Round 3 takes its toll on MTB riders and their steed
The May Day bank holiday Monday saw Round 3 of the Club MTB League take place at Tollymore forest park. The forecast wasn’t great but the weather was holding, right up to the point where the riders arrived at the car park. A sudden deluge turned the trails from dry, grippy and dusty, to greasy wet and slippery. Would the usual damp track wizards show their worth today?!
First off were Barry Kellett and Robert Davison, with Barry having 7 laps to complete and Robert 6. A succession of groups then left at various intervals and the race was on. Kellett was going reasonably well but was missing his usual bulls eye target of John Shanks and pacemaker Montgomery. With everyone out on course and closing in on each other, Robert Davison suffered an untimely puncture and had to retire.
Shortly afterwards, Kellett fell off into the river while admiring the fauna and attempting to take the “pro line” at the same time. Subsequently he also retired due to a wee bruised hip. The curse of the national champs jersey continues. Mawhirt proved once again that 26” is indeed definitely dead as he punctured on the same rock for the second race in a row. Expect a section of fresh tarmac over that area in the next round people.
John McGuigan was getting excited, coming through on his last lap he noticed all the retirees standing talking rubbish at the finish line and off he went in quest of the scalps and a race win. Unfortunately his excitement got the better of him and while laying down the power of awesome on the steep climb, his chain decided it had had enough and couldn’t take the strain. Another DNF!
Ben Wilson cruised to the finish with only a few seconds to spare over Paul Watson, young Danny coming in to take 3rd place shortly afterwards to round out the podium.
Well done to all who took part and tackled the testing conditions with Gusto!
