Date: Thursday 17 June 2004
Event: Ulster MTB League Round 3
Location: Barnetts Demesne, Belfast
Host club: TeamFergie
N.I. X/C Mountain Bike League Round 3 – 17th June 2004
Round 3 of the league was promoted by TEAMFERGIE and sponsored by BHB (Fire & Rescue Training Consultants, Muckamore, Antrim). The venue was at Barnett Demesne and the event was part of the Belfast City Council Bike Week.
The course started off with nice easy going down over short grass through slalom type gates, along a riverside path and then up and around a hilly field. Going into the woods the course became much more technical with short steep climbs, bomb holes and very rough technical descents before once again entering the start and finish field. Although each lap only took about 12 minutes it was a punishing course on the 57 competitors who entered. The under 10s and 12s raced over a short grassy course. With the weather turning overcast and sometimes drizzly as the evening wore on the senior races were all cut by 1 lap due to the fading light in the wooded sections.
In the Elite category Lewis Ferguson had a comfortable win from X-Mtb riders Glen Kinning and Tim Edgar.
Matt Ferguson made it a double for TEAMFERGIE taking the win in the Juniors after red-hot favourite Andy McCullough retired with a broken gear cable.
The masters was won by Robbie Lamont with the ever cheerful Geoff McCrory taking second and Belfast newcomer Andy Beavis taking a well deserved third.
Eamon McConvey took his first win ever in the veterans with Bob Patterson second and Declan McCabe all they way from Dundalk in third.
Ciara McManus (X-Mtb) was the only lady entrant however Ciara had a great race and even went on to complete an extra lap after the completion of her race.
The Sports class had the biggest entry of the night with 15 riders, many who had never competed before. The winner and leader from lap 1 was Sammy Curran (Banbridge CC). Sammy has been on great form recently having also won round 2 at Drumkeeragh Forest. Second on the night was Dublin rider John Oram. John is another rider who has been on form and seems to be improving at every race.
Third place went to Kevin Lynch from Newry Wheelers.
In the under 16 event Connor McConvey took the expected win but only after having to work hard to overcome a 2 minute penalty after inadvertently taking a short cut on lap one. Davy Gordon once again put in another great ride to come home in second with fast improving Andrew Hunter in third.
Neil McGimpsey continued his good form taking first place in the under 14 race. Neil won last weekend in Mansfield and now leads the British National Points Series with one round to go. Second at Barnett Demesne was arch rival Christie Brown with first year under 14 rider Jonathan Beers taking third place.
In the under 12s and 10s the Runciman Brothers had a family double for Banbridge CC with Daniel winning the under 10s from Chris Oakley and Michael taking the win in the under 12s from X-Mtbs Robbie Lamont.
After the main races two short track races took place. Egged on by commentator Andy Potts the spectators, who could see the whole course, cheered on their favourite riders. In the underage race Christy Brown got his revenge taking first place from Jonathan Beers and Neil McGimpsey. In the senior race Lewis Ferguson had to work hard to come from behind to just pip Connor McConvey and Graham Boyd to take the win.
Thanks must go to Belfast City Council for providing the excellent venue so close to the city centre. The event attracted quite a few newcomers and hopefully the tough course hasn’t put them off too much and we’ll see them at the next local event which will be the Team Madigan promoted N.I. Open Championships at Woodburn Forest on Sunday 25th July.
Full results to follow
Under 10
1. D. Runciman (Banbridge CC)
2. C. Oakley (X-Mtb)
3. J.Curry (Banbridge CC)
Under 12
1. M. Runciman (Banbridge CC)
2. 2. R. Lamont (X-Mtb)
3. 3. Claire Oakley (X-Mtb)
4. S. Ballantine (Belfast)