News

The Cyclo-cross National Series came to a close on Sunday, 5th of January, as a damp and very cold course greeted riders at McCrystal’s track in Jenkinstown, Co. Louth.

The men’s race saw an early battle between Tadhg Killeen and Dean Harvey before Trinity Racing’s Harvey pulled away for the win. Killeen held on for second ahead of Caldwell Cycle’s Darnell Moore in third. Killeen’s second place was enough to seal his victory in the overall series ahead of St. Finbarr’s Richard Barry and All human/Velo Revolution’s Timothy O’Regan in second and third respectively.

Harvey spoke after the race, saying, “It was a cold and wet day out on a tough course here at McCrystals, with some really good competition, but it’s set us up nicely for National Championships next week.”

Doireann Killeen broke away from the front of the women’s race and stormed to the win for Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospatial ahead of Harps CC Elena Wallace and Cuttin Crew/Donkey Label’s Maria Larkin in second and third respectively.  Stephanie Roche came across the line fourth but that was enough to ensure she took the win in the overall Series standings. She was joined on the podium by McConvey Cycles’ Rachel Newell in second and Doireann Killeen in third.

Roche said afterwards, “It was really cold and really tough conditions, but I’m really glad to have taken the series win today and it’ll make things really interesting heading into National Championships next week.”

The combined women’s field also featured Masters riders. Stamullen RC’s Helen White was the highest Masters finisher, just ahead of EPIC’s Jean Wilson in second and VC Glendale’s Trudy Brown in third. Sunday’s result saw Jean Wilson crowned series winner, with Midleton’s Sally Drennan taking second and Islandeady’s Sinead Parson’s third.

Rhiannon Dolan from TC Racing was the highest Junior finisher on Sunday, with Dungarvan’s Ami Flavin second. The overall series title was taken by Dungarvan’s Aoife O’Donovan, with clubmate Flavin taking second.

Round 4 saw Hugh Og Mulhearne racing in the colours of Asvillemur Cyclisme for the first time, and taking the win in the Junior Men’s race. He was joined on the podium by local Bellurgan Wheeler’s rider Oliver O’Shaughnessy in second and Strabane Lifford’s Ashton Moore in third. The win saw Mulhearne take the overall series win, with Ciaran O’Sullivan of Greenmount taking second and Curtis McKee of Spellman-Dublin Port take third.

Current M40 National Champion Glenn Kinning took the win on Sunday ahead of Dungarvan’s Marcus Flavin and Orwell’s Ronan O’Flynn. O’Flynn had already done enough to take the overall series win, ahead of Islandeady’s Trevor Costello and Team WORC’s Evan Ryan in second and third respectively.

Alan Bingham took the win in the M50 category for Inspired Cycling. He finished ahead of Emyvale’s Declan McEntee in second and Jason Henry, also riding for Inspired Cycling in third. Newry Wheelers Barry Convery took the overall series win, finishing ahead of Strabane Lifford’s Jay McCauley in second. Brian O’Connor from Lucan Cycling Road Club and Declan McEntee from Emyvale took a joint third place, with both riders finishing on 170 points.

Former Masters World Champion Johnny McCabe took the win in the M60 category, followed by Kevin McDowell in second and Terence O’Neill from EPIC MTB in third. McCabe’s win saw him take the overall series win. Galway Bay rider Glenn Watson took second, with Kevin McDowell taking third.

Rian McCrystal used his local knowledge to his advantage and took the win in the U16 Boys race, ahead of Fermoy’s Shane O’Brien and Kilcullen’s Conor Regan in second and third respectively. O’Brien’s second place finish was enough for him to take the overall series win, with Bohermeen’s Eoin Davis taking second and Conor Regan taking third.

Katie Turner of Orwell Wheelers took the win in the U16 Girls race, beating All human/Velo Revolution rider Emer Heverin and Glendale’s Aoife Craig. Turner also took the win in the overall series, ahead of TC Racing’s Naoise Byrne in second and Heverin taking third.

Current National Champion James Cunningham riding with Team WORC took the win in the U14 Boys race. Tomás Connolly from Orwell took second with Square Wheels Rory McCool taking third. The overall series podium featured the same three riders, with Cunningham taking the top spot, McCool in second and Connolly in third.

TC Racing’s Lilly McDermott took the top spot in the U14 Girls race. Breffni Wheelers Ava Baker finished second, with Drogheda’s Ciara O’Connor finishing third. Baker took the overall series win ahead of McDermott in second and O’Connor in third.

In the U12 Boys Benjamin Cunningham from Orwell took the top spot, ahead of Fermoy’s Max McGrath in second, and Orwell’s Tadhg Connolly.

Square Wheels’ Aoife Campbell took the win in the U12 Girls race. Orwell’s Molly Turner took second, with Sliabh Luachra’s Caroline Collins in third.

Jaxon Jennings took another win for Orwell in the U10 Boys race, Ilkeston CC rider Lorcan Lamont finished second, and Shelbourne/Orchard CC’s Josh Ruddell coming across the line third.

Square Wheels’ pair Ríonach Campbell and Ciara McCool took first and second in the U10 Girls race, ahead of Pippa Ruddell in third.

Square Wheels Séan McGahan took the win in the U8 Boys category, followed by Western Lakes Evan McTavish in second and Ilkeston’s Fionn Lamont in third.

Elianna Logan from Omagh Wheelers won the U8 Girls race, followed by Noreen Cody from Clonard in second and Belfast City BMX Club rider Sally Mowbray in third.

Full results for Round 4 are available HERE.

Full final standings for the series are available HERE.

All eyes turn now to Cyclo-cross National Championships, taking place next Saturday and Sunday, 11th and 12th of January in Ballinasloe, Co. Galway.