Seacourt Community Centre in Larne was again the venue of East Antrim Audi's cyclo cross event organised by Danny Hylands and other team members from the club.  The weather was fine, bright with little wind but after a couple of wet days this week the expanse of grass around the centre had not had a chance to dry out.  The mud was a big factor today but did not dampen the spirits of the riders especially among the underage categories.  Racing kicked off at 11:30 with the Under 8s, Under 10s and Under 12s races.  As for most of this season the winners all came from the one club, Banbridge CC, who have an excellent young squad.  It was only XMTB's Alex Bell in the Under 12s category who managed to prevent total dominance by the yellow jerseys of Banbridge.  Dromara CC's young riders were unable to make this event but would have enjoyed the opportunity to get their nice white jerseys covered in mud!

The mountain bike support race started at 12.15 pm with a mass start of the men, women, under 14s and under 16s charging across the grass towards the first tight corner into the course proper.  Dromara had three riders in this event: Gavin Magowan, Paul Jess and Martin Grimley.  Martin had a poor start when he was unable to get his left foot into the pedal but soon got going to keep up with the front riders.  The course wound its way back towards the start/finish line before heading off to the left of the timekeepers towards the log obstacles then over to the grassy embankment.  The riders went up and down the embankment before heading down and around the gravel path at the far end of the site.  The course then made its way back up to the grass and along the fence (and through the puddles!) beside FC Wilson's factory.  The course was particularly muddy behind the main community centre building and this was a great test of cycling skills for all participants.  The design of the 1.5 mile course was such that the spectators could always see some action from the main car park yet it made full use of the space available. Well done to Danny and his team for the layout.  It seems there were no riders complaining when the original 6 laps for the senior and under 16 race was dropped to 5 laps!  

It was Banbridge's Matthew Adair (under 16) who lead from start to finish with Paul McMenamin (Leisure Lakes) taking the senior win two weeks in a row.   Chris Oakley (XMTB) won the under 14 category.  Martin finished 4th in his category.  Gavin and Paul enjoying only their second cyclo cross event and completing 4 out of the 5 laps.  

The main cyclo cross race started at 1.30 pm with 25 riders charging across the field and into the main course, going somewhat faster than their mountain biking counter parts.  The first lap was frenetic especially around the log obstacle and climb up to the embankment.  Once the riders settled down the individual battles for placings commenced.  After the gruelling 8 laps there was only just over 2 minutes between the top 7 riders with a big crowd pleasing finish between Banbridge's Liam McGreevy and XMTB's Graham Boyd only settled in the last few yards with Liam winning by a bike length over his big rival Graham.  Well done all.  Organiser Danny Hylands finished 15th.

A big congratulations to Danny and the rest of East Antrim Cycling Club for putting on an excellent event.  The East Antrim Audi Club are grateful to the following for sponsorship in support of the event:  Larne Borough Council, Northern Bank, Knott Bros Speedy Fit, Larne Coach Works, Mark Wilson Supermarkets, Powerade, Car-Net Car + Van Sales.  All riders received a bottle of Powerade to drink and a Powerade water bottle for the bike.

Round 3 of this year's cyclo cross league will be at Carrickfergus hosted by Team Madigan.

Cyclo Cross 8 laps
1 Liam McGreevy Banbridge CC 59.13
2 Graham Boyd XMTB 59.14
3 Conor Campbell Newry Wheelers 59.44
4 Dave Barry IMBRC 1.00.14
5 Aiden McDonald Apollo CT 1.01.04
6 Peter McConville Newry Wheelers 1.01.20
7 Drew McKinley Newry Wheelers 1.01.29
8 William Mulligan Banbridge CC 1.06.01
9 Dave O'Neill Swords CC 1.06.20
10 Kevin Lynch Newry Wheelers 1.07.26
11 Eamon McConvey Newry Wheelers 1.07.27
12 William Boyd XMTB 7 laps
13 Mark Campbell Newry Wheelers 7 laps
14 Jarlath Farmer Cuchulainn CC 7laps
15 Danny Hylands East Antrim Audi 7 laps
16 David Tweed Phoenix CC 7 laps
17 Ronan Byrne Newry Wheelers 7laps
18 Fred McSorley Apollo CT 7 laps
19 Jason Henry U/A 7 laps
20 Alistair Bratton Bann Wheelers 7laps
21 Michael Hamilton North Down 6 laps
22 Andy Ruck Newry Wheelers 6 laps
23 William Forsythe Banbridge CC 6 laps
24 Maurice Mayne Banbridge CC 6 laps
Cormac Clarke Newry Wheelers DNF

MTB Men 5 laps
1 Paul McMenamin Leisure Lakes 37.20
2 Ben Morrow East Antrim Audi 40.19
3 Paul Anderson Banbridge CC 41.15
4 Martin Grimley Dromara CC 43.46

MTB Women 4 laps
1 Claire Oakley XMTB 42.40
2 Joanne McCallum Banbridge CC 46.20
3 Nicola Oldham Banbridge CC 50.05

U-16
1 Matthew Adair Banbridge CC 36.57
2 Robbie Lamont XMTB 46.05
3 Ryan Bratton Bann Wheelers 4 laps

U-14
1 Chris Oakley XMTB 37.29
2 Conor O'Boyle U/A 43.55
3 Nathanael Smyth XMTB 45.08
4 Curtis Bell XMTB 48.05
5 Aimee Ogilby XMTB 49.00

U-12
1 Rachel Mayne Banbridge CC
2 Joseph Baird Banbridge CC
3 Alex Bell XMTB

U-10
1 John Buller Banbridge CC
2 Richard Baird Banbridge CC
3 Shannon Buller Banbridge CC

U-8
1 Mark Buller Banbridge CC
2 Shenna McKiverigan Banbridge CC
3 Jack Baird Banbridge CC