Well Done to Ulster Team at Games

The Cycling Ulster executive would like to congratulate all our young mountain bikers on a very successful trip to Hadleigh Farm. The Cycling Ulster Slane Cycles team worked hard and scooped another medal and gain a great deal of experience over the three days. We would also like to thank manager Nicola Oldham and assistants Simon Curry and William Mulligan as well as all the other volunteers who helped out and supported the riders. Without the help of volunteers willing to give up their time such trips as this would no tbe possible. See below for a full report on the last day's events by Nicloa Oldaham.

The Last Day
The final in the Sainsbury Inter-regional games was the cross country event which consisted of 3/4 of the Olympic course used in 2012. The event got under way with the girls event with Shenna McKiverigan and Shannon Buller representing Ulster. Both made brilliant starts making it into top 25 at the top of the first climb. With no places to hide in cross country a strong group of 6 riders formed on the opening lap with Shannon making it into top 15 and Shenna a few riders behind. The race was held over 5 laps with each lap roughly 12 minutes long, as the race progressed the riders strung out with Shannon in a battle for 15th with a group of riders and Shenna battling for 20th at the finish Shannon finished  17th with Shenna finishing 24th both very respectable results.

There was a break between the races where the boys got warmed up for the cross country race, the start is vital in a Mountain bike race with very little places to overtake and gaps are difficult to close. James Curry was the top Ulster rider which meant he got first Ulster gate pick with Calvin Moore 2nd, Cameron McIntyre 3^rd and Richard Baird 4th.

The race got under way with James making a fantastic start with top 10 at the top of the first climb within half a lap the start the select group of 6 riders had formed with James in the chasing few riders just behind.

Over the next few laps James was battling with 5 riders for 10th place with the lead changing regularly before  the last half lap  where James found the energy to take 10th position and held it to the finish line to take another top 10 finish this weekend. Richard had a mechanical problem on oak drop forcing him to retire from the race.

Cameron and Calvin had a brilliant battle in the mid pack with the field being so spread out it was just a matter of slowly working your way past the next rider, they both worked there way through the field with Cameron proving to be slightly stronger on the last 2 laps pulling a bit of a gap on Calvin.

Cameron and Calvin finished a respectable 35th and 46th at their first time competing for Ulster against the top British riders.

I would like to thank William Mulligan, Simon Curry, and all the parents who traveled over to give support. Also a big thank you to Gareth McKee who rides for Chain Reaction MTB Team who came over to watch the Cycling Ulster Slane Cycles  Team and was able to give them great advice and guidance on line selection.

Thanks are also due to the Cycling Ulster Executive who approved the funding for this trip. Without their help and support it would not have been possible.

Nicola Oldham Team Manager

Cycling Ulster Kit sponsored by