Ulster MTB Championships 2008

Ulster Mountain bike Championships
2008
Dunmore Mountain

Saturday 13th September 2008

The Ulster Mountain Biking Cross Country Championships was hosted by Dromara Cycling Club at Dunmore Mountain near Spa, Ballynahinch (map). This was the third year that Dromara CC have proudly held these prestigious championships but only the second time that the club have used the Dunmore course. The course was very similar to the one used in September 2007 with only minor modifications made after the recent heavy rains. The senior course was approximately 2.65 miles and wound its way up and over the two peaks of Dunmore mountain. The 90 riders were greeted with perfect cycling weather, warm with little wind and reminded us all of the great weather we had back in May this year. The day's fine weather did not however dry out the course completely with many puddles and thick mud to negotiate. The start line was in the same spot as last year and Derek Hanna from the club, race secretary for the day, did an excellent job getting the riders started on time closely supervised by newly appointed race commissionaire Peter McConville.

The full complement of under 12 races took place first with the Under 8s and Under 10s doing short laps of the mini loop within the field. They still had to tackle the tight slope behind the hill and then the log obstacle before heading back to the finish line. The spectators on Banbridge hill got a great view of this action (named Banbridge hill because of the large number of yellow shirts sitting or standing, cheering or chatting). These same obstacles were tackled by the riders in all categories and proved testing for all of them. The under 12s raced around the larger loop within the field by heading towards the gate to the senior loop before turning around and heading through the reeds then up a sharp climb over the first hill, quick descent before going through a large puddle before up another tight climb back up to the start/finish hill. They then passed the timekeepers on their left before heading around the hill as per the under 8 and under 10 course. Finally for all riders it was a sprint across a bumpy, and in places watery, flat plain towards the timekeepers to complete the lap.

The senior circuit really began once through the gate at the bottom of the field. It went up sharply along a slippery track used by 4 wheel vehicles and once over the first rise there was a sharp left through the cut ferns then left again up the hill which incorporated two loops before heading over the crest and through the tight turns past the whin bushes. The course then crested another hill before dropping down, across some more vehicle tracks, up through the reeds then over the rocky outcrop. This ended in a drop into a reed bed which had a very water logged track skirting around the edge. At the end of the reed loop the riders dropped down a bank which had a stream of water running down before a quick push through the stone wall and through the cut ferns. Up the next hill and the riders came upon a expanse of water where they had no option but to power through. There were many a soaked cycling shoe at this obstacle. Once through it was up and over another rise before the riders had to turn sharply through the ferns towards another rocky outcrop which proved hard to get over without using your feet. Once off the rock there was a sharp right before going along more vehicle tracks before heading up again. There was a nice muddy puddle to plough through before the start of the big climb up to the summit of the second peak which one young rider managed to make on his first lap before stopped to view his breakfast again ! This climb was tough ! The descent from the second peak was fast flowing initially then a series of tight bends had the riders heading down a series of rocky drop offs before the main rock wall which caught quite a number of riders out. The rock wall was not for the faint hearted and it seems the best way to tackle it was without hesitation. The speed gained from the drop helped to propel the rider along a nice section of single track back to the main field. The riders then completed the under 12 loop around the field.

All in all a great day's racing with plenty of smiles and mucky faces. Special thanks to the landowner, Mr Wightman, for continuing to support this sport by allowing this race to take place. Also many thanks to the Red Cross volunteers who thankfully had nothing to do all day but enjoy the sun. A big thank you to all the Dromara club members who were present on the day and who had helped in the weeks leading up to the event.

Well done to all the Ulster winners. Full Results here
More photographs from Pauline Galway here
Photographs by Andy Potts here

Video by Martin here