Liam reports back from Belgium

We arrived in Belgium on the afternoon of Boxing Day. Kurt (Bogaerts) lifted us from the airport and brought us to the Sean Kelly House, which was to be our base for the next few days. We didn’t have much time to arse about as we had a race the next day, so by the time we were fed and unpacked it was time for a kip.

We had to get up the next morning at 9am (feck, that’s early!) as the race was a few hours driving away, well, so we thought.  We were one of the 1st there, so we headed to a nearby supermarket for some grub. It's great, you can say anything about people over here and they don’t understand you..! After that we did a few practice laps.  The course consisted of a fast starting section, a muddy hole and then a real nasty sandy bit.

My race started at 1.30pm and starting on the last row of the grid didn’t help. The field wasn’t massive, approx. 25 to 30ish riders.  After a very fast start, I was within the last few going into the 1st corner but with a few hefty elbows I gained a few places, despite being in a pile up and going over the bars. Mid-way I was about 16th and was feeling rubbish, legs were sore, back was hurting and I was clearly having a bad day.  I just couldn’t stay on my bike, the mud was throwing me everywhere, so I said "frig that for a game of darts" and I pulled out.

Roger’s race started at 3'ish. Again, Dodge was at the back of the grid, like myself and sure enough he was caught up in a pile-up at the start. He  seemed to be going well over the first few laps, floating around 35th spot however he too was suffering with his back on the demanding course.  He then basically sat up for the next couple of laps.  The winner of this race was a machine, however he did receive a little help from Dodge along the way…!

The next day we went to watch the pro's at a super prestige race near Gent. This was simply unreal.  The top guys here are like motorbikes and it made for really exciting spectating. The crowds gather here in 10’s of thousands, over here it is like premiership football back home. The course also seemed to be very quick and technical.

The next day we had another fecking early start, this time the race was in Middlekirke. After sign on, we rode 1 practice lap and the course was like riding round in a muddy swamp..! The pro's were changing bikes every lap.

I was determined to finish this one. Again my races started at 1.30 with 42 signing on, and guess what? I was on the back row of the grid again. I got off to a bad start but managed to ride up as high as 12th on the 2nd lap.  It went pear shaped after that, my back was starting to hurt again, but I was determined to finish. I came home 18th and 6.40 down on the winner.

In the elite race Dodge had all the top guys to race from the world cup round the day before Nys, Boom, Wellens, you name it they were there. Again, with no ranking points he was at the back of the grid. Over the first couple of laps Dodge was riding very strongly, in fact he was pulling away from Robin Seymor gradually until I gave him a bike change. My bike was clearly not set up for Roger so I knew he’d be looking his bike the next lap. I joined the queue to wash the bikes in the pits and when it was my turn some old cheeky d***head snapped the hose off me…! So I snapped it back off him and told him politely where to go..! I didn’t have Roger's bike out on time so he had to do another lap on my yolk and with even more bad luck, the rear mech went into the wheel... so that was the end of that.

The next day we had an early start to get the flight back home. So that meant packing up the night before. I must admit it is brass monkey material out here in winter…but all in all it was a good experience and I enjoyed it.

Liam

Roger shows form at Banbridge Academy

Back at the venue where Banabridge CC hosted the 2007 National Cyclo Cross championships Roger Aiken showed improving form to take the win from felow Banbridge rider Liam McGreevy.  It was from as early as lap 2 that the 2 Banbridge CC riders moved clear from the chasing field  containing Glen Kinning (Castlereagh CC), Robert Lamont (XMTB), Mark Allen (Swords CC), Graham Boyd (XMTB) and Banbridge CC’s off road legend Don Travers.

Roger looked to have it in the bag by creating a gap between himself and Liam mid-way through the race.  However, with only 2 laps to go Roger entered the pits with a puncture giving young Liam a sniff of victory on home soil...  As Roger left the pits with a new wheel in 2nd place a hard effort was required to bring back the lead that Liam semed happy to keep for himself! By the start of the last lap the two Banbridge riders were back together and Roger was looking very strong but with Liam managing to hold his wheel.  Crossing the line Roger's strength did show and it was he that took the win with Liam coming in just 4 seconds adrift of the former Irish and recently re-crowned Ulster Champ.  It was a great show by both the home riders providing the spectators great entertainment in an excellant venue.

