Round 3 of the 2025 Cross-country Mountain Bike National Point Series took place on Sunday 1 June at Dunmore Mountain, Dromore. Gareth and Ruth McKee were race directors for this round and delivered another excellent event, even improving on the course from last year. The action was centred around the race village with the host club’s new gazebos on show. Last Lap Café were back to provide refreshments and Paul Joyce was pumping out the tunes and the commentary. The day started overcast with some light rain. This did clear for the start of racing but the weather throughout the day did switch between warm sunshine and blue skies – with stunning views of the Mourne mountains – to dark grey clouds and rain. There was a wind cutting across the open hillside for most of the day, however just as we had finished the final podiums of the day and the club was starting to pack up, there was a 5 minute period of powerful gusts of wind. This wind blew over the gazebos with one of the volunteers – Toni – taking the brunt of a flying gazebo. Wishing Toni a speedy recovery. The village looks a mess afterwards. Well done to all the volunteers for clearing everything up afterwards.

There were riders from all corners of Ireland at this round. Thanks to everyone for coming along. A few of the regulars were missing as they attended the Ulster Youth Road Championships hosted by Foyle CC. There was free camping available on site and practice available on Saturday beforehand. The course itself was in good condition as it had been fairly dry all week.

The Under 6s race got us underway at 10 am. They had their own circuit built behind the registration tent. The four riders had one lap to complete.

The Under 8s course was a short circuit which climbed up from the start line, turned sharply 180 degrees then dropped back over the humps to the finish. They had 6 laps to complete. Evan McTavish (Western Lakes CC) took his third straight win in the boys’ race. Scottie Lockhart (Un-Attached Leinster) was second with Charlie McCarter (Un-Attached Connacht) third and Killian Logan (Omagh Wheelers Cycling Club) fourth. Elisa Tyszecka (MBCC) also took her third win of the series in the girls’ race. Zara Aiken (Banbridge CC) was second with Elianna Logan (Omagh Wheelers Cycling Club) third.

The Under 10s course was longer than the Under 8s but they also had 6 laps to complete. Jaxon Jennings (Bear Cycling) got his hat-trick of wins in the boys’ race. Josh Ruddell (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) was second with Thomas Crymble (Apollo Cycling Team) getting ahead of Finn McTavish (Western Lakes CC) to finish third and fourth respectively. In the girls’ race Ríonach Campbell (Square Wheels) got her second win of the series. Marian Mulvaney (Sliabh Luachra Cycling Club) lifted the silver medal and Pippa Ruddell (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) rounding off the podium taking bronze.

The Under 12s course included a new technical section this year. They also had 6 laps to complete. Benjamin Cunningham (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) took a comfortably win in the boys’ race, his second win of the series. Lewis Bell (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) was second with Liam McGeown third. Aoife Campbell (Square Wheels) broke her chain just after the start. She did get going again and managed to win the Under 12 girls’ race. Amelia Martin (Belfast City BMX Club) was second with Eve Harrison (Banbridge CC) third.

After the usual break for podium presentations and course practice it was the turn of the Under 14s, Under 16s, Senior 1 women, Senior 2 women and the Senior 4 open race.

The Under 14s had a reduced version of the full course to race around. They were the first to appear at the finish line after lap 1. Leading the Under 14 boys was James Cunningham (Team WORC) with Oscar Moran (EPIC MTB) on his wheel. Oscar managed to pass James by the end of lap 2 and went on to take the chequered flag with James less than 30 second behind Oscar. Cian Walsh (IMBRC) was third with Rían Watkins (Galway MTB) fourth and Billy Lord (Breffni Wheelers) fifth. In the Under 14 girls’ race Ciara O’Connor (Drogheda Wheelers) took the win ahead of Maria McGeown.

The Under 16 boys’ race had three leaders across the three laps of the full course. At the end of lap 1 it was James Geary (Fermoy Cycling Club) who lead, at the end of lap 2 it was Kieran Mulvaney (Sliabh Luachra Cycling Club) out in front and then at the finish it was Joshua Loos (Seven Springs CC Loughrea) who took the chequered flag with a roar. James Geary was second with Darragh Murphy (Rostrevor Mountain Bike Club) third, Kieran Mulvaney was fourth with Evan Tosh (Ballymena Road Club) fifth. There were no entries in the Under 16 girls’ race.

