Sun Shines On Dunmore - Ulster XC MTB Champs

A clear blue sky, spectators in t-shirts, riders loosing bucket loads of sweat? No not a description of a far of race in Europe, this was the Ulster XC champsionships on Saturday at the superb Dunmore Mountain course. For the second year in succession Dromara CC served up a perfect day of weather and action. To top everything, even the roadies got in on the act by lifting two of the titles on offer! Perhaps the only downer for Dromara et mois was the usual Ulster type moaner eg. ‘it’s a bit muddy’, ‘there are too many puddles’ and even ‘they could have thrown a couple of tons of stones on parts of the course’. Is it just me or has it not rained for the last three months? Folks, if you don’t like the mud sweat and gears there is a thing called the road you can ride on!

The main course measured around three miles and featured plenty of lung busting climbs and squeaky bum downhill sections. The rocky nature of the course saw many a rider suffer punctures. The U-12 riders had their own testing course, with the stars of the U-8 and U-10 classes battling around a super mini course in the start/finish arena.

Banbridge CC riders dominated the U-8 proceedings with Mark Buller just holding off Shenna McKiverigan in the two lap affair. Banbridge welcomed back young Stuart Dunlop after a long injury lay off, Stuart out of action since May with a nasty arm injury. On his comeback Stuart did well to take the bronze medal. Dromara CC newcomer Drew Armstrong grabbed 4th with jovial Ben Hanna (Dromara CC) in 5th.

John Buller (Banbridge CC) got back to winning ways by taking the U-10 title after holding off fellow Bann rider Richard Baird. XMTB’s Greg Bell took an excellent 3rd after a close battle with fellow Club rider Joel Smyth. James Curry maintained the winning streak for Banbridge by taking the honours in the U-12 race, held over two laps. XMTB‘s Conor Nairn chased James all the way to take a brilliant second place. Banbridge lady Rachel Mayne just won a dash to the line for the final podium spot, Missy Mayne crossing the line just ahead of Joseph Baird (Banbridge CC). In another close finish Aimee Ogilby (XMTB) snatched 5th by less than a bike length from Eoghan O’Reilly, young Eoghan having travelled all the way from the midlands of Ireland to take part!

Robert Anderson of Juiced Orchard fame and one of the ‘finds of the season’, as expected, won the U-14 encounter, held over one lap of the main course. Just a week after making his comeback, Robbie Lamont (XMTB) snatched an excellent second place after holding off a last lap challenge from another of the XMTB clan, Chris Oakley. Dromara CC’s Zak Hanna was happy with his 4th place and well done to Stuart Ballantine (XMTB) on one of his best ever finishes as he crossed the line in 5th.

The 2 lap U-16 race produced a dramataic dual between Banbridge CC pair Michael Runciman and Matthew Adair. Matthew was the initial leader before became one of the many puncture victims, Matthew rejoining the race ion third behind Wild Willy Boyd and Michael ‘the Thespian’Runciman. Setting out on the second and final lap Michael led by over two minutes as Matthew caught and passed Wild Willy to set off after Michael. By the finish Michael ‘the Actor’ had done enough to secure the Ulster title, a great reward for a rider who saw his early season form ruined due to a rugby injury. Michael now goes on to start in his school musical, tickets available from his mum!!!!! Matthew had to settle for second with Wild Willy third.

The 2 lap Sports race produced a great start to finish win for East Antrim’s Kieran McKenna…who? Yes this was the first time Kieran has tackled an MTB race, very well done, hopefully we will see Kieran in action again over the next couple of weeks. Second finisher was another new name on the score sheet, East Tyrone’s Stephen Hutchinson….roadies in the top two places, what next? A McKinley winning an MTB race? Watch this space! To complete the Sports podium, Irish International DH racer Gareth McKee took third, Gareth still recovering from a nasty shoulder injury sustained in France during August. Dromara CC’s Martin Grimley edged Ronan Corrigan out of 4th, Martin having shown a major improvement in form over the last two weeks. Having his first taste of race action, Chris Tyndall (U/A) finished in 6th as another of the Dromara squad Gavin Magowan took 7th on hat was his race debut. Banbridge rider Stephen Prentice apologised to his fans for his lowly 8th place, explaining that he had to miss last weeks action at Craigavon as he was performing the role of commissaire, hence his form had suffered! Banbridge ladies Joanne McCallum and Nicola Oldham finished 1st and 2nd in the Sports Women race, the pair enjoying the magnificent views as they rode together and well done to Nicola for tackling the rock slab section, a place where a few males saw their pride dented!