More entertainment was on order with the remaining places all fought out until the line.  Mark Allen attacked Robbie Lamont on the final lap to secure third place, though fourth finisher Lamont was the first of the Vets to cross the line. In a dramatic dash to the line for fifth, BCC's DonTravers just got the verdict over Graham Boyd, the finish that close that the pair were credited with the same time.

Rory Walsh finished on his own in 7th with Newry’s Gary Henning just pipping Banbridge CC rider William Mulligan for eighth, young Mulligan taking second in the Vets class. Tenth place went to Apollo’s Ali McSorley, the last rider not to be lapped by the leaders. One place behind Ali was the third Vet finisher, his dad, Fred. The list of finishers was completed by Banbridge CC riders Simon Curry and Maurice Mayne.

In the MTB race Banbridge CC rider Phil O’Neill overcame a determined challenge from U-16 ace Jonny Beers (XMTB) to win the seven lap encounter. Taking a brilliant scond was Dromara CC’ Derek ‘Deek’ Hanna who left Banbridge CC riders Paul Anderson and Stevie Prentice. In the Womens five lapper, Val O’Neill took another fine win ahead of fellow Banbridge CC riders Harriett Mayne and Nicola Oldham. Matthew Adair (Banbridge CC) grabbed another U-14 win though this time out Orchard Wheelers Mantas Spirgius was a very close second. Third place went to one of Emyvale’s young stars, the all smiling Niall McAree having an excellent ride to the final podium placing. XMTB’s Claire Oakley was the first lady finisher in fourth place.

Mark Downey proved too strong for the competitors in the U-12 race, the Banbridge rider leading throughout to cross the line ahead of Chris Oakley (XMTB) and Dan Runciman (Banbridge CC). Banbridge CC scored again when James Curry won the U-10 race in fine style ahead of Conor Nairn (XMTB) and Rachel Mayne (Banbridge CC). John Buller took the honours in the U-8 race, the young Banbridge CC rider finishing his 2007 season unbeaten. Runner up was Richard Baird with fellow Banbridge CC rider Shannon Buller in third.

Well done to all at Banbridge CC for a great event at a superb venue, and the vegetable soup was very welcome on such a cold day.

Roger Ulster Champ Again! 

Banbridge CC rider Roger Aiken grabbed the Ulster Cyclo Cross title at a wet and windy Kilbroney Park on Saturday. The promoting Newry Wheelers Club had revised the course from previous years to add extra spice to the JC Campbell backed event.
Thirty four riders lined up for the seven lap Ulster Cyclo Cross Championship, the entry featuring an excellent mix of Ulster and Irish riders. The only name missing from the entry was that of Irish Champion Robin Seymour, the Wicklow rider missing out on the action due to having an operation on a tooth two days before the race. From the start the riders made their way around the caravan section of the course before tackling the fast descent down to the bottom of Fairy Glen. At this point on the opening lap Aiken took the lead from Joe McCall (Rocky Mountain/K-Capital), by the end of the opening lap it was Aiken and McCall that had broken clear as the riders passed through the new start/finish area for the first time.
                    
Behind the leaders a brilliant battle had developed for third featuring Liam McGreevy (Banbridge CC), reigning Ulster Champ Lewis Ferguson (Team BHB), Philip Roche (Team Worc), Dave Gill (Team Worc) and Irish Junior Cyclo Cross Champion Sean Downey (Banbridge CC). On lap two Aiken attacked McCall to quickly move into a commanding lead. Behind McCall the battle for third continued with Gill dropping out of the group only to be replaced by English exile Mark Allen (Swords CC). Ending lap two Newry rider Mark McKinley had to pit after sustaining a rear wheel puncture, which saw him drop from 9th to 16th place. Notable movers up the leaderboard at the end of lap two included Robbie Lamont (XMTB), Richard Felle (Team Worc) and Luke Manning (IMBRC).
  
