The 2025 Ulster Cross-country Mountain Bike Championships took place at Todds Leap on Sunday 3 August 2025. It was great to see host club Team Caldwell Cycles, under event organiser Gary Donaldson, step up to take on these championships. The last Ulster Cross-country championships was held in 2022 by Ards Cycling Club at the Leadmines. The entry numbers for 2025 were very similar to those of 2022, around 70 people. There were Ulster medals up for grabs for race categories from Under 14s and over and for those who qualified either through where they live or where their club was based. Todd’s Leap is a private venue which offers over 20 activities including off-road 4×4 driving, ziplines, climbing walls etc. There is a restaurant on site with a covered seating area. The weather stayed dry all day.
The youth races (Under 6s to Under 10s) were located deep in the forest, a bit of a trek from the main car park for riders and parents. This was where the flattest part of the forest was located. The Under 6s and Under 8s used the same course with the Under 10s having a challenging climb and descent included.
The Under 6s were first off with just 3 riders in the category. They completed two laps.
The Under 8s had 6 laps to complete. Charlie McCarter (Un-Attached Connacht) was the only boy and was the fastest overall. Zara Aiken (Banbridge CC) was the fastest girl with Alice Bell (Un-Attached Ulster) second and Mollie McAleer (Fintona CC – westtyronevelo.com) third.
The Under 10s had 10 laps of their course. Ríonach Campbell (Square Wheels) was the fastest of the girls and the fastest overall. Ciara McCool (Square Wheels) finished second with Emily Jennings (Un-Attached Ulster) completing the podium for the girls. In the boys’ race Thomas Crymble (Apollo Cycling Team) finished ahead of Eli Stewart (Team Madigan C.C.).
The racing then moved back towards the main centre. The Under 12s were the first to start at the bottom of the forest road in front of the steep climb up to the main centre. Their track took them through the centre and out along the walking path, past the large jungle animals, along some single track and then back to the final climb. They had 4 laps to complete. Lewis Bell (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) took the win in the boys’ race with Leo Gallagher (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) second and Nathan Baker (Breffni Wheelers) third. Aoife Campbell (Square Wheels) won the girls’ race and was second overall. Amelia Martin (Belfast City BMX Club) was second with India Bennett (Lisburn BMX Club) third.
At noon there were 11 race categories lined up at the bottom of the hill. The first wave contained the Senior men, Junior men, one Under 16 boy, Caleb McGreevy (VC Glendale), one Under 14 boy, Rory McCool (Square Wheels) and the M30s. The second wave was for the M40s. The next wave for the M50s, M60s and a single entry in the Open race Jason McCullagh. The final wave was for Ava Baker (Breffni Wheelers), Under 14 girl and Gillian Craig (Omagh Wheelers Cycling Club), Senior women.
David Montgomery (Spellman-Dublin Port) was leading the race overall as well as the Senior men but was passed by Junior sensation Conor Murphy (Team Caldwell Cycles). Conor went on to finish first overall as well as first Junior after 6 laps. Second junior was Curtis McKee (Spellman-Dublin Port). David Montgomery won the Senior men’s race with Darnell Moore (Team Caldwell Cycles) second, Lee Harvey (VC Glendale) third and Odhran Doogan (Team Caldwell Cycles) fourth. Graham Boyd (McConvey Cycles) won the M30s race with Peter Davey (Un-Attached Ulster) second.
Barry Kellett (Dromara Cycling Club) managed to get ahead of Darragh McCarter (Spellman-Dublin Port) to finish first and second respectively in the M40s race. Conor Campbell (Cuchulainn CC) was third with Glyn O’Brien (Un-Attached Ulster) fourth. Winner of the M50s race was PJ Hynes (Bellurgan Wheelers). Kieran McKenna (Ards CC) was second with Barry Convery (Newry Wheelers CC) third and David McKee (VC Glendale) fourth. In the M60s race Johnny McCabe (Cuchulainn CC) took the win ahead of Colin McKee (Maryland Wheelers).
The final race of the day was a non-championship fun race for e-bikes. There were 5 riders lined up for 5 laps of the course. Course designer Gary Donaldson (Team Caldwell Cycles) was the first across the line. Barry Toland (Un-Attached Ulster) was second with Scott McAleer third, Gary Andrews fourth and Martin Hughes fifth.
Thanks to all at Caldwell Cycles for hosting the race and to Todd’s Leap for allowing the event to happen at their site. This event marks the end of the cross-country season but we look forward to the cyclo-cross season starting in October.
Commissaire: Martin Grimley
Results here
Report by Martin Grimley
Photos
Gemma McNamara (Cycling Ulster) – here