By Andy Potts

The 2006 Cyclo Cross season began in superb fashion on Sunday with Apollo CT promoting the opening race in Lurgan Park, Irish Champion Robin Seymour taking a controlled victory. Fifty three riders came to the line for the Senior race which was over eight laps of a new, fast flowing course. As always the main event was supported by a full programme of Youth races.

The Senior event began in spectacular style as the fifty three riders jockeyed for position as they charged up the opening section, Apollo rider Alistair McSorley leading the action. By the end of the first lap McSorley still held the lead, however in a close second was Robin Seymour, in turn followed by a pack consisting of Phillip Roche, Robbie Lamont, Brian Conway, Lewis Ferguson, Peter McConville and Mark McKinley.

By the end of the second circuit Seymour had pounced to take the lead with McSorely holding on to a close second, the young rider appearing to have overcome the broken collar bone sustained at the start of the year, wrecking much of his season. With Seymour and McSorley out in front, Lewis Ferguson had moved into a strong third by the end of lap three, as the Newry duo of Peter McConville and Mark McKinley battled with Dubliner Phillip Roche and XMTB Vet Robbie Lamont for fourth. In fact the remainder of the leaderboard was a series of tense battles, Brian Conway holding sixth just ahead of John Oram, Daire McCaughley, Graham Boyd, Paul O’Reilly, Aidan McDonald and Tim Edgar.

Over the last few laps Seymour held a safe lead over McSorley, which he maintained to the finish line. McSorley took second, less than a minute down, a great result for the young Apollo rider who has plans to return to the European Cyclo Cross scene in the coming months. Lewis Ferguson took a fine third as Peter McConville sprinted across the line to beat Mark McKinley in a brilliant battle for fourth, McConville being the leading Vet finisher. Robbie Lamont, second Vet, was sixth overall. Phillip Roche just did enough to keep Brian Conway out of seventh as John Oram scored one of his best ever cyclo cross results with a superb ninth.

One of the highlights of the race was the battle for tenth which was ultra entertainment over the last few laps, and finally seeing tenth place being secured in a sprint finish, Paul O’Reilly leading fellow Junior rider Graham Boyd across the line. The young duo where closely followed by Daire McCaughley and Aidan McDonald, Aidan the first MTB finisher. In the Ladies Class Ciara McManus took the win as Harriet Mayne just kept fellow Banbridge rider Nicola Oldham out of second.

In the U-10 race, held on an oval course in the main start/finish area, Banbridge rider Richard Baird had a narrow win over his brother Joseph with Newry rider Cain McConvey a close third. Chris Oakley of XMTB fame took the honours in the U-12 race with Dan Runciman taking second ahead of fellow Bann rider William Heslip. Banbridge took another win with Matt Adair scoring his first ever win in the U-14 class, Bann rider Michael Runciman runner up and Robbie Lamont third. In the U-16 race XMTB’s William Boyd had a narrow in over Banbridge rider Andrew Adair.

Congratulations to Apollo for a well organised event, and to the support given by the riders, especially those that travelled up from the South. The Cyclo Cross season continues on Saturday with East Antrim Audi promoting their first ever Cyclo Cross in Larne, details to follow.

*** Provisional results ***

SENIOR RACE

1 Robin Seymour
2 Alistair McSorley
3 Lewis Ferguson
4 Peter McConville
5 Mark McKinley
6 Robbie Lamont
7 Phillip Roche
8 Brian Conway
9 John Oram
10 Paul O’Reilly
11 Graham Boyd
12 Daire McCaughley
13 Aidan McDonald
14 Tim Edgar
15 Connor Campbell
16 Luke Manning
17 Eamon McConvey
18 Michael Hamilton
19 Dave Barry

LADIES
1 Ciara McManus
2 Harriet Mayne
3 Nicola Oldham

U-16
1 William Boyd
2 Andrew Adair

U-14
1 Matthew Adair
2 Michael Runciman
3 Robbie Lamont
4 Claire Oakley
5 Andrew Wilson
6 Ciara Mulholland

U12
1 Chris Oakley
2 Dan Runciman
3 William Heslip
4 Eoin McCabre
5 Sean McCormack
6 Declan Mullholland
7 Aimee Ogilby

U10
1 Richard Baird
2 Joseph Baird
3 Cain McConvey
4 Shannon Buller
5 Luc Hanna
6 Stuart Dunlop
7 Rachel Mayne
8 John Buller
9 Shenna McKiverigan
10 Scott Hylands
11 Fergal McConvey

Category: Cyclo-Cross » |

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