Ulster Dominate Inter-Provincial Youth Series

Ulster’s youth track riders dominated the opening round of the 2011 national Inter-Provincial Track series, when they used `home ground` advantage at Orangefield to its full effect to lead the series by a comfortable 61 points to 38 over Leinster. With both teams slightly down on numbers, Leinsterproved strongest in the younger categories whilst Ulster dominated both the Under 14 and Under 16 ranks.

Banbridge girl Niamh McKiverigan was our only representative in the Under 10 events, and recorded a personal best time over 100metres to win the event, and also went on to take second in both the Sprint and Scratch races, despite being outnumbered by 3 Leinster riders.

Not to be outdone, her big sister Shenna also came out tops in the Under 12 Time Trial, again posting a personal best time over the 100metre dash. Similarly Shenna was outnumbered 3-1 by Leinster riders, but still managed a 3rd and 4th in the Sprint and Scratch races.

The Under 14 category saw Ulsterdominate the time trial, taking maximum points, with first, second, third and fourth. Our lads were led by the unstoppable Declan Mulholland (Clann Eireann) who took victory in all 3 Under 14 events.

Ryan Orr, James Curry and newcomer Ryan Teggart all put points on the board, with special mention going to Banbridge lad Ryan Teggart, a newcomer to the sport through the Schools Talent Identification programme who was riding his first `open` event and acquitted himself extremely well, taking 7th in the Time Trial and 5th in the Scratch race.

The `senior` Under 16 category again saw Ulster in top form, with the vastly experienced Mark Downey the only rider to go sub-40 seconds for the 500 metre Time Trial. He followed this up with 2nd in the Sprint final, to team mate Chris Oakley, and in the closing event on the programme, he pulled out a half lap advantage to cruise to a win the Under 16 Scratch race.

All in all a great day’s racing, with some great riding from both the Ulster and Leinster youngsters.

UlsterTeam
Under 10. Niamh McKiverigan (Banbridge CC)
Under 12. Shenna McKiverigan (Banbridge CC)
Under 14. Ryan Orr (Orchard Whs)
Declan Mulholland (Clann Eireann)
James Curry (Banbridge CC)
Ryan Teggart (Banbridge CC)
Under 16. Mark Downey (Banbridge CC)
Harry McComb (East Tyrone CC)
Chris Oakley (XMTBCC)
David Montgomery (Banbridge CC)

Overall Points
Ulster. Leinster.
Under 12. 8 25
Under 14. 24 9
Under 16. 29 4

Total 61 38

Report. Anthony Mitchell (Talent Development Officer)
Pictures. A & C Oakley