The second round of the Cross-country Mountain Bike National Point Series took place on Sunday 10 May 2026 at Ballinastoe in County Wicklow. This was part of the Wicklow Mountain Bike Festival orchestrated by Niall Davis and this crew at Biking.ie. It was a weekend of bikes, bikes and more bikes with a ‘Whip off’ jumping event on Friday evening, an enduro race on Saturday with both the cross-country race and the second round of the IDMS (downhill series) on Sunday. The event village was a hive of activity with the food vans working flat out, live music being played and lots of riders standing and sitting chatting. The sun was shining for the whole weekend but it was very chilly standing among the trees.

All the cross-country categories started on the main forest road with the timing team up on the embankment as well as Paul Joyce on the microphone. The Under 6s and Under 8s had their own course which was the short loop down through the berms and back onto the forest road. All other riders headed further up the hill before dropping into their course. The forest was dry and dusty with a great section of the course behind the timing team for the Under 12s and over – easily reached by the spectators. The schedule for the day started one hour earlier to accommodate the downhill race.

The Under 6s race started the day at 9 am with 11 young riders taking on 2 laps of their course. Goodie bags were available to them and to all the riders up to Under 12s.

Under 6s

The Under 8s had 4 laps of the same course to complete. Hugh Dolan (Ballinasloe Cycling Club) took the win in the boys’ race with Leo Belgrano (Un-Attached Leinster) second, James Fanning third and Adam Ryan fourth. Among the girls Elisa Tyszecka (MBCC) got her second win of the series when she crossed the line first ahead of Alice Bell (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) with Fiadh Bradley (Un-Attached Leinster) third and Bhoomi Megha Raju fourth.

The Under 10s had 3 laps of their course to complete. As per the Under 8s race there were separate start whistles for the boys and the girls with the boys starting on the first whistle. Despite the delay in starting behind the boys, Ríonach Campbell (Square Wheels) managed to pass all the boys on the first lap to lead the race overall. The second girl was Marian Mulvaney (Sliabh Luachra Cycling Club) who was lying fourth overall on the first lap but managed to finish third overall. Among the boys, Naoise Cunningham (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) was leading for the first two laps but faded on the final lap to let Killian McCarthy (Un-Attached Munster) take top step on the boys’ podium. Leon Kelly was second with Naoise having to settle for third.

The Under 12s had a longer course again and had 4 laps to do. Benjamin Cunningham (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) and Lewis Bell (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) were wheel to wheel for the first 3 laps but on the final lap Benjamin pulled away to finish over 40 seconds ahead of Lewis. Nicholas McCarthy (MBCC) was third with Logan Hynes (Bellurgan Wheelers) fourth and Carlos Gonzalez Romero (Killarney Cycling Club) fifth. Pippa Ruddell (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) won the girls’ race. Emilia Tyszecka (MBCC) was second with Cliodhna De Barra (Comeragh CC) third and Sena Harte fourth. Benjamin and Pippa had both won their races at Round 1. A great start to the season for them.

After the usual break for podium presentations it was time for the Under 14s, Under 16s, the 3 women’s categories (Senior 1, Senior 2 and Senior 3) as well as the Senior 4 open race. The Under 14s had a short cut to take off the main course.

In the Under 14s race Rían Watkins (Galway MTB) made his way up from third place on lap 1 to get his second win of the series at the end of lap 3. Fabian Drwal (Lynx Cycling Club) was leading at the end of lap 2 but had to settle for second place. Billy Lord (Breffni Wheelers) was the leader at the end of lap 1 but had to settle for third. Max McGrath (Fermoy Cycling Club) was fourth. There was only one entry in the Under 14 girls’ race. Ailbhe Kelly (Un-Attached Leinster) finished 7th overall.

Kieran Mulvaney (Sliabh Luachra Cycling Club) won the 3 lap Under 16s boys’ race. Ronan Patrick McCarthy (MBCC) was second with Cian Walsh (IMBRC) third and Cillian Dunne fourth. Ava Baker (Breffni Wheelers) got another win for the Under 16 girls with Ciara O’Connor (Drogheda Wheelers) second.

The Senior 3 women competed over 2 laps. Rachel Jones (Ballymena Road Club) finished ahead of Gillian Kennedy (Agivey Cycling Club). The Senior 2 women had 3 laps to do. Jean Wilson (EPIC MTB) took the cheqered flag ahead of Fiona Lally (Team WORC). Catriona Wheeler (Agivey Cycling Club) was third with Hazel Murphy (Cuchulainn CC) fourth and Aine Maccarthy (Sorrento CC) fifth. The Senior 1 women’s race was held over 4 laps. Ciara Macmanus (Un-Attached Ulster) finished well clear of Joanna Bula (Team WORC). In the Senior 4 open race Stephen Millist (Un-Attached Leinster) improved on his second place at Round 1 to take top spot at Round 2. Mark Bell (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) was second with David Ruddell (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) third, Renato Dalzochio (EPIC MTB) fourth and Darren Drennan fifth.

After another break for podium presentations and course practice it was time for the Senior 1, Senior 2, Senior 3 open races as well as the Junior men’s race.

Senior riders

The back of the bunch

Spectators waiting

The Senior 3s had to complete 4 laps. Jonny Adams (McConvey Cycles) and Round 1 winner Fergal Kilkenny (Hush MTB) exchanged positions throughout the race but at the end Jonny managed to get a gap on Fergal. Mark O’Shea (EPIC MTB) was third with Michal Metlicka (Club Rothaiochta Na Sionainne) fourth and Peter Davey (Un-Attached Ulster) fifth.

The Senior 2s had 5 laps to ‘enjoy’. Dominic Drwal (Lynx Cycling Club) lead from start to finish. It was great to see the return of Geoff Robinson (Un-Attached Leinster) who finished second. Richard Felle (Team WORC) was third with John Doris (EPIC MTB) fourth and Colm Bradley (EPIC MTB) fifth.

The Junior men raced over 4 laps. Fionn Crinion (IMBRC) got his second win of the series. Darragh O’Keeffe (EPIC MTB) was second with Rory Whelan (MBCC) third and Alex Lonergan (Un-Attached Leinster) fourth.

The Senior 1 race was held over 6 laps. Nathan Kurensky (Un-Attached Connacht) got himself to the front of the race at the end of lap 2 and held this to the line, getting his first Senior win in the NPS. Gary Donaldson (Caldwell Powerhouse Racing) was second with Graham Boyd (McConvey Cycles) third. Ian O’Connell (Team WORC) was fourth with Michael Burton (Team WORC) fifth. Daniel Brickenden (Team WORC) had been lying second at the end of lap 1 before a mechnical took him out of the race.

A huge thanks to Niall Davis, the Biking.ie crew and to all the volunteers who came together to put on a very memorable event. Thanks to the series sponsors Cycleology and Cup and Cone. The next round will be held at Dunmore Mountain in County Down, hosted by Banbridge Cycling Club on Sunday 24 May 2026. See www.irishxcnps.ie for details.

Commissaire: Martin Grimley

Results
Series table after 2 rounds

Report by Martin Grimley

Fran Hollywood (Facebook) – set 1, set 2
eightynine.media (own website)