First round of “The Bear Group” CX series completed last Thursday night. Huge thanks to The Bear Group for the huge support and the assistance to get this up and running ( https://thebeargroup.ie/ ) Great to get that assistance so we could provide free entry for youths and minimal cost for the Seniors. Also big thanks to #specializedireland who provided free bike checks before the race last night and are sponsoring prizes for the youth races to keep the motivation high in what was a very competitive sprint finish across the age groups last night. With 4 new youth riders to the sport, and some memorable performances across the board. The youth race finished in a 5 up sprint around the last corner with nothing separating them.
Through the wilderness in Corkagh (Picture from Toby Watson)
The senior race started fast with an opening lap of 8 minutes that was then brought down to a little over 7 minutes a lap by the fast riders at the back who were relentless in what can only be described as a 45 minute attack from the gun. Pierce O Leary (Lucan CRC) went from mid pack to the front within a lap and never let up, holding the front from lap 2 onwards, but never to far away from Barry Cronin, Domhnaill O’Sullivan, Eoin Ahern (all Orwell) or Ro Killeen (Lucan CRC). His brother Sean and Bryan Geary (St Tiernans) only seconds behind them. Another rider who dominated the race was young Rian McCrystal who quite literally flew over the full height boards every lap. Consideration was given to checking his bike to see was it filled with Helium or similar, such was the incredible skill and speed he took the boards at. He held in the top 5 until the last lap where the U16 race finished up, with him as the leader.
Clondalkin man Derek giving it socks (Picture Mike Hayes and photo below)
