The 2025/26 Cyclo-cross National Series came to an end yesterday, as the series took in it’s final stop in Ballinasloe.
Having hosted last year’s National Championships, the Fair Green in Ballinastoe and Ballinastoe CC once again provided a fantastic spectacle of racing on the Sunday, and also included a team relay under the lights on the Saturday night.
Dean Harvey repeated his Ballinasloe exploits of a year ago, taking the win in the senior race in a similar fashion to last year’s national championship. Team WORC rider Robyn Seymour took second, with St. Tiernan’s Richard Barry in third. Harvey said afterwards of the icy course, “It was good, slippy and twisty, so good practice for Nationals next weekend.” Seymour’s second place on the day, coupled with his consistency throughout the winter, was enough to grab him a win in the overall competition. Richard Barry took the overall silver, with Team WORC rider Gavin O’Connell taking the bronze.
Although Seymour took to the second step of the podium, the second across the line was actually Junior rider Ryan Daly. Despite the Junior race starting a minute and a half behind the Senior race, Daly caught and passed the entire senior field, bar Harvey, in a storming ride. Daly said afterwards, “I felt strong on the bike all day, and feeling really good and strong going into next week. Happy with my performance today overall, making my way through the field, just couldn’t quite catch Dean.” VC Glendale’s James Armstrong was the second Junior finisher, ahead of Kilcullen’s Conor Regan in third. Fermoy’s Shane O’Brien took fourth place on the day, but gold in the overall standings ahead of Conor Regan and EPIC’s Darragh O’Keefe in second and third respectively.
The Women’s race saw a combined Senior and Masters field. Greta Lawless, having just made her jump from the Junior category took the win ahead of Harps CC Elena Wallace. Third Senior was Rachel Newell. Jean Wallace was the third rider across the line and took the Masters win, ahead of Aishling O’Connor and Helen White in second and third respectively. Race winner Lawless remarked afterwards, “The course was actually really great, it was quick this morning because it was so frozen, but as the race went on it sort of thawed out a bit, I really enjoyed it.” When asked about her preparation for the National Championships next week, Lawless pointed out “I’ve not been on the cross bike a whole lot this winter, honestly I’m just doing it because I like it and enjoy it, so I’m excited to race.”
Rachel Newell saw her consistency come to fruition as she took the overall win in the Senior category, as Darcy Harkness took second, and Leah McCarthy third. The Masters overall winner was Aishling O’Connor, ahead of Sinead Parsons and Jean Wilson.
The M40 race provided a fantastic race long shootout. Ultimately Caldwell Powerhouse Racing rider Darragh McCarter took top spot, as last year’s National Champion Glen Kinning took second, with Orwell’s Ronan O’Flynn coming in third. Kinning took the overall title, ahead of O’Flynn and Barry Kellett.
The largest field of the day was the M50 race. Kilcullen’s Fearhal Regan, father of third place Junior rider Conor, took the win ahead of Emyvale’s Declan McEntee in second and Newry’s Barry Convery in third. Regan also claimed top spot in the overall, ahead of Convery and Chris Byrne.
Former Masters World Champion Johnny McCabe of Cuchulainn CC claimed top spot in the M60 race, followed by Tallaght Wheelers’ Michael Jordan in second and Inspired Cycling rider Des Woods in third. McCabe could only manage 2nd in the overall however, as Fred McSorley took the win, with Colm Bracken 3rd.
James Cunningham started 2026 off on a positive note, claiming the win in the U16 Boys race, ahead of Bohermeen’s Eoin Davis and Fermoy’s James Geary. All three riders remained on the podium for the overall prize giving, with Davis taking top spot, followed by Cunningham and Geary.
2025 European Youth Olympic Festival rider Katie Turner also got her year off to a flying start and won the U16 Girls race in very convincing fashion. She was chased hard by Breffni Wheeler’s Ava Baker, taking second, and Dromara’s Aoife Kellett in third, and also by Dungarvan’s Ciara Flavin who narrowly missed out on a podium place. Ava Baker was the overall winner, with Kellett second and Flavin third.
Foyle’s Darragh Quigley stood atop the podium for the U14 Boys race, and was flanked by two Munster riders in Fermoy’s Max McGrath in second and Greenmount’s Nuadha Walsh in third. Quigley also took the top spot in the overall standings, followed by Billy Lord in second and Max McGrath third.
The U12 Boys again provided fantastic racing, but was ultimately taken by Orwell’s Benjamin Cunningham. Shelbourne/Orchard CC rider Lewis Bell put in a strong showing for second, and Orwell’s Tadhg Connolly took third ahead of another impressive performance by George Cleverly, with the Sliabh Luachra rider narrowly missing out on a podium.
Orwell’s Molly Turner mirrored her sister Katie’s finish and took top spot in the U12 Girls race, ahead of Sliabh Luachra’s Caroline Collins and Shelbourne/Orchard rider Pippa Ruddell in second and third respectively.
Orwell’s Oliver O’Sullivan took the win in the U10 Boys race, with Evan McTavish of Western Lakes in second and Ballinasloe CC rider Rowan Walker taking third at his home race.
The U10 Girls race saw a Sliabh Luachra 1-2 as Marian Mulvaney and Emily O’Mahony finished ahead of Ballinasloe’s Lara Moloney.
Charlie McCarter of Caldwell Powerhouse Racing was top of the U8 Boys race, followed by Ballinasloe’s Hugh Dolan in second and Square Wheels’ Noah Finnegan in third.
Ballinasloe’s Sol Lally won the U8 Girls race, with Shelbourne/Orchard’s Alice Bell in second and Western Lakes Caoimhe Dunne in third.
All eyes now turn to the Cyclo-cross National Championships, held this coming weekend at Castle Saunderson, Co. Cavan, with a full preview available closer to the time.
