Irish MTB NEWS......from Andy Potts

 
 
Irish Riders at Maribor

Last weekend Cycling Ireland had a number of riders on duty at the final round of the Nissan UCI Mountain Bike World Cup, held at Maribor in Slovenia.  The event attracted over 600 entries with 25 000 spectators attending over the two days of action.

Saturday saw Julian Absalon crowned World Cup Champion, a week after he had successfully defended his World Championship at Fort William.  Absalon finished in 18th place, the race being won by Swedish rider Fredrik Kessiakoff.  Riding for Ireland, Robin Seymour and Niall Davis battled against colds that they had picked up in Scotland, Robin finishing in 61st and Niall 66th, this out of a field of 137.  After his epic performance at Fort William, Conor McConvey had a day to forget.  On the first lap he had chain problems, stopping at the Shimano neutral service for repairs, before rejoining the race only to be pulled out by the commissaries as he was too far behind.  This weekend Robin rides at the final round of the British NPS XCO and Marathon races at Coed-y-Brenin in Wales, the Wicklow rider clear favourite to defend his British Marathon title.

Ben Reid finished 21st in the final round of the Downhill World Cup, which gave him 17th overall in the final 2007 standings, a superb achievement by the young rider from Newtownards in County Down.  Dan Wolfe was 51st and his brother Ger 63rd.  Australian Sam Hill won the Maribor DH event, adding the World Cup to the World Championship title he took at Fort William.  The season ended badly for former World Downhill Champ Fabien Barel.  After being beaten by just .64 of a second by Hill at Fort William, Barel crashed badly during the seeding run for the Maribor event, ending up in hospital with serious injuries, this after he only came back to action at Fort William following a five week lay off due to a broken foot.  This weekend Irish DH fans will get a chance to see Ben and all the Fort William heros at Round 6 of the Irish DH NPS at Coolaveely in County Antrim, see details below.

Weekend MTB Events

This weekend mountain bikers have two events to choose from.  On Saturday Apollo CT promote round five of the Ulster MTB Cross Country League at Craigavon Lakes (details below).  Downhill action takes place on Saturday and Sunday at Coolaveely near Ballycastle in County Antrim with Round 6 of the Irish DH NPS, promoted by Chain Reaction Cycles. (details below). 

On Saturday the Cycling Ulster MTB Academy Squad will be in Coed-y-Brenin in North Wales for the final round of the British XCO Series, with XMTB’s Jes Laird in with a good chance of winning the U-16 title.  Claire Oakley goes for second overall in the Womens U-14 Class, while Jack Wilson, Matthew Adair and Michael Runciman are aiming for top six final placings in the U-14 Mens series.

 

Round 6 of Ulster XCO League at Craigavon Lakes.

Apollo Cycling Club wish to invite you to the fifth round of the Ulster league at Craigavon lakes Watersprots Centre on Saturday 22nd September.
The venue and course layout should offer something of interest for all riders whether recovering from the previous week’s Ulster Championships at Dunmore Mountain or hoping to ride the following week’s Marathon Champs in The Cooley mountains.
The course is a mix of single track and open trails with some grass sections and will be available for practice from 10:15am. The length is approx. 2miles. There will be a separate grass circuit for the under 12/10/8 categories. Excellent changing, shower and toilet facilities are on site and there is a café in the Centre. The trails are open to the public by day and are available during normal working hours in the week. Craigavon Lakes Watersports Centre is situated off roundabout 3 on the main Portadown to Lurgan road. If leaving the M1 motorway come off at Junction 10 and follow the signs for Craigavon Centre. Look for the signs for “Watersports Centre” at roundabout 3.


Registration open from 10am-noon.
One day licenses are available

Race Programme is as follows;
11:30 U12
11:31 U10
11:32 U8

12:00 U16
12:01 Sports men/women
12:02 U14

13:30 Elite men
13:31 Elite women
13:32 Junior’s
13:33 Experts
13:34 Master’s
13:35 Veterans

Also a reminder the first of this year’s CYCLOCROSS races will be held in Lurgan Park on Sunday October 7th. Full details will follow on Cycling Ulster web site in a few days. For more information on both the events above please contact Fred MacSorley
on e-mail to fred.macsorley@chwl.gp.n-i.nhs.uk
Or ring 02838331266 (evenings)

 

Round 6 DH NPS Coolaveely, County Antrim.

 

RACE FORMAT

The format of the 2007 Irish NPS is as follows:

Saturday

Sign On: 9.00-13.00

Practice: 1000-15.00

Uplift begins 10.00am

Sunday  

Sign On: 0900-10.30

Practice: 0900-11.30

Course Inspection: 1130-1200

Race: 1200-1700

Prizegiving

Uplift begins 9am

PARKING

Riders who have been at the venue will realise that parking is quite limited.

An arrangement has been made with a local farmer to use a nearby field on Saturday and Sunday, however, this will only be the base if weather permits. ie - if it doesn't rain....

Failing this, the organizers are doing everything in their power to make parking as best they can, keeping safety in mind. Limited parking will be available on the fireroad, however, it is anticipated that most vehicles will need to be parked on the road. If this is the case riders are asked to be very cautious and take their safety and the safety of road users into consideration. Cars parked in the forest are asked to be considerate in their parking and remember that space needs to be made available for an ambulance to come up and down the fireroad at leisure. Please adhere to marshall's requests when parking.

DIRECTIONS

Riders traveling to Coolaveely should take the A2 Northbound towards Coleraine/Portrush. Exit at signposts for Armoy or Ballycastle (A44). When you get to Armoy turn right and drive on the twisty road for several miles. Coolaveely is on the right hand side.