Round 5 of the Cross-country Mountain Bike National Point Series took place at Union Wood in County Sligo on Sunday 28 June 2026. The last time the series was at this location was back in 2022. Host club Northwest MTB has been busy creating some new sections in the forest. The youth (up to Under 12s) were based at the first crossroads nearest the car park. There were different loop lengths for each age group. The noon and 2 pm races were based further into the forest, about 1.2 km from the car park. The start/finish was on a forest road. There was a reduced loop from the main course for the Under 14s. Back in the car park there was a coffee van and a tuck shop. The event attracted just over 120 riders. There were some heavy rain on Friday and Saturday making the course muddy. Sunday was mostly dry with just the occasional light rain shower.

The Under 6s were the first to line up at the start line. Two boys and two girls took on 3 laps of their circuit. They were the first to receive the big goodie bags.

Under 6s

The Under 8s had a longer loop which they had to do 5 times. Charlie McCarter (Caldwell Powerhouse Racing) made his first appearance in the series this year and took the win in the boys’ race. Series leader Hugh Dolan (Ballinasloe Cycling Club) was second with Cian Phelan (MTB Assoc of Dublin) third and Cillian Dolan (Western Lakes CC) fourth. Among the girls Elisa Tyszecka (MBCC) got her third win of the series. Alice Bell (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) was second with Fiadh Bradley (Un-Attached Leinster) third and Seoda McTavish (Western Lakes CC) fourth.

The Under 10s loop was longer than the Under 8s and they had 6 laps to complete. In the boys’ race Killian McCarthy (Un-Attached Munster) got his second win of the series and contines to lead overall. Senan O’Brien (Square Wheels) was second with Naoise Cunningham (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) third and Evan McTavish (Western Lakes CC) fourth. Ríonach Campbell (Square Wheels) finished ahead of Marian Mulvaney (Sliabh Luachra Cycling Club) with both girls finishing up among the leading boys.

Under 10s

The Under 12s loop was the longest which took the riders over into the separate section of the forest where they popped out of the single track within 10 metres of the finish line. Lewis Bell (Shelbourne/Orchard CC), without his sparing partner Benjamin Cunningham, was well out in front and took a comfortable win. Jaxon Jennings (Bear Cycling) was second with Josh Ruddell (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) third, Nicholas McCarthy (MBCC) fourth and Carlos Gonzalez Romero (Killarney Cycling Club) fifth. Emilia Tyszecka (MBCC) got her second win of the series. Pippa Ruddell (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) was second with Emily Jennings (Caldwell Powerhouse Racing) third.

After the podium presentations the timing crew and setup was packed up and moved up to a strimmed grass area further into the forest. Once the timing setup was back up and running the next races got underway. This was for the Under 14s, Under 16s, Senior 1 women, Senior 2 women, Senior 3 women and Senior 4 open riders.

The first to appear, due to the shorter loop, were the Under 14s. Rían Watkins (Galway MTB) was back to his usual position at the front of the race, leading to the chequered flag, taking his fifth win from five races. Billy Lord (Breffni Wheelers) was second with Nathan Baker (Breffni Wheelers) third. Aoife Campbell (Square Wheels) was the only Under 14 girl and would have finished third overall among the boys.

The Under 16 boys had 3 laps of the full course. Oscar Moran (EPIC MTB) lead from start to finish, making this his second win from two appearances this year in the series. Series leader Kieran Mulvaney (Sliabh Luachra Cycling Club) was second with Darragh Murphy (Rostrevor Mountain Bike Club) third and Cian Walsh (IMBRC) fourth. In the Under 16 girls race, Ava Baker (Breffni Wheelers) finished comfortably ahead of Ciara O’Connor (Drogheda Wheelers).

There was only one entry in the Senior 3 women’s race with Gillian Kennedy (Agivey Cycling Club) delighted to have got safely around the course. In the Senior 2 women’s race Fiona Lally (Team WORC) took the win, her third in a row. There was a sprint finish between Hazel Murphy (Cuchulainn CC) and Catriona Wheeler (Agivey Cycling Club) with Hazel getting to the line first.

In the Senior 4 open race Gerard Curran (Tir Chonaill Gap CC) had dropped down from his one attempt at Senior 3s this year to see how he would get on in Senior 4s. It turned out that this course suits his skillset as he comfortably took the win after 2 laps. Series leader Stephen Millist (Un-Attached Leinster) was second with newcomer to the series Vasyl Kolodiuk third, Fergal Gilmartin, another newcomer took fourth with Christopher Blain (Tir Chonaill Gap CC), yet another newcomer, taking fifth.

Senior 4 start

In the Senior 1 women’s race Ciara Macmanus (Un-Attached Ulster) lead for the 4 laps with Joanna Bula (Team WORC) finishing second.

The final races happened at 2 pm. First away were the Senior 1s and Junior men. After a minute the Senior 2s started, then 2 minutes later the Senior 3s.

In the three lap Senior 3 race, Jonny Adams (McConvey Cycles) got his third win of the series. Fergal Kilkenny (Hush MTB) was second with Peter Davey (Un-Attached Ulster) coming up from sixth to take third. Mark O’Shea (EPIC MTB) was fourth with Alan McDonnell (Chain Driven Cycles CC) fifth.

The Senior 2s had 4 laps to complete. Colm Bradley (EPIC MTB) got his first win of the series. Richard Felle (Team WORC) managed to get ahead of PJ Hynes (Bellurgan Wheelers) to finish second and third respectively. Michael Maher (Team WORC) was fourth with John Mason (Velo Revolution / Speed Queen) fifth.

Senior 2 podium

In the Junior men’s race Fionn Crinion (IMBRC) took the win after 4 laps. Darragh O’Keeffe (EPIC MTB) was second.

In the Senior 1 race, Robin Seymour (Team WORC) was leading the 5 lap race after the first two laps but a crash dropped him back to third. Daniel Brickenden (Team WORC) got his first win of the series. Newcomer to the series this year, David Montgomery (Spellman-Dublin Port), was second. Robin crossed the line in third and immediately collapsed to the ground clutching his chest, heavily winded. The crash on lap 3 had left him injured but he still managed to hold on the podium position. Series leader Graham Boyd (McConvey Cycles) finished fourth with Gary Donaldson (Caldwell Powerhouse Racing) fifth and Nathan Kurensky (Un-Attached Connacht) sixth.

A huge thanks to Craig, Cliona and to all the crew at Northwest MTB for putting on a great event. Thanks again to our series sponsor Cycleology and Cup and Cone for all the podium prizes.

Next Sunday, 5 July, we have Round 6 which was rescheduled from 21 June. Please get down to Tracton Woods to support MBCC. We are planning on handing out the overall awards at this event. See details on www.irishxcnps.ie.

Commissaire: Martin Grimley

Results
Overall series

Report by Martin Grimley

Photos
Eamon Bracken (Facebook) – Podium photos
12:00 races
14:00 races