Mountainbiking & CycloX
Recent Results for David O'Neill <report>
- Sunday 11th October -East Antrim CycloX - 2nd
- Sunday 30th August 2009 MTB Marathon Bantry 3rd Overall.
- Saturday 19th September 2009 MTB Marathon Carlingford 5th Overall & 1st Expert.
Cyclocross 2009
NPS RD 5-MAGHERAMORNE, LARNE - 24th May
Juniors
1 Jonathan Beers EAST ANTRIM CC
2 William Boyd Xmtb McConvey Cycles
3 Jonathan Maunsell MBCC
Experts
1 Raymond O'Shaughnessy Bikepure
2 David O Neill Swords CC
3 Kevin Stanley IMBRC
4 Dave O'Brien IMBRC
5 Ross Galway Dromara Cycling Club
6 David Askin Lucan Cycling Road Club
The league is still wide open with 3 rounds to go.
Belfast 31 May.
Dublin 14 June.
Wicklow 12 July.
Video of last years race here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gffFP2Ms9Hc&feature=related
Location: Magheramorne Quarry near Larne in County Antrim, promoted by Team Madigan. This vast expanse, owned by the Lafarge Company, formerly the Blue Circle Cement Works, was first used in May 2007 for a round of the NPS and again last year.
The venue may not be what is classed as 'normal' mtb terrain, no forest etc, however the course features a number of technical challenges.
Its a physically tough but enjoyable circuit.
Sunday 3rd May 2009
MTB XC National Points Series 3
Carlingford Forest
David O'Neill followed up his win in round 2
with a 2nd place in round 3 !!
Hi Hugh,
I managed to win the second round of the National Points Series in Ballinastoe yesterday!! Conditions were very heavy going with slippy climbs and muddy descents, not to mention the sticky heat in the forested sections.
The skillsets learned in cyclocross over the winter, really helped me on the day. That and the fact that I went from the line, and got out of sight of the chasing bunch as soon as I could.
By the end of the race I was passing some of the back markers, which was a novelty.
A rare day in Wicklow.
Result MTB NPS Round 2 Ballinastoe, Co Wicklow, 19 April 2009
1st place Expert Race David O Neill McNally Swords
Next race is Round 3 in Carlingford in 2 weeks time. I missed the first round due to illness, so I need to have a good pop at this one as well to get the points.
Regards
David
PS Swords CC Junior Adam Lawler was also racing but punctured on Lap 3 and younger Jon (Swords CC youngest member?) competed at U10. Both riders rode some CycloX over the winter and are regulars at Ballinastoe ........when not at Sundrive Track!!
MTB Season 2009
OK you dare-devils, (and wannabe dare-devils).
Some of you were asking about this.
MTB Season kicks off on Sun April 19th in Ballinastoe (Roundwood) Co Wicklow.
See www.mtbireland.com for details or www.irishxcmtb.com for race dates.
You are more than welcome on the day to give it a try.
Just say its your first race, and start at the back of the field.
This course is suitable for beginners, and looks similar to this one here;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gffFP2Ms9Hc&feature=channel_page
Yes you will fall off.
Yes it will hurt if you fall off, but not as bad as you think it will.
Its all part of the fun.
Oh, and you will need a mountain bike, with big tyres!
Regards David O'Neill
All the best for 2009. Keep the rubber side down.
<What is CycloX - check out this video!!>
Mountain Bike Cross Country Season 2008
Photos courtesy of Shay Barry(IMBRC)
The Irish MTB XC Season kicks of with a 4 race International series, the K-Capital Cup, on March 9th. This is the second year that this series has been held, and brings riders from Europe, Cyprus, and Canada, to the slippery trails of Ireland, in the springtime.
|
| The winner of this years’ series will go forward to represent Ireland in the Olympics, in Beijing, later in the year. Mark Allen & myself will be entering these events, with the aim of building form, for later in the season. These early races are fast, muddy, and very challenging. Over 270 riders took part last year, and competition for trail space is tough. After the K-Capital, the Irish National Points Series (NPS) commences, and 4 rounds have been confirmed so far. There will most likely be 1 or 2 further races added, in the coming weeks. | |||||||
The NPS is the national MTB League; where riders accumulate points, if placed in the first 8 over the line. The best results of 5 of the 6 rounds counting towards your final total.
Consistency
Consistency is the key to doing well in the NPS events. Riders with good endurance, a strong mental focus, and a reliable bike, always have the edge.
The NPS winners in each category get a shiny trophy from Cycling Ireland! The highlight of the season takes place in July, with the Irish National MTB Championships. This will be, as always, a fiercely contested event.
 |
Up North |
Race Categories
MTB Categories are as follows:
Elite 2.5hrs race
Experts & Masters* (*over 30s) 2 hrs race
Sports 1 hr race
Vets & Juniors 1.5 hrs race
Various Underage Cats. 30 mins or so
In 2007, 8 Swords riders entered both Cross Country and cyclocross events, and all emerged unscathed. The atmosphere at all events is friendly and laid back. Children & families are very welcome.
___________________________________________________
Results & Reports from 2008
Cyclo Cross Race Saturday Dec 20th
Report by Conor McGrane
<Report & Photos on IrishCycling.com>
Race Distance: 21.7km (8 laps each 2.7km)
Robin Seymour triumphed again today at the Christmas Cross 2008 race, the first ever cyclo cross event staged by Swords CC. This race was staged over 8 laps on lands owned by Fingal county council at Rogerstown Estuary, Turvey, Donabate. It was run in muddy, wet but relatively mild conditions.