The Senior 4 open race was held over 3 laps. William Rock (EPIC MTB) lead after the first lap but Mark Henry (Cuchulainn CC) took the lead and held it to the finish. Current series leader John Moran (EPIC MTB) was second with William Rock having to settle for third. Doruk Balkan (EPIC MTB) was fourth with Justin Doherty (Dunloy CC) fifth – thankful to make it round unscathed after breaking his collar bone during practice at this race last year.

The Senior 2 women’s race was lead from start to finish by Fiona Lally (EPIC MTB). Catriona Wheeler (Agivey Cycling Club) finished second after the 3 laps with Sinead Greenan (Galway MTB) third and Aine Maccarthy (Sorrento CC) fourth.

The Senior 1 women took on 4 laps. Joanna Bula (Team WORC) got her first win of the series. Tara Brennan (Team Giant Dublin) was second with Leah McCarthy (K Capital Rocky Mountain) third.

After another break in proceedings for the podium and course practice, it was the turn of the Senior 1, Senior 2, Senior 3 and the single entry in the Junior men’s race – Ryan Daly (Scott Racing IRL). Ryan started at the same time as the Senior 1 open riders but was the first to appear at the end of lap 1 setting the fastest lap time of the day, just under 13 minutes. Ryan had 4 laps to complete.

Senior 1 at start line

Leading the Senior 1 open race for the first 2 of 6 laps was David Montgomery (Spellman-Dublin Port). However, on lap 3 disaster struck with a puncture and a slow trip back to the pits. David dropped back to 8th. Taking over the lead was John Buller (Banbridge CC), a newcomer to this year’s series but not a newcomer to cross-country racing or to Dunmore. John was last here back in 2009 when he won the Under 10s race at the National Championships (see results here –  There are a few names on that list still racing). John went onto win the race much to the delight of the host club. Chasing hard was the Irish mountain bike legend Robin Seymour (Team WORC), twice the age of John Buller but still a powerful athlete. Nathan Kurensky (Dan Morrissey Pissei Cycling Team) got his first podium of the series taking third. Sean Feeney (Team WORC) was fourth. David Montgomery managed to work his way back up to fifth.

The Senior 2 open race was held over 5 laps. Glyn O’Brien (Un-Attached Ulster) was leading comfortably at the end of lap 1 but a double puncture took him out of the race. Michael Burton (Team WORC) took over the lead from Glyn but it was Ian O’Connell (Team WORC) who came to the front on lap 3 and held this to the line. Michael finished second with Colm Bradley (EPIC MTB) taking third, which kept him at the top of the series table. Barry Kellett (Dromara Cycling Club) was fourth with Nick Lannoote (Team WORC) fifth and Fergal Power (Un-Attached Leinster) sixth. Don Travers (Banbridge CC) was featured on the poster for the event and finished a respectable seventh. David O’Neill (Un-Attached Ulster) returned from Scotland to this race as he ‘didn’t want to miss it’. David finished eighth.

There were 4 laps for the Senior 3 open racers to tackle. This was the biggest field of the day with 31 riders. Unlike the drama in the Senior 1 and Senior 2 race, Emil Tyszecki (MBCC) just got on with business leading from start to finish. Jamie Mottran was second with Peter Davey (Un-Attached Ulster) third, Michal Metlicka (Club Rothaiochta Na Sionainne) fourth, Enda McLoughlin (Un-Attached Connacht) fifth and Fergal Kilkenny sixth.

A huge thanks to all at Banbridge Cycling Club for hosting this Round of the National Point Series. We are very grateful to the landowner for the use of Dunmore mountain. Thanks to Cycleology for sponsoring prizes – Alistair was on site handing out the medals.

Thanks to Solid Gear Footwear for providing the caps and buffs for the series.

Registration is open for Round 4 which takes place on Sunday 15 June 2025 in Clonmel hosted by Clonmel MTB. See www.irishxcnps.ie for details.

Commissaire: Martin Grimley

Results here

Series table after 3 rounds here

Report by Martin Grimley

Photos
Banbridge Cycling Club (Facebook) – here

Paul Hannigan (Facebook) – here