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The 2024 Downhill National Series concluded with a brilliant weekend of racing for the third and final round of the series. The series included three rounds, beginning in May with Round 1 hosted by Gravity BC. Round 2 took place at the end of August, hosted by Bree Mountain Bike Club and the final round was last weekend, hosted by GAP MTB. The series attracted good entries for all three legs and across all categories.

Winning the Elite category by almost 100 points was Emmet Callaghan. He finished on an impressive 419 points. Conor Bate finished in second place on 321 points and on hot on his heels was Niall Clerkin on 320 points.

In the Elite Women’s victory went to Lilian Tobin, she won both the first and final round and took the runner-up spot in the second round. Blaithin Sweeny finished second having recorded podium finishes in all three rounds. Leah Maunsell completed the podium in third place, she also recorded podium finishes in each round.

In the Junior division Alex Hickey topped the podium having scored points in each round to finish on 490 points. Felim Coffey was second on 448 points and Ben Fitzsimons completed the podium on 435.

There was only five points separating the top two riders in the Senior category with victory going to Caolan Sammon on a final score of 595. Isaac Scott finished in second place on 590. Daragh O’Sealbhaigh completed the podium on 355 points.

Darragh Ryan may have had to settle for second place on Sunday, but this result combined with his victories in the first two rounds secured his series win in the Youth category. Kyle Murray finished second in the series and Michael Michniacki third.

Ross McGowan won the Juvenile division, finishing ahead of Diarmuid O’Sealbhaigh in second and Conor Lennon in third.

Steven Smyth stormed to victory in the M30s.Having finished second in the opening round and won the second round, a victory at the weekend left him on 640 points with his nearest rival, James MacFerran on 575. Ben Halbert finished in third.

Having won all three individual round there was no stopping Ian Coates take home the series title in the M40s. Glynn O’Brien finished second and Declan Brady third.

Paul McCusker put pressure on Mark Byrne in the M50 category. McCusker won the final leg bringing his series total to 479. However, a third place finish on Sunday was enough for Byrne to top the league table on 545. Ken Kelly finished in third.

Heitor Severo E Silva won the Sports division by almost 200 points, finishing ahead of Steven Nash and Ryan Robinson in second and third respectively.