Round 8 Ulster CX Series this Sunday

Round 8 of the Ulster Cyclocross Series will take place this Sunday in Falls Park, Belfast. A new venue for 2014, Falls Park is a large urban park located off the Falls Road in Belfast.  The park increases with height as it moves away from the Falls Road and this provides great scope for the course to make use of tricky climbs which, given the weather, will need to be ran up.

The youth races are kept on a separate course from the seniors with different lengths of course for each age group among the trees before finishing on the tarmac straight.  … Read more

Glorious Mud at Ormeau CX

The sun shone on Ormeau Park on Sunday 16 November 2014 after a week of heavy rain which had caused floods across the country.  Course designer Mark Harvey from the host club Xmtb McConvey Cycles had his work cut out for him trying to create a cycle course around the many wet areas of the park.  This event had suffered last year in the same venue with rain on the day turning a fast flowing course into a heavy struggle.

The course that was created this year was fast flowing for large sections with only a few areas getting churned up with the many cyclists that were taking part.  … Read more

Round 7 of UCX Ormeau Park this Sunday

This Sunday, XMTB are hosting the 7th round of the Ulster CX league. If you want to race then then you are advised to pre-enter. Xmtb McConvey Cycles is grateful to Belfast City Council for the use of Ormeau Park for their cyclo-cross race.

The start of these races will be on the wide tarmac lane leading to a fast run along the gravel pathway similar to this years spring league but from there it all changes. Instead of doubling back into tight singletrack the course shortcuts through a wide wooded section before dropping out for a loop around the football pitches before reaching the boards and a short tight climb up onto the gravel path.… Read more

Kinning on Form at Larne CX

Seacourt lies on the cliffs overlooking Belfast Lough on the outskirts of Larne.  The Community Centre is situated behind the impressive Catepillar factory and boasts a great 3G football pitch, community hall, kitchen and changing facilities.

The grass areas around the centre have been used by Team Madigan for the last four years.

The course was modified from last year but still made use of the split level grass area set up; the short, steep, muddy climbs; as well as the infamous tight short gravel path at the far end of the course.… Read more

Sun Shines on Moira CX

It was the turn of Dromara Cycling Club to host a round of the 2014 Ulster Cyclo-cross series and it was back to Moira Demesne which was the club's fourth time at this venue.  Course set up began on Saturday morning in dry conditions but by 4 pm on Saturday afternoon there was heavy rain which lasted until dawn on Sunday morning.  Riders and organisers knew there'd be plenty of mud at Moira!  Race morning was bright with clear blue skies and warm autumn sunshine.

The team was on hand from 7 am completing the set up of the course which had a long 300 metre starting 'straight' before heading along a grass bank onto a wood chip avenue which runs up the centre of the park.  … Read more

Moira CX this Sunday

This will be the fourth year that Dromara Cycling Club has hosted a cyclo-cross race at Moira Demesne which is a 40 acre park located in the centre of Moira.  The club wish to thank Lisburn City Council for their support.  The course will run anticlockwise as per last year and will include several modified sections from the 2013 course.  The race starts from a square of tarmac looking out along the football pitches.  The start is a wide 6 metre avenue reducing to 4m at the end of the first football pitch before continuing along in a broadly straight line to the end of the second football pitch where there is a left hand turn along the pitch towards the centre of the park.… Read more

Great Turn-Out for Bangor CX

In 2013 North Down Cycling Club revived off-road racing at Castle Park in Bangor, a location that has seen many races over generations of cyclists.  On Sunday 26 October 2014 the club then hosted Round 4 of the 2014 Ulster Cyclo-cross series building on their experience from 2013.  The race timing had been moved up onto the hill above the Aurora Leisure Centre close to the trees.  The course was mostly set within the trees but with finish area out on the exposed grass where a spiral had been put in to test the riders and make them a little dizzy!  … Read more

Ulster CX Series Rd 4 Now Open for Registration

On Sunday 26th October 2014 North Down Cycling Club will host Rd 4 of the Ulster CX Series at Castle Park in Bangor. As per 2013 the course will be situated on the grassy banks and wooded area close to the Aurora Leisure Centre Complex in Castle Park, Bangor County Down.

Castle Park has had a great history of cyclo-cross and mountain bike races over the years held by both North Down and Xmtb.    The terrain is 60% forest path, 35% open grass area and 5% path.  … Read more

Island Wheelers Put on Superb CX Event

The Ulster Cyclo-cross series made its third return to Windmill Park where Island Wheelers were once again hosts.  With strong winds and heavy rain the night before the participants all expected another wet event in Dungannon.  However, the sun came out for the youth races and the day got off to a great start.  The course designers had upped their game with a super set up for the youth races which were created in the middle of the grass area, right in the heart of the event, but in such as way that the adult course was independent and wrapped around the youth courses allowing lots of time for main course practice.  … Read more