The fifth and final round of the 2022 Cross-country Mountain Bike National Point Series (NPS) took place on Sunday 3 July at Mullaghmeen Forest in County Westmeath. This venue had been used before, back in 2004, so it was great to return for another off-road cycle race. Host club Mullaghmeen Mountain Bike Club had put in a great effort on both the course and the event set up. Unfortunately the lead up to the event had been quite wet so the course had an additional challenge of some slippery mud. Race day remained dry for most of the day but overcast with only an occasional glimpse of the sun. Parking and registration was in a nearby field with the main race area a few hundred metres along the forest road. There was a short course for the Under 6s, a climb and descent type course for the Under 8s and 10s, an extended course for the Under 12s which joined in with the Under 8s/10s course, a reduced version of the main course for the Under 14s and Senior 3 women and then, of course, the main course itself. The start and finish were on the forest road.

The first race of the day was for the Under 6s who had at least 5 laps of their short course. Well done to the 4 young riders who seemed to enjoy their racing. Next up were the Under 8s who had two laps to complete of their course. Benjamin Cunningham (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) took his fourth win of the series in the boys’ race. Logan McAreavey (Cuchulainn CC) was second with George Cleverley (Sliabh Luachra Cycling Club) third. In the girls’ race Fiadh Craig (VC Glendale) got her second win of the series when she finished ahead of Ríonach Campbell (Square Wheels) with Ciara McCool (Square Wheels) third and Marian Mulvaney (Sliabh Luachra Cycling Club) fourth.
For the overall series
U8 Boys – 1st Benjamin Cunningham, 2nd Logan McAreavey and 3rd Nicholas McCarthy (MBCC)
U8 Girls – 1st Ríonach Campbell, 2nd Ciara McCool, 3rd Fiadh Craig

The Under 10 completed 4 laps of the same course as the Under 8s. There was only one girl in the race Aoife Campbell (Square Wheels), who started at the back of the 8 boys but managed to thread her way through to the front of the race and took the overall win. First boy was series leader Rían Watkins (Un-Attached Munster) with Jake McKee (VC Glendale) second and Jacob Robinson (Bray Wheelers) third.
For the overall series
U10 Boys – 1st Rían Watkins, 2nd Jake McKee and 3rd Jacob Robinson (MBCC)
U10 Girls – 1st Aoife Campbell, 2nd Julia Piorek (Limerick Mountain Biking Club), 3rd Emily Acheson (Strabane Lifford Cycling Club)

The Under 12s course went further up the forest road. The boys completed 5 laps with the girls completing 4 laps. James Cunningham (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) and Darragh Murphy (Rostrevor Mountain Bike Club) were wheel to wheel for the first 4 laps but then Darragh put on a charge and pulled away from James. Eunan Campbell (Square Wheels) finished third which secured him the overall series first place. Aoife Craig (VC Glendale) won the girls’ race when she finished well ahead of Carmen Buchowicz (Team Caldwell Cycles) and Ava Baker (Breffni Wheelers).
For the overall series
U12 Boys – 1st Eunan Campbell, 2nd Darragh Murphy and 3rd James Cunningham
U12 Girls – 1st Aoife Craig, 2nd Carmen Buchowicz, 3rd Ava Baker

After a short break for podium presentations and course practice it was the turn of the Under 14s, Under 16s, Senior 2 women, Senior 3 women and Senior 4 men. The Under 14 boys used the reduced track and had to complete 4 laps. Curtis McKee (Scott Bright Motor Group) made it 5 wins from 5 rounds with his team mate Ryan Daly (Scott Bright Motor Group) taking second and Fionn Crinion (IMBRC) taking third place. The Under 14 girls had 3 laps of the reduced course to race and Cara Suckling (VC Glendale) made it her 5th win from 5. Aisha Gannon (Breffni Wheelers) was second with Lacey Aicken-Johnson (North Down CC) third and Maeve McCool (Square Wheels) fourth.
For the overall series
U14 Boys – 1st Curtis McKee, 2nd Ryan Daly and 3rd Caleb McGreevy
U14 Girls – 1st Cara Suckling, 2nd Lacey Aicken-Johnson, 3rd Mia Geary

