The finale of the *Big Red Cloud League* and *The Leinster CX League* at the Mc Crystal Cycling Track in Jenkinstown (Co-Louth) on the first day of 2022...After what I have seen, we are in for a treat in Armagh next weekend!!

**Respect and thanks for your hard work is in order**

The finale of the Big Red Cloud League which was also the final round of the Leinster CX league, and the final repetition for the nationals next week in Armagh. The venue…The Mc Crystal Cycling Track in Jenkinstown (Co-Louth) as hosts, a CX venue that has everything to get the best out of the riders, a versatile layout with serious elevations, plenty of grass sections with technical turnbacks, a pit with a car park for the vans next to it, and an improved start and finish area…and this on private grounds, no red tape, very family-friendly with even a shop at the entrance who serve hot and cold drinks and snacks and promoted by Bellurgan Wheelers (the home of stars like world champ Eve Mc Crystal and her brother Bryan who was one of the top cyclists in the country, iron man and ex-pro soccer player) Add a few hundred competitors and their families and you just start loving this place…add very mild weather with sunshine (the rain stayed away till the event was over) and you have a perfect start to 2022.

Full results and times can be found on this link below, courtesy of Sport Event Management and http://www.offroadcyclingireland.ie/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Big_Red_Cloud_League_2021_Round_4_McCrystal_Track_Results.htm

**Multiple worlds and paralympic gold star Eve Mc Crystal waving the flag she has so many times passed as a winner…**

**Not even 6 years old and already showing the love for cycling…the future looks good!!**

**We can expect a great race in Armagh, do we have the champions here in this shot?**

**Looking forward to seeing the battle between the young and the usual suspects at the nationals**

**Lee Harvey (second on the day) winning the Wahoo heart monitor donated to the Big Red Cloud league**

**The two Jerry’s…Jerome Mc Namara as podium photographer and the sublime Jerry Rafferty as action photo specialist…you can find Jerry’s photos on** **https://fotozone.smugmug.com/Ulster-Cyclocross/2021/Big-Red-Cloud-CX-League-Round-4/** **(no commercial use allowed, but sharing on social media is no problem for Jerry, just mention him)**

**Will Johnny Mc Cabe retain his champ jersey in the M60 class? There will be 6 others to contest him, but at least it is a championship official race as the 6 has been reached…(photo Jerry Rafferty)**

**My good friend Caroline…I can speak on behalf of the whole cycling fraternity if I say you bring a smile to our faces with your so enthusiastic covering of our sport** ..Caroline’s photos are now online…https://www.facebook.com/caroline.kerley.50

As far as Munster they came to get the last effort in before the champs (Paul BIRCHALL
Verge Sport PI Cycles) **… all photos can be found on https://www.facebook.com/danyblondeel**

**Darcey Harkness making sure with a relentless chase that the winner Maria Larkin can not rest till the finish line is reached, this promises to be another battle in Armagh!!** (**Photo of John Hammer, more can be found of John on https://www.facebook.com/John-Hammers-Photo-Page-347880418920582** )

All the way from the USA…Maria Larkin told me she is already 11 years with her sweetheart, this lucky young man is her chauffeur, cook, soigneur, lover and so much more…I was wondering why I got a lot of views coming from the states on the website..Maria is apparently a big follower…she made my day for sure…**good luck next weekend** xx

**My colleague commentator Paul at work as MC …love his accent,**

Well done Bryan and family today, and a wee thank you to Mrs. Crystal (mum of Eve and Bryan) for the sandwiches to keep us going, it makes you feel so welcome…and well done to all racers…what a show it was…see you all in Armagh next weekend for the nationals…Happy New Year from all of us in the Belgian Project…love you all