NPS Round 7 Tymon Park, Tallaght, Co.Dublin 08/July/2007
The seventh and final round of the Irish Mountain Bike National Points Series was held on Sunday in Dublin’s Tymon Park, promoted by the IMBRC Club. This was the first time in a number of years that a major mtb event had been held in the city and what a great advert for mtb it turned out to be. The racing was fast and entertaining with many of Tymon Parks ‘normal’ Sunday morning residents stopping to have their first look at the sport of mtb. This type of circuit may not be popular to some; however these parkland type circuits are used in Britain and Europe and have even been used to host major UCI events.
Racing at Tymon Park began with the Youth events and yet again it was disappointing to see that most of the entrants where from the North. The honour of being the first 2007 NPS Champion fell to young Banbridge CC rider John Buller. John won the U-8 race in style, finishing the series unbeaten. Shannon Buller, John’s sister, held off the challenge from fellow Banbridge rider Richard Baird to take second, Shannon and Richard finished joint runners up in the points table. Special mention goes to young Banbridge lady Shenna McKiverigan who got entangled in course tape on the opening lap which saw her drop to last place. Shenna bravely fought back to finish in fourth.
The Banbridge Club celebrated another title when James Curry wrapped up the U-10 title with another convincing win, James finishing the season unbeaten. Top Under 10 lady Rachel Mayne (Banbridge CC) collected another second place with Newry’s Cian McConvey in third. Rachel Mayne and fellow Bann rider share second place in the final rankings. Two of the top contenders in the U-12 Class, Dan Runciman and Chris Oakley missed out on Sunday’s race as they where racing in the Irish Youth Road Champs in Waterford. Their absence allowed Tymon U-12 winner Zak Hanna (Dromara CC) to snatch second overall in the league standings. Dan Runciman (Banbridge CC) takes the U-12 crown from Zak Hanna and Chris Oakley. Young Dubliner David Fitzharris finished runner up at Tymon.
The U-14 race produced a start to finish win for Banbridge rider Matt Adair, a result that confirmed him as Irish U-14 League Champion in what has been his first full season in racing. Matt’s next outing will be the fourth round of the British NPS in Plymouth, last time out at Margam Park he finished fourth, this after being last on the opening lap after having to stop to fix a rear wheel problem. Having just joined Team Worc, Robert Scanlon finished runner up to Matt, a fine result for Robert who has gone from strength to strength this year. Runner up in the League was Banbridge rider Michael Runciman, he was in Waterford on Sunday at the Road Champs.
The M.A.D. Club had good cause to celebrate when Shane Geoghegan’s third place in the U-16 race gave him enough points to grab the U-16 title. The race was won by XMTB’s William Boyd with Taudhg Griffin runner up. XMTB’s Chris Cameron was runner up in the series with Willam Boyd third and Sorrento’s Conal Higgins in fourth.
The mini powerhouse that is known as Paul ‘Superman’ Foley scored a convincing win in the Sports Men’s race held over four high speed laps of the course. Foley was quite simply in a class of his own as he swept to both the race win and the title. Runner up was IMBRC’s Joe Jones with Brian O’Driscoll (Orwell) in third. The two riders that provided the main threat to Foley in the battle for the title had a day to forget. IMBRC rider Colm Keane had to stop on the opening lap to fix a broken chain, fighting back at a relentless pace to eventually finish 17th and runner up in the race for the title. Ulster based Michael Holland (Lakeland CC) has been suffering a lack of form for the last few weeks which has caused him major frustration. On Sunday Michael finished in 12th giving him third overall just five points down on Keane.
As expected Newry rider Anne Duffy clinched the Sports Women’s title with a brilliant start to finish win. Having her first ever race Rachel Wisdom finished runner up much to the delight of her coach, a certain Robin Seymour. Banbridge lady Nicola Oldham celebrated the end of her first NPS campaign by finishing third and taking second overall in the series, Nicola giving the time keepers a rendition of ‘the star of the county down’ as she rode past! Congratulations also to Marta Bonikowska who finished fourth in her first race.
