Results and report courtesy of CUYA and their time team, photos BP media

Foreword Dany The Criterium series from the Cycling Ulster Youth Academy (Rd1) took place today at the Bishopscourt racing track near Downpatrick and worked “hand in hand” with Cycling Ulster’s Women’s Commission who held their “Intro to Racing” workshop, followed by a criterium (slotted into the U16 youth criterium) They had CI coach and ex-international rider, Tommy Evans on hand for valuable advice. It became a big family day for all concerned, they traveled as far as county Kerry, Dublin, Cavan, and Derry to get their kids racing…big smiles all around. Cycling Ulster and his commissions should be congratulated for their efforts to promote Women’s and Youth Cycling to the full, they are certainly leading the way to make promises good!! A thank you for the donation received for the MC job…it keeps us on the road”

Yesterday has seen the start of the 2022 CUYA league at Bishopscourt, we are very fortunate to be able to use the circuit, we had over 85 riders turn up from all over the province and further afield. As in previous years, we share the hire of the circuit with the Women’s Commission to help keep the cost down for both of us.

The Ulster women’s commission and Thomas Evans welcoming the aspiring ladies and girls at the workshop

Special mention goes to Sliabh Luachra cc who traveled from Kerry today, hope you all had an enjoyable days racing. As we all know Bishopscourt can be a very windy place and today didn’t disappoint, the riders were presented with some very difficult riding conditions on the back straight, particularly the younger riders but they all coped well. First off was the TT, then the circuit is passed over to the Women for a couple of hours and then the Crit races started with a fun U6 race. The windy conditions made for some exciting racing. The only change to the normal format of the day was the combined U16 Boys/Girls/Women’s Racing which seemed to work for all. Special thanks to Martin Molloy, Dunloy CC for helping with timekeeping for the TT. Also Thanks to Tommy Evans, for coming along to give advice to the riders going to the Youth Tour of Scotland, both with Cycling Ireland and Cycling Ulster
Next up in the series is Moneymore on the 19th of April with Entry opening on the 4th of April.
Hopefully, we have all the top results correct if not let me know. All points from each round go towards final league positions for all Ulster Riders
I will publish full TT results once I tidied them up…Thanks to all who helped today, Peter Brown (CUYA)

Crit Results

U8 Boys
1st. George Cleverley, Sliabh Luachra cc
2nd. Conor Mc Gahan Square Wheels
3rd. Brody Hamilton
U8 Girls
1st. Caroline Collins, Sliabh Luachra cc
2ndRuby Millar, Square Wheels
3rd. Sophie Campbell, Phoenix CC
U10 Boys
1st. Ewan Ewart, Belfast City BMX Club
2nd. Jack Mc Gahan, Square Wheels
3rd. Dylan Campbell, Phoenix CC
U10 Girls
1st.Eve Cleverley, Sliabh Luachra cc
2nd. Abbie Kinning, Kinnings Cycles
U12 Boys
1st. Josh Mc Clune, Madigan CC
2nd. James Cunningham, Orwell Wheelers
3rd. Corran Mc Court, VC Glendale
U12 Girls
1st. Aoife Craig, VC Glendale
2nd. Clodagh Quigley, Foyle CC
3rd. Eire Mc Crystal, Bellurgan Wheelers
U14 Boys
1st.Curtis Mc Kee, Scott Quanta
2nd.Adam Ward, VC Glendale
3rd. Rian Mc Crystal, Bellurgan Wheelers
U14 Girls
1st. Emer Heverin, Kinnings Cycles
2nd. Aisha Gannon, Breffni Wheelers
3rd. Cara Suckling, Breffni Wheelers
U16 Boys
1st. Seth Dunwoody, Shelbourne/Orchard CC
2nd.Sam Coleman, Shelbourne/Orchard CC
3rd. Daniel Scott, Shelbourne/Orchard CC
U16 Girls
1st. Aliyah Rafferty, Island Wheelers
2nd. Lucy Brown, Phoenix CC
3rd. Mya Doocey, Navan RC

TT Results

U8 Boys
1st. Benjamin Cunningham, Orwell Wheelers
2nd. George Cleverley, Sliabh Luachra cc
3rd. Brody Hamilton, U/A
U8 Girls
1st Caroline Collins, Sliabh Luachra cc
2nd Ciara Mc Cool, Square Wheels
3rd Eve Cleverley, Sliabh Luachra cc
U10 Boys
1st Ewan Ewart, Belfast BMX Club
2nd Dylan Campbell, Phoenix CC
3RD Edward Reynolds, U/A
U12 Boys
1st Josh Mc Clune, Madigan
2nd James Cunnigham, Orwell Wheelers
3rd Corran Mc Court, VC Glendale
U12 Girls
1st Aoife Craig, VC Glendale
2nd Clodagh Quigley, Foyle CC
3RD Abaigh Dennehy, Sliabh Luachra cc
U14 Boys
1st Curtis Mc Kee, Scott Quanta
2nd Adam Ward, VC Glendale
3rd James Armstrong, VC Glendale
U14 Girls
1st Emer Heverin, Kinnings Cycles
2nd Cara Suckling, VC Glendale
3rd Aisha Gannon, Breffni Wheelers,
U16 Boys
1st. Seth Dunwoody, Shelbourne/Orchard CC
2ND. Sam Coleman, Shelbourne/Orchard CC
3RD. Conor Murphy, Rostrevor Mountain Bike Club
U16 Girls
1st. Aliyah Rafferty, Island Wheelers
2nd. Lucy Brown, Phoenix CC
3rd. Zoe Lindsay, TC Racing

Women’sIntro to racing” prior to the Criterium

Lucie Chenet-Rea Phoenix CC (Yoga instructor in daily life) is ready for her ever first cycling race, Nicola Carter next to her kept her right
A thank you to Tommy Evans (CI) and Julie Rea (CU women’s commission and child protection officer) for their input in the event yesterday
10-hour roundtrip for the visitors from Sliabh Luachra cc County Kerry…a minibus and SUV was needed to bring their youth riders over to Downpatrick…I would say chapeau is in order...more photos of this great event can be found on www.facebook.com/danyblondeel