Putting in another very strong performance was Conor Murphy (Rostrevor Mountain Bike Club) who took the win in the Under 16 boys’ race which was held over 3 laps of the full course. Oisin May (Scott Bright Motor Group) was second with Ben O’Keeffe (Killarney Cycling Club) completing the podium. Greta Lawless (Team WORC) won the Under 16 girls’ race which was her 4th win from 4 rounds. Faith Robinson (Bray Wheelers) was second with Lauren Murray (TC Racing) third.
For the overall series
U16 Boys – 1st Conor Murphy, 2nd Ryan McCarthy and 3rd Ben O’Keeffe
U16 Girls – 1st Greta Lawless, 2nd Faith Robinson, Joint 3rd Aoibhe Murray and Lauren Murray

The Senior 2 women’s category was won by Ellen Murray (TC Racing) with Ciara Nolan (Team Giant Dublin) taking second place.
For the overall series
Senior 2 women – 1st Caroline Martinez, 2nd Ciara Nolan, Joint 3rd Annie Roche and Ellen Murray

Aine Mac Carthy (Sorrento CC) won the Senior 3 women’s race with Kelly Robinson finishing second and Michelle Irvine taking third. The Senior 4 men’s race was won by Jason Travers with Marcin Wrobel (Un-Attached Leinster) taking second and Paul Beattie taking third.

Just after 2 pm the final races of the day took place. Lined up were the Senior 1 men, Junior men, Senior 2 men, Senior 1 women and Senior 3 men.

Julian Kennedy Ripon (Northwest MTB) got his first win of the series in the Senior 3 men’s race which was held over 3 laps of the full course. This secured Julian the overall series title for this category. Jason Malone (Cuchulainn CC) finished second with David McKee (VC Glendale) third, Stephen Doherty (Killarney Cycling Club) fourth and Emmet Brien (EPIC MTB/Expert Cycles) fifth.
For the overall series
Senior 3 men – 1st Julian Kennedy Ripon, 2nd David McKee, 3rd Emmet Brien

The Senior 2 men’s race was held over 4 laps and it was Robert McKenna (Bray Wheelers) who crossed the finish line first. Colm McGarvey (EPIC MTB/Expert Cycles) was second with Daniel Brickenden third and John Doris (EPIC MTB/Expert Cycles) fourth. Mark McGlynn (Killarney Cycling Club) just needed to finish fifth to secure the overall title and managed to do that.
For the overall series
Senior 2 men – 1st Mark McGlynn, 2nd Robert McKenna, 3rd Eric Downey (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club)

There were two entries for the Junior men’s race but Scott Gallagher (Northwest MTB) picked up a rear wheel puncture just before the start of the race and couldn’t get it fixed so didn’t start.
Cillian O’Shea (Verge Sport PI Cycles) went on to complete 4 laps without incident, which was an improvement on his last race (Round 2 Killarney) where he got a DNF (Did not finish).
For the overall series
Junior men – 1st Scott Gallagher, 2nd Travis Harkness (VC Glendale), 3rd Jake White (IMBRC)

Caoimhe May (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) got her 4th win from 4 races this season and took the overall series title for Senior 1 women. Joanna Bula (Un-Attached Leinster) was second after the 4 laps and finished second overall in the series. Niamh McKiverigan (Scott Bright Motor Group) was third at this race and picked up third overall.

David Montgomery (Spellman-Dublin Port) was proudly wearing his national champion’s jersey and was leading after lap 1. After lap 2 it was Colm Mullen (Team WORC) who crossed the line first but Colm managed to crash on his third lap breaking his handlebars which had him retire from the race. His second retirement in a row. David Montgomery managed to get himself back up to first place for the rest of the race, always working hard to keep ahead of Gareth McKee (Cycleology Racing Team). Gareth’s second place secured him the overall series title. Darragh McCarter (Spellman-Dublin Port) finished 3rd, his best position of the series. Paul McCarter (Spellman-Dublin Port) was 4th which was enough to give him the overall second position. Lee Clarke (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) was fifth which left him with 3rd in the overall series.

Thanks to all the volunteers from Mullaghmeen MTB Club for putting on a great event. Thanks to the Coillte for the use of the venue and to Scott cycles for sponsoring the series and providing more great prizes for the winners and a water bottle to all the youth riders. The overall series prizes will be given out at the National Championships which are due to take place on the weekend of 23/24 July 2022 at Bellurgan Park, County Louth. Details can be found on www.offroadcyclingireland.ie

Commissaire: Martin Grimley

Race results: here

Overall series table after 5 rounds: here

Race report by Martin Grimley

Photo links
Cycling Ireland (Facebook) – here