Report by Andy Potts

Team BHB rider Lewis Ferguson swept to victory at the Dromara CC promoted Cyclo Cross event, held today in the splendid surroundings of the Island Centre in Lisburn. The race attracted an entry of 70 riders, surely a record for an Ulster Cyclo Cross event, with the field having a fine mixture of road, cross country and downhill riders.

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Held over eight laps of a 1.24 mile course, Holywood based Lewis Ferguson led from the start as the huge entry almost queued to get out of the start area. Ending the first lap Ferguson, just back from International duty in Turkey with the Irish XC Squad, held a narrow advantage over Alistair McSorley (Apollo), Peter McConville ( Newry Wheelers), Sean Downey (Banbridge CC) and Robbie Lamont (XMTB). For Sean Downey it was his debut on a cyclo cross bike, the young Dromore rider looking for success in the Junior class.

To the delight of the spectators, young Downey had caught leader Ferguson by the third lap, the young Banbridge rider taking the lead as the lap ended. Behind this duo, McSorley and McConville battled for third as Lamont came under pressure from Glenn Kinning (Castlereagh). Having his first outing of the season, North Down’s Ray Brownfield was slowly climbing the leader board, at this stage involved in a good scrap with Paul O’Reilly (IMBRC), Conor Campbell (Newry Wheelers) and Liam McGreevy (Banbridge CC).

The end of lap four, half distance, and Ferguson had nosed back in front of Downey with McSorley and McConville continuing their excellent dual. Kinning had moved clear of Lamont, with Brownfield having worked his ay up to seventh. Behind him, the Campbell, O’Reilly, McGreevy battle continued, much to the delight of the Newry rider! The fifth lap proved decisive for Ferguson as he broke clear from Downey, the leaders now having to pick their way through some heavy back marker traffic. Brownfield had overtaken Lamont for sixth, with Newry’s Barry Monaghan surging into the top ten after a slow start.

On the penultimate lap, with Ferguson in total control in the lead, the battle for second turned into a four way affair as McSorley and McConville were joined by Kinning and a tiring Downey. As the riders set out on their last lap, the time keepers sprinted from their vantage point at the infamous steps, across the picturesque bridge to the finish line. Ferguson climbed the steps and over the bridge to claim a fine win, a great tonic for the young rider who has struggled with his form all season following his return from the Commonwealth Games.

The dual for second was settled on the bridge as McSorley got to the top of the steps just ahead of McConville, the Lurgan rider just out sprinting his much older opponent to the line. McConville was the first Vet to finish. Kinning took a good fourth and was also the first MTB mounted finisher. Young Downey finished fifth and on his debut won the Junior class. Brownfield was sixth with Monaghan taking seventh just ahead of Lamont. Mark McKinley continued his good form of late, taking ninth ahead of fellow Club rider Conor Campbell who just beat youngsters Paul O’Reilly and Liam McGreevy to the finish. O’Reilly was second in the Junior Class, while McGreevy was second in the MTB Class. Downhill legend Glyn O’Brien was 13th overall and third in the MTB Class, the Newry ace out on a new bike for the first time, apparently falling off in the car park as he tried to get used to narrow tyres. Another Downhill ‘great’, Michael Cowan was out on a cyclo cross bike, taking 20th overall after a race long battle with Cross Country Vets ace William Mulligan. Ciara McManus (XMTB) took the Ladies Class ahead of Banbridge riders Harriet Mayne and Nicola Oldham.

The Youth results, shall we say, were a little mixed up, but I can bring you the class winners. William Boyd won the U-16 race as Robbie Lamont took the U-14 race from Banbridge riders Andy Wilson and Matt Adair. Chris Oakley (XMTB) won the U-12 race from Dan Runciman (Banbridge CC), as James Curry (Banbridge CC) took the honours in the U-10 race.

Well done to all from Dromara CC for a great race, well marshalled and great après race food.
Next race on the calendar is at Castle Park on Sunday 12th November, promoted by XMTB. On Saturday 18th November IMBRC are the hosts at Tymon Park in Dublin, while Woodburn outside Carrick Fergus is the venue the following day Team Madigan’s event. November ends with Dublin Wheelers holding their race in Corcagh Park on Sunday 26th November.