The Elite Men’s race was a ten lap affair with the early stages serving up a classic dual between Peter Buggle (Team Worc) and Banbridge CC rider Roger Aiken. This encounter ended when Aiken punctured and by the time he rejoined the action he found himself in last place behind Ryan Sherlock (MAD) and James McCluskey (Team Worc), Buggle well clear in the lead. Over the second part of the race Aiken set about climbing the leader board, eventually reaching second place. For winner Buggle it was another useful work out, the ageless wonder still troubled by the shoulder injury sustained in Ballinastoe in May. McCluskey finished in third and the MAD Club celebrated another title as third placed Sherlock took the Elite crown, the former basketball ace taking the crown ahead of Buggle and McCluskey. Beth McCluskey looked to be on course for another victory in the seven lap Womens Elite race, however the Epic rider was forced to retire with mechanical problems on the third lap. With McCluskey a reluctant spectator the new leader was UCD rider Cait Elliott who proceeded to score her fourth win of the series and take the title with McCluskey runner up. Mel Spath rode well to finish runner up in the race, the MAD rider finishing third in the final rankings.
The Junior race (7 laps) saw an opening lap showdown between Banbridge rider Liam McGreevy and IMBRC’s Paul O’Reilly with the back on form Graham Boyd (XMTB) a close third. Just after starting lap two O’Reilly had to stop to cure a mechanical, this letting Boyd into second. Towards the end of the third lap McGreevy suffered a nasty spill when his bike went out of control and he ended up smacking his right leg on a tree trunk. With the leg swelling quickly, the paramedic had the Bann rider taken to hospital as a precaution. Thankfully the fears that the young rider had sustained a broken leg were cured when the injury was diagnosed as nothing more than bad muscle bruising. Back at Tymon Boyd went on to secure a much needed win with a somewhat dejected O’Reilly in second. O’Reilly did however take the Junior title with Boyd runner up and MAD’s Steve Scrivener third.
The Experts race was a seven lap high speed thriller involving the Team Worc quartet of Phil Roache, Yvain Sugno, Richard Felle and Evan Ryan and IMBRC’s Dave Barry. The action provided by these riders was top class. Roache eventually took the win for the second week in succession with Sugno again runner up. A great effort in the closing laps saw Barry claim third from Ryan as Felle had to be content with fifth, the young Worc rider still recovering from illness. In the final points table Sugno, who dominated the early rounds, took the title with Barry runner up and Felle in third.
The Masters race provided the awesome Joe McCall (Rocky Mountain/K-Capital) with his fifth win from the five races he entered. McCall was quite simply in a class of his own as he romped to victory. Mark Allen was runner up with Craig Brady third. McCall took the Masters title with his nearest rival Gordon Lucas (Team Worc) having to settle for second, Lucas suffering dnf’s in the last two rounds due to a chest infection. Peter O’Farrell missed the last two rounds but still finished third overall.
The battle of the ‘oldies’ or Vets as it is better known provided six laps of all out action and close finishes. The race was won by XMTB’s Robbie Lamont, the tree trunk legged Belfast rider leading from start to finish. Runner up was Cuchulainn’s Gerry McCabe complete with his new scar face image. Gerry recently suffered a terrible head injury after hitting the back of a van while out on a new triathlon bike. In the accident Gerry received 28 stitches and required three pints of blood. Gladly Gerry has fully recovered and second place on Sunday gave him the Vets title. Irish Vet riders may be interested in the news that Clan McCabe may miss the National Champs due to overseas triathlon commitments! Newry’s Peter McConville just pipped IMBRC’s Mick Jordan for third and in an equally close finish John O’Reilly(Epic) and his bionic elbow outsprinted Johnny McCabe to the line for fifth.
Well done to all at IMBRC for an excellent event, a great promotion for the sport of MTB. An interested spectator at Tymon was former motorcycle racing star Woolsey Coulter who for many years used and still does use mountain biking as part of fitness training. Back in the early ninties Woolsey beat a young Italian rider called Max Biaggi in a European 250cc Championship race at Mondello Park! Report by Andy Potts.
Race results and overall NPS 2007 standings: Excel file | HTML |