The course was a mix of gavel, fireroad, single track and grass. The start was fast and furious with the field lined out almost immediately. At the end of the first lap Robin Seymour (WORC), Conor Campbell(Newry Wheelers) and David Gill(WORC) had pulled away from the rest of the field. On lap 2 Conor Campbell managed to carve out a small gap and was in the lead. Lap 4 was where the decisive move was made. With powerful riding and an impressive display of bike handing The multiple Irish champion and Olympian pulled away to lead by a full minute. Behind Conor Campbell and David Gill were fighting out a close and hard fought battle. Drew McGinley was riding a lone but strong race pulling away from the rest of the field.
It finished in this order with “Mr MTB” finished 3 minutes ahead of Conor Campbell who ran to the finish from the final obstacle to finish 10 seconds ahead of David Gill. Drew McGinley finished clear on his own to finish a strong 4th. Roadie Colm Aherne (Orwell) was a surprise but impressive 5th. 6th was Noel Carr who put in a solid performance to narrowly beat Luke Manning.
The first rider from Swords to finish was Barry Byrne who was riding cyclo cross for the first time since the late ‘80’s. Sean Halpin was unfortunate to suffer a mechanical on lap1. The underage race was convincingly won by Graham Fallon (Sundrive Track Club) from another Crumlin rider, Justin Kennedy with Barry’s son Liam finishing a strong but exhausted 3rd.
Overall the event went of well. The land (ex land fill) got very muddy but held up well as the race went on. Swords would like to thank Event organiser David O Neill for his Trojan efforts in getting the venues and race organised. Paul Deans (and his Lion of Flanders flags), Sam McArdle, Bernie McNally, Andrew Maudsley, Hugh Byrne and other Swords volunteers (I forgot the name of the new member who marshalled the last corner and cleared ½ a kilometre of building tape) helped the event rub smoothly. We would also like to thank Fingal County council for their help and support. We would also like to thank Ritchies Bike shop for providing the high quality spot prizes and to long standing Swords CC sponsor McNally Joinery.
<Photos Courtesy of Conor McGrane>
<More photos Courtesy of Bernic McNally>
Overall results
1 Robin Seymour 00:58:33
2 Conor Campbell 01:01:49
3 David Gill 01:01:59
4 Drew McKinley 01:04:19
5 Colm Aherne 01:06:05
6 Noel Carr 01:06:23
7 Luke Manning
8 Scott Hannon
9 Robin Mooney
10 Fred McSorley
11 Peter Bissett
12 Barry Byrne (1st Swords)
13 Tony Solan
14 Mark Solan
15 David Askin
16 Paddy Daly
17 Aiden Mc Donald
18 Sean Halpin
02/11/08 Dromara Cyclocross
Hi Hugh, Mark & I made the 1st eight again last Sunday. Mark was 2nd to Liam McGreevy in a controversial finish, and I managed to nab an 8th place on the last lap, with some assertive riding, on the final descent. Regards David
Report from Andy Potts Cyclingulster.com: "It was at the end of the eighth lap that Young McGreevy climbed the steps, crossed the bridge and was told he had finished. Close behind Allen charged up the steps like a man possessed. He had seen the Whippet crash and saw his chance to try and mount a last lap charge. Indeed as Allen came up the steps he reckoned that he could catch the youngster on the final lap. Mark was more than surprised to find that the race had finished. The timekeeper declared that the two leaders had only completed eight laps….McDonald had caught Boyd and he thought there was one lap to go, the race ended in a farcical situation, a case of too many unofficial timekeepers.
The chequered flag was hung out and the result declared at the end of eight laps. The SilverFox McConville took fifth with William Mulligan charging past Tree Trunks Lamont to claim sixth, Mr Mulligan in a hurry home to see the Brazilian GP and a Ferrari World Champion…NOT! Swords CC rider Dave O’Neill had a brilliant ride to eighth, inflicting a rare defeat over IMBRC’s Luke Manning. Next came Cuchulainn’s Jarlath Farmer, Wild Willy Boyd and Fast Fred McSorley. The Ladies winner was Francine Meehan, Tullamore CTC. An unfortunate end to the race but after a few minutes all was ok, the sun kept shinning and the soup and rolls went down a treat."
Dromara Cyclocross Open 2 Nov 2008
Result
1, Liam McGreevy, Banbridge CC
2, Mark Allen, Swords CC
3, Aiden McDonald, Apollo CT
4, Graham Boyd, XMTB
5, Peter McConville, Newry Wheelers
6, William Mulligan, Banbridge CC
7. Robert Lamont XMTB
8. Dave O’Neill Swords CC
26/10/08
Mark Allen wins in Team Madigam CycloX
The third open race in the 2008 calendar was held on a windswept and muddy course in Carrickfergus, last Sunday. Mark Allen rode another blinder to grab 1st place, and I followed up with an 8th place. Happy days. Desperately Cold, Muddy, and Agricultural. Ridden with no gloves. A real hard man's course.
Report and pictures on www.cyclingulster.com.
David O'Neill
<You Tube video>
bravenet.com