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The 2024 Cyclo-cross National Series got underway on Sunday, 6^th of October in Belfast. Hosted by VC Glendale, Round 1 saw 250 riders take to the course in Falls Park. Light showers in the morning preceded heavy rain in the afternoon, making the conditions challenging.

A combined field for Junior, Senior and Masters Women saw Greta Lawless lead from the start and take the win in the Junior category, with Holly McCaffrey from Longcourt-Hotel NCW Wheelers taking second in the Junior Category.

Having won the National Hill Climb National Championship on Saturday, Orwell’s Caoimhe May took her second win of the weekend when she won the Senior Women’s category in Belfast on Sunday. May was joined on the podium by Doireann Killeen of Kilcullen CC Murphy Geospacial in second and Scott Racing IRL’s Stephanie Roche in third.

The Masters category was won by EPIC MTB Expert Cycles’ Jean Wilson, with Midleton CTC’s Sally Drennan taking second and Orwell’s Aishling O’Connor finishing third.

The Junior, Senior and M40 categories also ran a combined field. The M40 category saw another Orwell Wheelers winner in Ronan O’Flynn. Frank McDermott from Oldcastle CC and Barry Kellett from Dromara CC took second and third respectively.

Curtis McKee riding with Spellman-Dublin Port took the win in the Junior Men category, ahead of Scott Racing’s Ryan Daly and local rider James Armstrong from VC Glendale in second and third respectively.

The Senior race was won by Kilcullen CC Murphy Geospatial rider Tadhg Killeen, as he beat 2022 European Cyclo-cross M50-54 Champion Team Worc rider Robin Seymour in a sprint finish while Caldwell Cycles Darnell Moore rounded out the podium.

The Under 6 Mixed category saw six boys and five girls completing three laps of a short course. The Under 8 category followed, and Evan McTavish from Western Lakes CC led from the start, and took the win over Square Wheels’ Max Beattie in second and Fiachra Connolly from Orwell Wheelers in third. The Under 8 Girls race was won by Zara Aiken from Banbridge CC, ahead of Elisa Tyszecka in second and Ballinasloe’s Sol Lally in third.

Orwell Wheelers’ Jaxon Jennings took the win in the U10 Boys’ race after a strong performance, beating Lincolnshire based rider Lorcan Lamont, riding with Ilkeston Cycle Club in second and Shelbourne/Orchard CC rider Josh Ruddell in third. Ríonach Campbell from Square Wheels took the win in the Under 10 Girls’ race ahead of club-mate Ciara McCool in second, with Robyn McDermott coming in third.

The Under 12 race was a tight affair, with just one second separating the first boy and first girl, with Orwell Wheelers’ Benjamin Cunningham crossing the line just ahead of Square Wheels’ Aoife Campbell. Shelbourne/Orchard CC’s Lewis Bell took second in the Boys’ category, followed by Orwell’s Daniel O’Sullivan in third. Orwell’s Molly Turner took second in the Girls’ category while Caroline Collins from Sliabh Luachra took third.

In the Under 14 Boys’ race James Cunningham from Team WORC took the win with Square Wheels’ Rory McCool second and Tomás Connolly of Orwell Wheelers third. The Under 14 Girls’ race saw Ava Baker from Breffni Wheelers take the chequered flag with Lilly McDermott of TC Racing in second, IMBRC’s Laoise Crinion in third.

In the Under 16 Boys’ race Caleb McGreevy of VC Glendale and Shane O’Brien from Fermoy Cycling Club had a good battle at the front of the race. O’Brien had managed to get ahead on lap three but McGreevy had the stronger final lap and took the win with O’Brien settling for second place. Eoin Davis of Bohermeen CC was third.

The Under 16 Girls’ race saw Emer Heverin riding with All human/VeloRevolution Racing Team cross the line ahead of Katie Turner of Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club with local rider Aoife Craig of VC Glendale third.

The M50 category was won by Newry’s Barry Convery ahead of Declan McEntee from Emyvale CC and Peter Morrison of Velo Café Magasin.

Johnny McCabe of Cuchulainn CC took the win in the M60 category ahead of Kevin McDowell.

Paul Beattie finished first in the Support Race ahead of Martin Conlon, while Gerard Curran of Tir Chonaill Gap CC rounded out the podium in third.

A full list of results is available HERE.

The series next heads to Clonbur, Co Galway on Sunday, 27^th of October. Entries for Round 2 are available HERE.