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Dromara Cyclo Cross Complete results

SENIOR RACE

Name (Cat) - Club @ Time
1. Lewis Ferguson (1st) - Team BHB @ 44.09
2. Alister McSorley (1st) - Apollo Cycling Team @ 45.08
3. Peter McConville (Vet) - Newry Wheelers @ 45.09
4. Glen Kinning (MTB) - Castlereagh @ 45.16
5. Sean Downey (Junior) - Banbridge CC @ 45.18
6. Ray Brownfield (3rd) - North Down CC @ 45.25
7. Barry Monaghan (2nd) - Newry Wheelers @ 45.42
8. Robbie Lamont (Vet) - XMTB @ 45.53
9. Mark McKinley (2nd) - Newry Wheelers @ 46.15
10. Connor Campbell (2nd) - Newry Wheelers @ 46.50
11. Paul O’Reily (Junior) - IMBRC @ 46.57
12. Liam McGreey (Junior) - Banbridge CC @ 47.08
13. Glyn O’Brien (3rd) - Newry Wheelers @ 47.36
14. Gary Henning (3rd) - Newry Wheelers @ 47.44
15. Brain Conway (3rd) - IMBRC @ 47.58
16. Myles McCory (1st) - Apollo Cycling Team @ 48.06
17. Danny Hylands (3rd) - East Antrim Audi @ 48.17
18. Michael Hamilton (3rd) - North Down CC @ 48.53
19. Dave Barry (3rd) - IMBRC @ 49.16
20. Steve Franzoni (3rd) - Lakeland Wheelers @ 49.17
21. Michael Cowan (3rd) - Plush @ 49.25
22. William Mulligan (Vet) - Banbridge CC @ 49.53
23. Keith Miller (Vet) - North Down CC @ 50.37
24. Junior McAuley (3rd) - Apollo Cycling Team @ 50.45
25. Paul Anderson (MTB) - Banbridge CC @ 51.06
26. Liam Baxter (S3) - Newry Wheelers @ 51.10

1 Lap Down
27. Matty Blayney (MTB) - North Down CC @ 44.15
28. Tony Mairs (3rd) - Phenoix CC @ 44.42
29. John Runciman (Vet) - Banbridge CC @ 45.14
30. Ronnie Smyth (3rd) - Dromara CC @ 45.17
31. Ross Blayney (2nd) - Ards CC @ 45.24
32. Mark Conway (3rd) - Unattached @ 45.31
33. Dwayne McCreadie (MTB) - North Down CC @ 46.27
34. David McKnight (MTB) - Dromara CC @ 46.29
35. Bob Patterson (Vet) - Dromara CC @ 46.58
36. Paul Agnew (3rd) - Team Madigan @ 46.59
37. Derek King (Vet) - Apollo Cycling Team @ 47.05
38. Darren Weir (3rd) - mtb Dromara CC @ 47.43
39. Stephen Prentice (MTB) - Banbridge CC @ 47.55
40. Leslie Warpol (Vet) - IMBRC @ 48.05
41. Joe Henry (3rd) - Phenoix CC @ 48.11
42. Andrew Rea (3rd) - North Down CC @ 48.35
43. John Walker (3rd) - Murphy & Gunn @ 49.26
44. Campbell Aryency (Vet) - Apollo Cycling Team @ 50.08
45. Enda McDaid MTB Apollo Cycling Team @ 50.22
46. Fred McSorley (Vet) - Apollo Cycling Team @ 51.24
47. Aidan McManus (MTB) - Banbridge CC @ 51.43
48. Maurice Mayne (MTB) - Banbridge CC @ 52.22

2 Laps Down
49. Simon Curry (Vet) - Banbridge CC @ 45.24
50. Ciara McManus (Lady) - XMTB @ 45.48
51. Martin Grimley (MTB) - Unattached @ 49.01
52. Derek Hanna (MTB) - Dromara CC @ 49.09
53. William Forsythe (Vet) - Banbridge CC @ 49.17
54. Geoff Coupland (Vet) - Apollo Cycling Team @ 49.36
55. Bill Mackness (3rd) - Team Madigan @ 49.59
56. Andrew McLarnin (S3) - Unattached @ 50.32
57. Ed Boyle (MTB) - Phenoix CC @ 50.32
58. Ian Orr  (MTB) - Phenoix CC @ 50.32

3 Laps Down
59. Harriet Mayne (Lady U16) - Banbridge CC @ 47.15
60. Nicola Oldham (Lady) -  Banbridge CC @ 47.18

DNF. Drew McKinley (2nd) - Newry Wheelers
DNF. Cordiac Keogh (3rd) - Murphy & Gunn
DNF. Eamon Milby (Vet) - Newry Wheelers
DNF. Paul McCormac (Vet) - Apollo Cycling Team
DNF. Graham Boyd (Junior) - XMTB

UNDER 16 RACEName (Cat) - Club @ Time
William Boyd - XMTB @ 20.13UNDER 14 RACE

Category: Cyclo-Cross » |

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