Report by Andy Potts 

The fourth and final round of XMTB’s Winter XC League took place at a sunny Castle Park in Bangor on Sunday, with a brilliant days racing providing a fitting climax to the series. The entry once again included Ireland’s number one DH rider Ben Reid and Ireland’s number one moto cross star Gordon Crockard, but it was Belfast rider Glenn Kinning who took a scintillating final round win.

Thirty four riders lined up in the strong winter sunshine for the eight lap Senior/Fun race, held on what was a fast course, with the exception of the opening climb, an energy sapping drag up the grass to the first section in the trees. Ben Reid repeated his rocket like start of the previous week as he charged into the lead, the young Newtownards rider still leading as the riders negotiated the BMX track for the first time, Reid closely followed by XMTB’s Neil McGimpsey and Liam McGreevy (Banbridge CC), ‘Whippet’ McGreevy having his first outing inn the series.

On lap two Kinning and McGreevy pulled clear of the pack and began a thrilling dual for the lead. Over the next four laps this pair constantly swapped the lead, both cheered on by the large crowd of spectators. The decisive move came as the pair set out on the penultimate lap, both riders decided to attack at the same time on the grass climb at the start of the lap. Kinning entered the woods just ahead of McGreevy, but for the Castlereagh CC rider it was time to ‘tame the whippet’. By the end of the penultimate lap Kinning had opened up a gap on McGreevy, Kinning making good use of lapped riders. On the last lap Kinning pulled even further clear, and at the finish had just over a minute to spare over McGreevy. An excellent win by Kinning, a product of the Youth races in Castle Park from eight years ago. For young McGreevy, it was a good start to his mtb season first time out on a new race bike.

Ben Reid overtook Neil McGimpsey and Robbie Lamont in the closing stages to repeat his third place of the previous round, Ben approaching the start of the main DH season fitter than he has ever been. Fourth place gave Neil McGimpsey runner up in the points table, but it was fifth placed Robbie Lamont who took the overall win in the Senior/Fun class. East Antrim’s Gary Wilson enjoyed a good scrap in the early laps with Jonny Beers (XMTB) before pulling away in the second half of the race to secure a good sixth. On the final lap young Beers caught Banbridge ‘oldie’ William Mulligan off guard, slipping passed to grab seventh by less than a second. Gordon Crockard had another impressive outing, finishing ninth, with best newcomer of the series, Ronan Corrigan completing the top ten.

And now the special mention section: Stern Jon Runciman, 11th place, is now known to his fellow workers as Cyclopath. Paul McMenamin finished in 13th just behind Banbridge rider Paul Anderson, the Omagh rider will have a new bike for the main XC season. Dromara CC pair Martin Grimley and Ross Galway had an entertaining race long dual, Martin grabbing 16th just ahead of Ross. Phil Weston was going well until he started smiling, which saw him loose out to his good buddy Nathan Kelly. It was good to see Banbridge rider Simon Curry back in action after recent health problems, Simon finishing in 23rd just ahead of his mentor (or is it tormentor) Willy Forsythe. Ciara McManus was leading Lady in 15th, Anne Duffy was next, in 26th. Runner up Liam McGreevy gave his new bike a nice baptism, on retuning from sign on, both the Whippet and his bike were covered in canine rear end waste! Lastly, back to winner Glenn Kinning, his mum was not impressed that he was riding in odd socks!

As always racing began with the Youth events and Banbridge rider John Buller became the first champion of the 2007 series after he won the U-8 race, his fourth win from four starts. Once again John’s sister Shannon finished in second, the young lady also finishing runner up in the points table. Third place went to another Bann rider, Shenna McKiverigan , who has shown a great improvement in performance over the Bangor series. A good race for Banbridge was completed with Richard Baird taking fourth. Dromara CC rider Ben Colhoun finished fifth, good enough to place him third overall, and a great start to his first season of racing.

In the U-10 race Banbridge rider Jill Curry caused an upset by beating runaway series leader Conor Nairn (XMTB), Jill leading from start to finish, and taking overall runner up. However, second place was good enough to give Conor the title, the talented young Belfast rider having a great start in mtb racing. Rachel Mayne (Banbridge CC) just held off Newry’s Cain McConvey to claim third, but it was fifth placed Joseph Baird (Banbridge CC) who finished third overall.

The Curry family celebrated again when James Curry (Banbridge CC) won the U-12 race, his first win of the series. Runner up Chris Oakley (XMTB) had to contend with a tough time handicap at the start, and had to settle for second, however Chris took the overall U-12 honours, a great reward for his no nonsense, all out action style of riding. In a close run battle for third, Banbridge rider Dan Runciman just edged out Dromara’s Dean Colhoun, Dan taking third overall.

The U-14 race was won by East Antrim’s Jack Wilson who was challenged all the way by Banbridge’s Matt Adair, last man away at the handicap start. Adair was simply awesome as he swept up the leaderboard on the first of the four laps. At the finish Wilson had 14 seconds to spare over Adair. Third place was good enough to give Banbridge rider Michael Runciman the overall title, Wilson taking second and Adair third.

Congratulations to all at XMTB who worked so hard to make the 2007 Winter League such a success, and on behalf of all who attended the final round, many thanks for the refreshments at the prize presentation.

This Sunday Apollo CT stage the second round of the Winter League, start time 12 noon. The course can be found at the Lurgan end of the Lakes.

Results:
U-8
1. J.BULLER (CHAMPION)
2.S.BULLER
3.S.McKIVERIGAN
4.R.BAIRD
5.B.COLHOUN
6. J.LAMONT
7.F.McCONVEY
8.J.ADDIS
9.R.OGILBY
10.C.CURRY
11.C.STEWART.

U-10
1.JILL CURRY
2. C.NAIRN (CHAMPION)
3.R.MAYNE
4.C.McCONVEY
5.J.BAIRD
6.G.BELL
7.J.DOUGAN

U-12
1.JAMES CURRY 17.42
2.C.OAKLEY (CHAMPION) 18.13
3.D.RUNCIMAN 18.33
4.D.COLHOUN 18.34
5.C.BELL 18.40
6.M.PAGELS 18.50
7.A.OGILBY 21.07
8.A.BELL 23.47

U-14
1.J.WILSON 24.00
2.M.ADAIR 24.14
3.M.RUNCIMAN (CHAMPION) 25.17
4.R.LAMONT 25.42
5.K.McEWAN 27.40
6.C.OAKLEY 28.30

SENIOR/FUN
1.G.KINNING 37.40
2.L.McGREEVY 38.53
3.B.REID 38.56
4.N.McGIMPSEY 39.40
5.R.LAMONT (CHAMPION) 40.15
6.G.WILSON 41.20
7.J.BEERS 42.44
8W.MULLIGAN 42.45
9.G.CROCKARD
10.R.CORRIGAN
11.J.RUNCIMAN
12.P.ANDERSON
13.P.McMENAMIN
14.E.McCONVEY
15.C.McMANUS
16.M.GRIMLEY
17.R.GALWAY
18.C.BLANEY
19.N.KELLY
20.K.KELLY
21.P.WESTON
22.C.BROWN
23.S.CURRY
24.W.FORSYTHE
25.A.REA
26.A.DUFFY
27.B.STEWART
28.L.McCARTHY
29.M.MAYNE
30.R.OGILBY
31.B.COLHOUN
32.D.KING
33.N.OLDHAM

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