Apollo’s Aiden McDonald won the five lap Elite race which attracted only two entries, pathetic. Still well done Aiden for a superb ride and surviving one or two almost over the bars moments. Runner up was Graham Boyd (XMTB) with his new hair style, apparantley he did it himself, that explains it! Banbridge rider Val O’Neill lifted the Elite Womens title. The Junior race saw Neil McGimpsey (XMTB) take victory over East Antrim’s Jonny Beers. Irish Champion Liam McGreevy was an absentee as he was recovering from his brothers wedding the previous day.

The Experts race produced the following result- Ireland, Holland, Galway! Yes Real Cycles rider Luke Ireland was in a class of his own as he took the Experts title, the race over 4 laps. Michael Holland (Leisure Lakes) finished second, just over a minute down on Luke with huge cheers from the Dromara stalls as Ross Galway took third place. Dave O’Neill made the trip up from Swords to take 4th place, Dave describing the course as one of his favourites.

Then came the Vets. Tree Trunks Lamont (XMTB) won for the second week running in what was an awesome display of no nonsense, straight faced, glaring eyed, muscle bound leg mountain biking….I wonder are the special bananas back? Allegedly of course! Robbie led on the opening lap as William Mulligan (Banbridge CC) was having his first local outing since returning from his high altitude wine tasting trip to Pra Loup..or Pra Loooo as seems to be the correct pronunciation. On the second lap William had almost caught Robbie when disaster struck. A trip over the bars saw William sustain a badly swollen knee forcing him to retire and top up on the sun tan on his old legs! The race lost a couple of other top runners with Paul McMenamin (Leisure Lakes) and Andy Burns (Juiced Orchard) both collecting punctures. Tree Trunks Lamont proceeded to score victory and reward himself with a smile! Banbridge CC’s super smiler Simon Curry, who has learnt in recent times to pretend to have a serious face when racing, finished a superb second. The podium was completed by another Bann rider, Paul Anderson and his bun helmet finished third, well done Mr Buns. In training for the Three Peaks Cyclo Cross Race, Fred McSorely (Apollo CT) narrowly took 4th from Banbridge CC’s Jonathan Buller.

The best has been saved to last. As you read this he is probably enjoying an open top bus tour of Newry, Warrenpoint and Rostrevor. Yes, famous roadie with the grumpy face, Drew McKinley (Newry Wheelers) won the Masters XC title, a title coveted by another of the Newry Wheelers, Conor Campbell. This was no fluke however, as Drew used his cyclo cross skills to negotiate the slippy sections of the course. At the end of the four laps, the first to congratulate Drew was his brother Mark and race commissaire Peter McConville, Newry Wheeler Peter having a memorable first duty as commissaire. Congratulations Drew, hopefully you will switch to MTB next year!!!! Runner up in the Masters race was East Antrim’s Danny Hylands, the ‘big man’ gearing up for the cyclo cross season. Third finisher was Clive Caldwell (Total Cycling), how good it was to see one of Northern Irelands best MTB supporters get a medal, by the way Clive I didn’t get the pic of you landing in the gorse bushes! Drat! Andy Wallace (Dave Kane/Northern) finished a close fourth behind Clive as North Down’s Paul Ferguson finished a good 5th.

Well done to Dromara CC on another excellent promotion at a superb venue, a great effort by Trevor, Martin, Ross, Deek and team. Next MTB action is this Saturday with Da Cooley Thriller MTB Marathon, starting from Carlingford Yacht Club. The final MTB event of the Ulster season is the sixth and final round of the Irish XC NPS at Castlewellan Forest Park on Sunday 28th September.

For lots of pics of the event click the gallery link below.

