Weekend Cyclocross Report

Date: Saturday 22 October 2011
Event: Supercross Cup Round 2
Location:  Swords
Host club: Swords CC

Round 2 of the Supercross Cup series took place in the pleasant surroundings of River Vally Park in Swords on a beautiful but blustery autumn day.
Racing got underway at 11.30 with the 6 lap, B race. The Cuchulainn club was well represented with five riders lining up on the start line. Adding to his 2^nd placing in the first round, Gary Sheils was to go one better and take top of the podium with a superb performance. Taking the lead on lap one and holding it to the finish in a time of 43:29. Hot on his tubs was follow clubman/TransAlper, Seamus McEvoy also in his first season of Cyclocross, moved through the field, from fourth after the first lap, finishing a strong second, in a time of 44:15 a mere 46 seconds adrift. . For the spectators the big draws were the plank jumps, where the riders were able to showcase their skills in either bunny hopping the boards or in the ability to dismount, lift their bike and then remount at pace. The other big draw on this course was a slippery, off-camber left hand turn which seemed to challenge many of the riders and caused numerous unplanned dismounts!!
In his first outing of the CX season, Karl Dolan bagged himself a top ten finish in a time of 46:21, the stingers of hills proving little difficulty to the big man !! Young Aaron McCann was to be the next club man home in 20^th position in a time of 48:56. Another day spoiled by punctures for Declan McCabe, picking up some thorns from a recently cut hedge at the start line caused havoc with many riders picking up a dreaded puncture. In the A Race, held over 8 laps, Johnny McCabe came in a creditable 16^th position in a time of 57:41. Robin Seymour from Team WORC took the win.

Date: Sunday 23 October 2011
Event: Ulster Cyclocross Series  Round 3
Location:  Larne
Host club:  Madigan  CC

Two Cuchulainn CC riders braved to monsoon/paddy field conditions that were to be found at Seacourt, in Larne for the 3^rd round of the Ulster CycloX Series.

At 1pm the main event took place, the A cyclo-cross race, with 30 riders lined up and gridded on the start line for the 10 lap race. When the whistle blew, the mass of riders sprinted up along the rain socked pitch to the first right hand turn into the course. From the line Roger Aiken (Banbridge CC), shot off with Ray O’Shaughnessy and JohnnyMcCabe and the rest of the field in hot pursuit. O’Shaughnessy moved through to second position until a technical  put an end to his chances, finishing in 5^th position. McCabe finishing in the top 10 and taking the first Super Vet scalp for his troubles.
Roger took the lead after the first cornor and held this to the line putting on a fine display of riding composure in the atrocious but very enjoyable conditions (‘it will make you stronger lad !! if you survive the pleurisy). A big thank you to the hard working members of Team Madigan for setting up and running an excellent event.

Next up is round 3 of the Supercross Cup at Corkagh, Dublin, on Saturday 5^th, November. Then on Sunday 6^thits round 4 of the Ulster Cycolcross Series at Moria Demesne, Belfast.

Report by Johnny McCabe