Sunday 7 June 2026 saw Round 4 of the Cross-country Mountain Bike National Point Series hosted by Fermoy Cycling Club at Glenskeskin Wood, Kilworth, County Cork. This was the fourth year the club has used this venue with the number of registered riders in line with expected figures from the last 2 years. Heavy rain on Friday left the trails with puddles and mud but there were still long sections of beautiful trails in the forest which were unaffected. Race weekend was fairly dry as most of the rain had moved across Ireland through the midlands and around Dublin. On raceday there were only a couple of short, light showers to interrupt what was a nice weekend overall. The pizza van was back wafting wonderful smells across the race village. Paul Joyce was back behind the microphone providing more great commentary.

There were a few new sections in the course layout with the first being through the ‘Jungle’ which was more of a swamp given the puddles. The classic sections like Roller Coaster and Tunnel were back and running well. The slippery surface did reduce the lap times compared to last year’s event.

It should be noted that this forest is not for general, recreational mountain biking outside of sanctioned events. We ask that riders adhere to this so as not to jeopardise future events.

The first race of the day was for the Under 6s. They started on the main start/finish, went around the back of the timing tent and then completed two loops of their course among the trees. Well done to the 5 young riders.

Next up were the Under 8s. They did a similar start as the Under 6s but they had a longer loop in the forest for their 2 laps. In the boys’ race Hugh Dolan (Ballinasloe Cycling Club) got his second win of the series. Adam Ryan was second, Ollie Anderton third and Conor McGrath (Fermoy Cycling Club) fourth. In the girls’ race Alice Bell (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) got her second win of the series. Elisa Tyszecka (MBCC) was second, Fiadh Bradley (Un-Attached Leinster) was third with Seana Rose Kennedy fourth.

The Under 10s started further back along the forest road. They needed more distance to split up the riders before they too turned behind the timing tent to go into their section of the trees. Their course brought them back out onto the forest road. Ríonach Campbell (Square Wheels) continued her impressive season taking her fourth win and passing all the boys. Marian Mulvaney (Sliabh Luachra Cycling Club) and Aisling Elliott (Cork BMX Club) completed the podium for the girls’ race, taking second and third respectively. In the boys’ race there was a sprint finish with Naoise Cunningham (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) just getting ahead of Killian McCarthy (Un-Attached Munster). Evan McTavish (Western Lakes CC) was third with Senan O’Brien (Square Wheels) fourth.

The Under 12s took on the long drag up the forest road, turned right and then right again into a lovely flowing section through the trees. They then followed the Under 10s route around the next section. As per all the rounds so far, out front in the boys’ race was Benjamin Cunningham (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) and Lewis Bell (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) sticking onto each other’s wheel. They did this for the first 2 laps but on lap 3 Benjamim pulled away from Lewis to finish 10 seconds ahead giving him 4 wins from 4 rounds. Never far behind in third place was Jaxon Jennings (Bear Cycling). George Cleverley (Sliabh Luachra Cycling Club) made his first appearance in the series with a respectable fourth place with Nicholas McCarthy (MBCC) fifth. In the girls’ race Emilia Tyszecka (MBCC) finished ahead of Roisin Elliott (Cork BMX Club) with Faye Kiely (Fermoy Cycling Club) third and Cliodhna De Barra (Comeragh CC) fourth.

starting straight – long drag up the forest road

After a break for podium presentations and course practice it was the turn of the Under 14s, Under 16s, Senior 1 women, Senior 2 women and Senior 4 open riders to line up. There were no entries for the Senior 3 women’s race.

The Under 14s has a shorter lap to complete and they were the first back to the timing tent at the end of their first lap. Leading the way was Rían Watkins (Galway MTB) in the boys’ race. Rían went on to win the 3 lap race making this his fourth win from four rounds. Fabian Drwal (Lynx Cycling Club) finished second with Cathal McTavish (Western Lakes CC) rounding off the podium in third. Sisters Grace and Ellie Kennedy were the only two in the Under 14 girls’ race and they had their own sprint finish which Grace won.

In the 3 lap Under 16 boys’ race James Geary (Fermoy Cycling Club) was out on his own and took the win, much to the joy of the host club. Cian Walsh (IMBRC) was second with Ronan Patrick McCarthy (MBCC) third. Ciara O’Connor (Drogheda Wheelers) was the only entry in the Under 16 girls’ race and completed her 2 lap race.

The Senior 4 open race saw another win for Stephen Millist (Un-Attached Leinster) making this his third win in a row. Stephen Hickey (Killarney Cycling Club) made his way up from fifth to second. Ciaran Campbell (Square Wheels) was third (despite taking a wrong turn around the timing tent). Michael Coghlan (Killarney Cycling Club) was fourth and John Moran (EPIC MTB) was fifth.

Fiona Lally (Team WORC) got her second win in the Senior 2 women’s race. Catriona Wheeler (Agivey Cycling Club) was second with Hazel Murphy (Cuchulainn CC) third. Joanna Bula (Team WORC) was the only entry in the Senior 1 women’s race and set some very consistent lap times across her 3 laps.

At 2 pm the final race got underway. On the first whistle went the Senior 1 open and Junior men. The second whistle was for the Senior 2 riders and the third whistle was for the Senior 3 riders, 2 minutes behind the Senior 2s. They all used the full course.

Senior 3s

Just two Junior men racing with Darragh O’Keeffe (EPIC MTB) finishing ahead of Alex Lonergan (Un-Attached Leinster). The Senior 3 race was held over 4 laps and saw Jonny Adams (McConvey Cycles) get his second win of the series finishing well up among the Senior 2s. Colm O’Byrne (IVCA Cycling Club) was second with Daniel Kedney (Bandon Cycling Club) third, William McAdam (Un-Attached Ulster) fourth and Tadhg Debarra (Comeragh CC) fifth.

In the Senior 2 race Dominic Drwal (Lynx Cycling Club) got himself to the front at the end of lap 3 and held this position to the finish line picking up his second win of the series. Colm Bradley (EPIC MTB) was second with Pj Hynes (Bellurgan Wheelers) third, series leader John Doris (EPIC MTB) was fourth with Richard Felle (Team WORC) finishing fifth.

In the Senior 1 race Gary Donaldson (Caldwell Powerhouse Racing), fresh from racing the Rás, was 30 seconds ahead on lap 1 and held this gap for all 5 laps, finishing with a wheelie in front of the chequered flag. Daniel Brickenden (Team WORC) was second but behind his was a great sprint with Graham Boyd (McConvey Cycles) nipping past Fionn Desmond (MBCC) to finish third and fourth respectively.

Huge thanks to Stephen, Tom and all at Fermoy CC for putting on a great event. Thanks to our series sponsors Cycleology and Cup and Cone for the great podium prizes.

Round 5 will take place at Tracton Woods in Cork hosted by MBCC on Sunday 21 June 2026.

Commissaire: Martin Grimley

Results
Overall series

Report by Martin Grimley

Photos

Eamon Bracken (Facebook) – set 1, set 2, set 3
Kadoshi Photography (Facebook) – here