History 1997

Date: Sunday 25 May 1997Event: Redhall Open MTB XC RaceLocation: Redhall Estate, CarrickfergusHost club: Bann Wheelers Sunday 25th May and Redhall Estate outside Carrickfergus was the venue for Bann Wheelers first major open mountain bike event of the year. As ever, Norman Atkins’ involvement in proceedings ensured scorching sunshine and although the record numbers of last year didn’t materialise, over 100 riders made the journey out the coast to try…

Date: Sunday 11 May 1997Event: NI MTB League Round 1Location: Ballykelly ForestHost club: Roe Valley CC There were three descents which conspired to make things difficult for even the so called downhillers taking part with a short, steep climb, two river crossings, a four foot drop off and a section of mud that the Eurosport Tractor Pulling TV show would have been proud of completing the lap.  

Date: S?? ?? 1997Event: NI MTB League Round 3Location: Davagh ForestHost club: Unknown The good weather enjoyed at the Moneyscalp weekend was continued at Round 3 of the Northern Ireland Cross Country League the following week at Davagh Forest. The course contrasted massively from Moneyscalp in that most of the lap involved gravelled forest path.

Date: Sunday 1 June 1997Event: NI MTB League Round 2Location: Moneyscalp ForestHost club: Belfast Belvoir Road Club NI XC League Round 2 MONEYSCALP WOOD Round 2 of the Northern Ireland Cross Country League was held at Moneyscalp Wood on a scorching hot Sunday on the first day of June by the Belfast Belvoir Road Club. Some ingenious undergrowth exploration had seen the familiar loop of the wood course altered to…

Date: Saturday 28 June 1997Event: Bangor Bike WeekLocation: Castle Park, BangorHost club: Toyota North Down Pity help the dog walker who happened to stray across the all weather pitch in Bangor’s Castle Park on Saturday 28 June as a stampede of highly charged mountain bikers started the Toyota North Down Bangor Bike Week mountain bike race. Always a success, this well established week of competition culminated in an open cross…