Dromara sparkle at last round of Ulster Cyclocross Series

29 November 2017

IT’S hard to believe that the Dromara CC crew headed to Donard Park on Sunday to take part in the last round of the Ulster Cyclocross Series.

It seems like only yesterday people were talking about needing more training/fitness/skills for the start of the cyclocross season. Shimna Wheelers put on a testing course for all the riders including a nice sandpit to tackle.

It was a chilly morning, but that didn’t stop the hardy U-6s kicking the event off followed by the U-8s.

This is where Dromara CC’s Aoife Kellett cemented her tremendous season with a second place.

As always, Dromara’s James Armstrong, who has also had a great season, battled hard for a podium spot in the U-10 race.

James had a masterful start, always going the B of the Bang and he got stuck into a tight battle for top spot. With the laps ticking down he produced a great last lap and snatch second place.

The U-16 boys’ race is a tough and competitive event and it takes a competitive person to even to put your wheel on the start line.

Thankfully, Dromara CC have two of the very best to take on the challenge. Ben Wilson was already talking about the 2018 MTB season as he checked out the course.

Fraser Harrower was looking forward to this course with the draggy uphills. Both lads put in a great effort and Ben claimed fifth place and ran out of laps as he hunted down fourth place.

Fraser put in one of his best performances this season on this fast slippery course and took seventh place.

Mick Foley, who has been flying the flag for Dromara CC in the MTB race, was putting in a battling performance to take fifth place with fourth tantalisingly close.

The ladies’ race saw Diane Wilson back on the saddle again and battling it out with several ladies for the top spot. After a slow start, Diane had to work her way back through the crowd, but ran out of laps to reach the podium and had to settle with sixth place.

The B race saw a tribe of Dromara riders take to the start line. Plenty of opportunity for bragging rights to be secured for the end of season.

Brian Wilson, who has been producing excellent performances over the past few weeks, showed that his secret training has paid off with sixth place.

He was hunted down by Darren McCann and Paul Mawhirt as they battled each other. Darren took 10th place and Paul was 11th. Adi Booth took 15th place with Robert Davison 17th and Brian Kellett 18th. This meant that was six Dromara riders in the top 20.

Mike Barton has been slowly getting better and better in each race and took 25th place. John McGuigan took 39th place and he looked delighted to have completed his comeback.

In the A race Barry Kellett got back on the podium with a hard-fought third place. Behind him, Jack Ferguson was getting well settled into the A race as he claimed 26th place with another B racer Neil Armstrong showing he has also settled in the A race taking 28th place.

Graham Smyth was back in the cyclocross scene again and put in a strong performance to take 38th with Richard chasing him home in 39th place.

Many thanks to Shimna CC for putting on a professional run course, as always. With the Ulster Cyclocross series over, the Ulster Championships take place next week before the final cyclocross race being the Nationals in January.

Finally, it was a great pleasure to finally hand over a cheque for £2,000 to the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team.

This money was raised at the Dromara Hilly this year and Dromara CC would like to thank everyone that took part and helped raise this much needed money for the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team.

Dromara CC’s David Hawthorn had to call on the services of the MMRT and we join him in his delight at giving something back.

Tweets by @TheDownRecorder