Pics by Andy Potts

Report and Pics Andy Potts

Elite Men 5 laps
1 Aiden McDonald Apollo 01:33:50
2 Graham Boyd XMTB 01:47:38
Elite Women 4 laps
1 Val O'Neill Banbridge 01:54:22

Juniors 4 laps
1 Neil McGimpsey XMTB 01:20:15
2 Jonny Beers East Antrim 01:38:20

Masters 4 laps
1 Drew McKinley Newry Wheelers 01:29:15
2 Danny Hylands East Antrim 01:32:03
3 Clive Caldwell Total Cycling 01:33:50
4 Andrew Wallace Northern/Dave Kane 01:34:09
5 Paul Ferguson NDCC 01:38:57
6 Kevin Lynch Newry Wheelers 01:44:08
7 Ross Blaney Ards CC 01:45:40
8 Ronnie Ogilby XMTB 01:56:14
9 David Tweed Phoenix 01:56:24
10 Cormac Ahern MAD 3 laps
Martin O'Reilly U/A DNF
Liam McKiverigan Banbridge DNF
Glenn Armstrong NDCC DNF

Experts 4 laps
1 Luke Ireland Real Cycles 01:33:50
2 Michael Holland Leisure Lakes 01:35:29
3 Ross Galway Dromara 01:35:50
4 David O'Neill Swords 01:41:09
5 Colm Mullen U/A 01:41:47
Mark McKinley Newry Wheelers DNF
Matty Blayney North Down DNF
JJ Conway Harps CC DNF

Vets 3 laps
1 Robbie Lamont XMTB 01:03:10
2 Simon Curry Banbridge 01:11:08
3 Paul Anderson Banbridge 01:15:40
4 Fred McSorley Apollo 01:21:16
5 Jonathan Buller Banbridge 01:21:55
6 Gordon NDCC 01:25:07
7 William Forsyth Banbridge 01:33:47
Paul McMenamin Leisure Lakes DNF
William Mulligan Banbridge DNF
Ed Hodgett Banbridge DNF
Andrew Burns Juiced Orchard DNF

Sports Men 2 laps
1 Kieran McKenna East Antrim 00:41:26
2 Stephen Hutchinson East Tyrone 00:44:58
3 Gareth McKee Banbridge 00:47:26
4 Martin Grimley Dromara 00:49:36
5 Ronan Corrigan XMTB 00:49:36
6 Chris Tyndall U/A 00:50:04
7 Gavin Magowan Dromara 00:52:28
8 Stephen Prentice Banbridge 00:54:15
9 Mark McElroy Newry Wheelers 00:57:45
10 Chris Magowan Dromara 01:01:05
11 Andrew Adair Banbridge 01:03:44
12 Michael Foley U/A 01:04:48
13 Adrian McMenamin U/A 01:05:16
14 Paul Jess Dromara 01:06:06
Barry Russell Carn Wheelers DNF
Andrew Wilson U/A DNF

Sports Women 2 laps
1 Joanne McCallum Banbridge 01:21:24
2 Nichola Oldham Banbridge 01:21:25

Under 16 2 laps
1 Michael Runciman Banbridge 00:44:08
2 Matthew Adair Banbridge 00:45:12
3 William Boyd XMTB 00:54:11
Jamie Hodgett Banbridge DNF
Nick Lannoote U/A DNS

Under 14 1 lap
1 Robert Anderson Juiced Orchard 00:24:03
2 Robbie Lamont XMTB 00:25:29
3 Chris Oakley XMTB 00:25:42
4 Zak Hanna Dromara 00:28:45
5 Stuart Ballantine XMTB 00:29:39
6 Daniel Runciman Banbridge 00:32:19
7 Claire Oakley XMTB 00:32:58
8 Nathanael Smyth XMTB 00:33:33
9 Daniel Gordon Banbridge 00:36:05
10 Curtis Bell XMTB 00:37:20

Under 12 2 laps U-12 course
1 James Curry Banbridge 00:08:45
2 Conor Nairn XMTB 00:09:10
3 Rachael Mayne Banbridge 00:10:00
4 Joseph Baird Banbridge 00:10:04
5 Eoghan O'Reilly U/A 00:10:44
6 Aimee Ogilby XMTB 00:10:44
7 Alex Bell XMTB 00:11:48

Under 10 5 laps mini course
1 John Buller Banbridge 00:08:05
2 Richard Baird Banbridge 00:08:33
3 Greg Bell XMTB 00:09:10
4 Joel Smyth XMTB 00:09:17
5 Shannon Buller Banbridge 00:09:45
6 Jack Lamont XMTB 4 laps

Under 8 2 laps mini course
1 Mark Buller Banbridge 00:03:40
2 Shenna McKiverigan Banbridge 00:03:50
3 Stuart Dunlop Banbridge 00:04:10
4 Drew Armstrong Dromara 00:04:22
5 Ben Hanna Dromara 00:04:36
6 Jack Baird Banbridge 00:05:02
Anna Russell Carn Wheelers DNF