Off-road – news and previews

It has been a busy couple of weeks for the Ulster off-road riders as they competed both in Ireland and across the water, in cross-country, enduro and downhill. Looking ahead over the next few weeks there are plenty of events to keep the riders occupied with more enduro, cross-country, downhill and even a cross-country marathon.

***** Weekend 18/19 April 2015 *****

Irish Downhill Series - Round 2 - Mallow Co. Cork
Kelan Grant took the win in the Elite men's category with Jacob Dickson second.
Full results can be found here

Irish NPS XC Round 1 - Djouce Woods, Co. Wicklow
The day started off cold with a bitter wind coming off the mountains but the sun did come through and warmed up the big turn out of riders. The usual tough course set out by Robin Seymour who won the Elite mens race. The Ulster podium results are shown below.
Under 14 males - Mark Buller (Banbridge CC) - 2nd
Under 16 males - John Buller (Banbridge CC) - 3rd
Under 16 females - Niamh Skelly (Carn Wheelers) - 2nd
Junior males - Peter Davidson (Dromara CC) - 1st
Senior 1 females - Ciara MacManus - 2nd
Under 12 males - Darren Rafferty (Island Wheelers) - 1st, Dean Harvey (Xmtb McConvey Cycles) - 3rd
Under 10 males - Adam Rafferty (Island Wheelers) - 1st, Oisin Ferrity (Island Wheelers), Shane Scullion (Island Wheelers) - 3rd
Under 10 females - Aine Doherty (VC Glendale) - 1st, Eimer Skelly (Carn Wheelers) - 2nd
Under 8 males - Harry Hobbs (VC Glendale) - 3rd
Under 8 females - Aliyah Raffery (Island Wheelers) - 1st
Results can be found here

British XC race - Newnham Park, Plymouth
Track conditions dusty & dry with an average temperature of 15oC. Glorious sunny day in contrast to the mud & rain at the last round in Sherwood Pines. The day didn't get off to a great start as we had to withdraw Junior rider Sean Bradley on medical advice after a fall in practice on Saturday in which he injured his left hand. We subsequently found out that he has broken a bone in his hand. In the Junior race James Curry got off to a good start and was sitting in 3rd place when leaving the start loop to head out onto the main track, by lap 2 James had dropped to 13th place but after taking on water & food worked his way back up the field to finish 9th,his 2nd top 10 finish. In the Elite race Matthew Adair got off to a slow start but gradually got into his rhythm and progressed steadily to finish a credible 38th. Matthew was pleased with his result as it was his first British race in over a year. The results from the other Ulster riders are shown below.
Elite males - Gareth McKee (Banbridge CC) - 17th, Graham Boyd (Xmtb McConvey Cycles) - 31st, Matthew Adair (Cycling Ulster) - 38th, Stuart Ballantine (Xmtb McConvey Cycles) - 47th
Junior males - James Curry (Cycling Ulster) - 9th
Juvenile males - Drew Armstrong (Xmtb McConvey Cycles) - 14th, Lee Harvey (Xmtb McConvey Cycles) - 17th
Youth males - Adam Duff (Xmtb McConvey Cycles) - 8th, Thomas Creigton (Xmtb McConvey Cycles) - 14th, Craig McCarthy (Xmtb McConvey Cycles) - 29th
Elite females - Claire Oakley (Xmtb McConvey Cycles) - DNF
Full results can be found here

***** Weekend 2/3 May 2015 *****

Irish NPS XC Round 2 - Delphi Adventure Resort, Connemara, Co. Galway
Heavy rain, light rain, short periods of no rain and then repeat. A long drive down but great racing at a well equiped off-road centre.
The Ulster riders who made the podium are shown below.
Under 14 males - Lee Harvey (Xmtb McConvey Cycles) - 2nd
Under 16 males - Adam Duff (Xmtb McConvey Cycles) - 1st, Thomas Creighton (Xmtb McConvey Cycles) - 2nd
Senior 1 males - Gareth McKee (Banbridge CC) - 1st, Graham Boyd (Xmtb McConvey Cycles) - 2nd
Senior 2 males - Mark Harvey (Xmtb McConvey Cycles) - 3rd
Juniors - James Curry (Banbridge CC) - 1st, Peter Davidson (Dromara CC) - 3rd
Under 8 girls - Aliyah Rafferty (Island Wheelers) - 1st
Under 8 boys - Harry Hobbs (VC Glendale) - 1st
Under 10 girls - Aine Doherty (VC Glendale) - 1st
Under 10 boys - Shane Scullion (Island Wheelers) - 1st, Adam Rafferty (Island Wheelers) - 2nd, Oisin Ferrity (Island Wheelers) - 3rd
Under 12 boys - Dean Harvey (Xmtb McConvey Cycles) - 1st, Darren Rafferty (Island Wheelers) - 2nd
More youth race results to follow
Other results can be found here

************ UPCOMING EVENTS *************************

Weekend 9/10 May 2015
Vitus First Tracks Enduro Round 2 - Bigwood, Warrenpoint
Click here for details

Weekend 16/17 May 2015
Best of luck to the Ulster riders heading over to Fforest Fields, Builth Wells, Wales for round 3 of the British XC series
Click here for details.

Weekend 22/24 May 2015
Emerald Enduro - Biking.ie - Carrick, Wicklow
This is round 2 of the Enduro World Series where the fastest enduro riders in the world will be coming to Co. Wicklow to compete
Click here for details.

Weekend 30/31 May 2015
Ulster XC Round 3 - Xmtb McConvey Cycles - Lady Dixon Park, Belfast
Click here for details

Weekend 6/7 June 2015
Irish NPS XC Round 3 - Glendalough House, Co. Wicklow
Click here for details

Weekend 13/14 June 2015
Irish Downhill Series - Round 3 - Bree Co. Wicklow
Click here for details

Sperrin MTB Sportive - Harps CC - Moneymore
Pre-entry has opened for this event. Click here for details and to register

Posted by Martin Grimley
Cycling Ulster Off-road Commission