) ahead of Rachel Wisdom (Team Worc) and Val O’Neill (Banbridge CC). Banbridge lad Matt Adair took the honours in the U-16 event ahead of William Boyd (XMTB) and Robert Scanlon (Team Worc). In the U-14 race find of the season Robert Anderson (Orchard Juiced) took his first major win. Having one of his best ever outings, Kyle McEwan (XMTB) finished runner up ahead of fellow Club rider Chris Oakley.
For the promoting Banbridge Club the day began well in the youth events held over the small course. In the U-8 race, Stuart Dunlop had a narrow win over Shenna McKiverigan. Having missed the opener due to illness, John Buller won the U-10 category from round one winner Richard Baird. Spare a thought though for young Morgan Walsh who travelled all the way from Galway to suffer a mechanical on lap two of three while in second place. James Curry once again controlled proceedings in the U-12 outing, crossing the line ahead of fellow Bann riders Rachel Mayne and Joseph Baird.
Report thanks to Andy Potts
2008 Irish XC race results (PDF)