Report by Andy Potts

Team BHB rider Lewis Ferguson won the J C Campbell Ulster Cyclo Cross Championship at a cold and blustery Kilbroney Park on Saturday. The race was dominated by Ferguson and North Down’s Ray Brownfield, both riders suffering punctures during a thrilling battle for the title. The Rostrevor venue once again proved highly popular with the riders, a fast but testing course being laid out by organisers Newry Wheelers.

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The Ulster Cyclo Cross Championship race was run over eight laps of the sprawling parkland course, with thirty eight riders coming to the start line. What a superb sight it was as the riders charged up the hill from the start onto the main course, urged on by a large crowd of spectators, and also by commentator Mark McKinley, the young Newry rider missing out on the action due to flu, yet doing an excellent job with the microphone.

The opening circuit ended with Ray Brownfield holding a slim advantage over Lewis Ferguson, this pair already having opened up a gap over the pursuing pack of Peter McConville (Newry Wheelers), Sean Downey (Banbridge CC), Glenn Kinning (Castlereagh CC), Conor Campbell (Newry Wheelers), Alisatair McSorley (Apollo CT), Liam McGreevy (Banbridge CC), Joe McCall (Team Worc) and Barry Monaghan (Newry Wheelers). By the end of lap two Ferguson and Brownfield had consolidated their position at the front of the race as Kinning slotted into third, having broken clear of a superb battle for fourth involving McConville, Downey, McSorley and Campbell.

The battle for the title took a dramatic turn on the fourth lap, the halfway mark, as Brownfield came into view on his own, had he broken the challenge from Ferguson? The answer soon became clear as Ferguson rode up to the pits with a flat rear tyre, the young Holywood rider changed his wheel but was loosing vital seconds to Brownfield, and with the added threat from third placed Kinning. Ferguson rejoined the action nearly a minute down on Brownfield, and only a few seconds ahead of Kinning. The drama increased on the fifth lap when Brownfield came up top the pit area, still in the lead, but screaming for a wheel, the leader having suffered rear tyre puncture. Ferguson was already on a charge, but even he could not believe his luck as he passed through the pit area to take the lead from Brownfield. Kinning still held a lone third, but only 30 seconds down on the leaders as they set out on lap six.

Ferguson and Brownfield linked up again on the sixth lap to continue their battle for the Ulster crown, pulling clear of Kinning in the process. On the penultimate lap Ferguson attacked his North Down rival, setting out for the final circuit Ferguson had opened up a 12 seconds lead over Brownfield. Kinning by now had given up the fight to catch the leaders. At the finish Ferguson celebrated his first ever Ulster Cyclo Cross title, a very popular win. Brownfield was a very worthy, yet a somewhat disappointed runner up, crossing the line over 30 seconds down on the winner. For Kinning, third place was an excellent result in what was only his second outing on the ‘Aiken Special’.

The four way battle for fourth between McConville, McSorley, Downey and Campbell was another feature of the race, with the four riders constantly trying to attack each other. However it was on the penultimate lap that McConville succeeded in breaking clear, and at one point looked as if he was in with a chance of catching third placed Kinning. McConville crossed the line, cheered on by a huge home support, taking fourth, a mere 30 seconds behind Kinning. McConville also took the Vets award. McSorley finished a very strong fifth having just done enough on the last lap to hold off Campbell. Downey took seventh, the young Banbridge rider just finding the pace too tough over the last couple of laps; however his efforts were rewarded as he took the Junior title. Southern invader Joe McCall was eighth with Barry Monaghan confirming Newry as the Team winners with a superb ninth place. Banbridge rider Liam McGreevy had battled with Monaghan and McCall in the early laps, in what was his first outing on a cyclo cross bike, however leg cramps forced young McGreevy to drop back, though he still managed to take tenth and second in the Junior class.

Race organiser Drew McKinley rode to a fine 11th place, passing Team BHB rider Matt Ferguson on the last lap. Well done to Matt for silencing his supporters as he at last finished a race!!!!! Making the trip from Mullingar, Steve Franzoni was 13th, just ahead of yet another Newry rider, Gary Henning. Apollo rider Junior McAuley was annoyed to be lapped by winner Ferguson just before the line as he reckoned he had a chance of catching the two riders ahead of him, Junior finished 15th. Fred McSorley, a self confessed cyclo cross addict, took runner up in the Vets class and 16th overall, just ahead of North Down’s Keith Millar, 3rd in the Vets class. Special mention must also go to Michael Cowan of Plush, the downhill ace enjoying yet another cyclo cross outing, and finishing 23rd.

There was also a packed support programme of races. The Mountain bike race, featuring Senior,U-16 and U-14 riders , saw a brilliant three way battle for the lead between U-16 rider Stuart Henry (North Down), and the MTB legends of Cuchulainn, McCabe brothers Johnny and Gerry. It was only on the last of the four laps that Henry, riding in training shoes, broke clear to take a fantastic win from Johnny McCabe and Gerry McCabe,Gerry dashing back to the car park to get his cyclo cross bike! In the cyclo cross race Gerry retired after his legs expired. Mullinagar visitor Sarah Piner took the Ladies award, finishing in 10th overall. Matthew Adair (Banbridge CC) won the U-14 class.

The U-12 race, held over one full lap, saw Banbridge rider Mark Downey take victory ahead of Newry’s Cormac Clarke and XMTB rider Chris Oakley. Banbridge CC scored another win with Joseph Baird taking the U-10 race ahead of fellow Bann rider Rachel Mayne. The U-8 race was another success story for Banbridge with Stuart Dunlop nothing up yet another success on his new bike, crossing the finish line ahead of fellow Bann riders Richard Baird and Shenna McKiverigan.

Well done to Newry Wheelers on an excellent promotion, to all the marshals and time keeper Wilbur Aiken. A special thanks to sponsor J C Campbell and to Rostrevor GAA the superb food in the Clubrooms following the race.

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Results - also by Andy Potts

Category: Cyclo-Cross » |

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