Former Irish Champion Aiken further strengthened his lead on lap three with the mega battle for third not making any impression on McCall in second place. Behind the third place encounter was another top class clash, Gill, Lamont and Conor Campbell (Newry Wheelers) contesting 8th place. On lap four the third place group began to visibly close on McCall, the pace of the group driven on by an impressive Mark Allen. For Irish Junior Cyclo Cross Champion, Sean Downey, the race ended on the fifth lap. During practice the young rider had damaged the rear derailleur on his bike, which he mended before the start of the race. After having been part of the amazing third place group, Downey was forced to retire when the derailleur broke.

The fifth lap also saw the third place group split when Allen launched an attack with only McGreevy responding. By the end of the lap it was McGreevy in third, the Irish Junior MTB XC Champion breaking clear when Allen made a rare mistake and slid off. With the wind gusting and rain driving across the lush green expanses of Kilbroney no one really complained as the action on the course got better and better. Setting out on the final lap Aiken was the clear leader with McCall bravely hanging on to second place. Cheered on by a large gathering of home supporters, McGreevy still held third with Allen only a few seconds back. The other main battle in the top ten was that for 7th between Gill and Lamont.

The 2007 JC Campbell Ulster Cyclo Cross Champs came to an end with Roger Aiken and those awful yellow tights crossing the line to take a resounding victory, made all the more astounding by the fact that the Dromore based rider was suffering from the cold! Two and a half minutes down on Aiken, McCall finished second, a superb ride from one who is rapidly approaching the grand old age of 40. Everyone stood well back as the battle for third entered the finish arena, young Liam McGreevy just holding off Mark Allen as the pair sprinted to the flag. A fine result for the lightly built Banbridge rider who at times must have thought he was going to be blown off his bike by the gusting winds! Lewis Fergsuon, the 2006 Ulster Cyclo Cross Champ, finished on his own in fifth after breaking clear of Philip Roche on the last lap, Roche taking sixth.

Dave Gill won his battle for 7th with Robbie Lamont, though Lamont did have the pleasure of taking the Vets title. Team Worc rider Richard Felle made up for a slow start to eventually finish in 9th , just two seconds down on Lamont, and just over 30 seconds ahead of fellow ‘Worc’ rider Evan Ryan. Ryan had set off on the final lap amidst a four way scrap for tenth and attacked the other three riders to claim a well earned tenth. Of the other three riders, Neill Delahaye (Usher RC) broke away to claim 11th with Luke Manning just pipping Newry’s Conor Campbell to the line for 12th. Graham Boyd (XMTB) was 14th and second in the Junior Class as early puncture victim Mark McKinley eventually finished in 15th. Another ultra close sprint finish saw Gary Henning (Newry Wheelers) just claim 16th from Downhill ace Alan Clogher (TC Racing), this pair the last of the riders not to be lapped by winner Aiken.

In the Ulster Championship placings, Aiken took the gold, McGreevy silver, plus the Junior title, with Ferguson lifting the bronze. Behind Junior winner McGreevy, Graham Boyd was runner up with Newry rider Ronan Byrne the bronze medal winner. As for the old men, Robbie Lamont took the Vets title from Banbridge CC’s William Mulligan with an overjoyed Fred McSorley (Apollo CT) grabbing the bronze. Completing a good day for the Club, Banbridge CC took the Ulster Cyclo Cross Team award. 
          
The four lap MTB support race provided Banbridge CC’s Phil O’Neill with a runaway success with fellow Bann rider Paul Anderson in second. To huge cheers from local supporters, Newry’s John Harty finished third. First lady to finish was Banbridge CC’s Val O’Neill. XMTB’s Jony Beers won the U-16 class before rushing off to see Kanye West in concert. Banbridge CC collected another win with Matthew Adair taking the U-14 race with Mantus Spirgus (Orchard Wheelers) a close second. Mark Downey took the honours in the U-12 race with another Banbridge rider,Dan Runciman in second. Conor Nairn took the U-10 race for XMTB from Banbridge rider Joseph Baird with John Buller once again dominating the U-8 proceedings, winning from his sister Shannon.
       
Well done to all involved with the JC Campbell Ulster Cyclo Cross Championships, especially the marshals who manned the course in such terrible conditions. Many thanks to Chief Time Keeper Wilbur Aiken and to all at Rostrevor GAA for the excellent après race buffet. Next race on the calendar is at Banbridge Academy on 15th December promoted by Banbridge CC.

Report by Andy Potts & Photo's courtesy of Mariam Lamb / Cycling Ulster