Darnell Moore returns to winning ways at the Shimna CX (rd 5 Ulster series) in Newcastle Co-Down (Sunday 10th November)

Photo’s Toby Watson (including feature) and Sean Mc Intyre as guest photographers on the day, other as indicated, results from Martin Grimley and time team

**Start Men’s Elite A-race** (More of Toby’s great work here below)
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2256422451322757

Multi-tasking was the name of the game yesterday in Newcastle County Down for the now annual Shimna CX promoted by the local club Shimna Wheelers. The rain of the past days made the ground slippy, mud galore at some places but the grass sections around the finish and start area well rideable. The advantage of having a pit crew very much notable in the results. As I was doing the MC job and podium duties it was at moments a camera in my hand with the microphone underneath it, yes we men can..lol. Shimna wheelers had it done to a fine point, the course difficult but very diverse, a cycling village with a Coffee Van and Soup kitchen (you can not beat mum’s homemade soup and available for all competitors and supporters!!) As the norm now the youth races had big fields and good crowds, a growing number in the ladies races and close to full fields in the elite races (around the 300 competitors in total)

**The under 14 boys race the most exciting one in the underage section…a fight for the podium till the end** (photo Sean Mc Intyre)

Full results https://www.ulstercyclocross.com/Results/Ulster_Cyclo_cross_2019_Round_5_Donard_Results.htm

**The Time team and comm’s of the day** (Photo Dany)

The weather was not bad either, a wee cold breeze from the Irish Sea, a bit of sunshine and no rain…we have been lucky on Sunday’s lately. The impressive Mourne Mountains in the background made it a Walhalla for photographers.

**Just impressive background** (photo Dany)

The ladies race was a battle between the leading women of the series Rachel Irvine from the Bike house Bangor and Judith Russell from Phoenix which Rachel won and an exciting battle for 3rd place with Eileen Burns (Ballymena RC) keeping the talented Niamh Mc Kiverigan at bay. Eileen is an International TT specialist and renowned Road racer who has dipped her toes now into CX and now already reached the podium. Niamh just returned from a break of a few weeks and should be the danger again in the coming weeks.

**From left to right: Race organiser Marcus Cromie, Trudy Brown as first master, Judith Russell, Rachel Irvine, Eileen Burns and Maia Simmons as the best junior** (photo Dany)

**Performance of the day…Eileen now an all-rounder and keeps amazing us**
**More of Sean Mc Intyre photo’s on this link** https://www.facebook.com/mcintyre.sean/media_set?set=a.3098976570117942&type=3

**The MTB women’s podium with Leona Farrell 1st, Claire Mc Geever second and Apollo’s Debbie Boyd 3rd** (photo Dany)

**The young International riders of VC Glendale** (photo Dany)

**The impressive B-Race field…such fields keeps promoters alive (**photo Dany)
**The winner was Paul Ferguson (The Bikehouse Bangor) with Colm O’Byrne second (last weeks winner in Mallusk) and Jamie Cregg (Dromore CC) 3rd.**
**More photo’s on the link below including all podiums of the day**
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10156845763878691

**MTB podium with Sean Mc Intyre 1st (Caldwell) Thomas Hepburn 2nd (Island Wheelers) and Brian Mc Cauley U/A 3rd** (photo dany)

**Ex Irish CX Champ Darnell Moore delighted with his first CX win of the season..I bet there is more to come from this Tyrone lad** (photo Dany)

A battle in the A-Race between Thomas Creighton (Mc Convey Cycles) and Darnell Moore (Caldwell Cycles) from the word go…Thomas led from the start but a mistake halfway was punished by Darnell who took the lead, he never could rest as Thomas was only a hundred meters away, he kept that lead till the end. Graham Boyd (Mc Convey’s) took the last podium place. Alan Bingham (Newry Wheelers took 4th place and M40 winner) M50 winner was his teammate Des Woods and Lee Harvey unplaced espoir. Best junior was Somhairle Owens Fisher for Omagh Wheelers.