"THE NATIONAL CX SERIES 2024 (Final-round 4) at the Mc Crystal Track in Jenkinstown, Co Louth last Sunday 5th January. Last preparation for the Nationals this weekend (11-12 Jan) in Ballinasloe, and certainly one for hard women and men!! It was wet and icy cold, but the craic was mighty!! A report of Martin Grimley & Photos BP Media Team + links to photographers present!!

The fourth and final round of the 2024 National Cyclo-cross Series took place on Sunday 5 January 2025 at the McCrystal Cyclo-cross Track in Jenkinstown County Louth. The purpose built track has hosted many CX events since it was established in 2020 including the 2023 National Cyclo-cross Championships. A huge thanks to Bryan McCrystal and to all at Bellurgan Wheelers and friends of the club for hosting this event. The lead up to event day saw weather warnings across Ireland with Orange warnings for snow across most of Munster and south Leinster. The rest of Ireland had yellow warnings for ice. The forecast was kept under review and the go-ahead was given on Saturday. Parts of the country did get snow and some riders couldn’t make the journey but three-quarters of the original entry did turn up (over 170 riders). The weather on race day was cold and wet all day. Challenging conditions for the riders, pit crew and spectators. Wet gloves and cold hands.
The first race of the day was a one lap affair for the Under 6s with the three young riders the first to receive a water bottle full of goodies.

The Under 8s used the same course as the Under 6s but they had 3 laps to complete. Leading from the whistle in the boys’ race was Séan McGahan (Square Wheels) with Evan McTavish (Western Lakes CC) second and Fionn Lamont (Ilkeston Cycle Club) third. The first girl over the line was Elianna Logan (Omagh Wheelers Cycling Club) with Noreen Cody (Clonard RC) second and Sally Mowbray (Belfast City BMX Club) third.

The Under 10s had a longer course and also had 3 laps to complete. There was some drama at the start line when Ryley Dempsey (Western Lakes CC) had to get a puncture fixed. Under pressure the parents worked like a Formula 1 pit crew and got the new tube into the wheel in time for the starting whistle.

Once the race got underway Jaxon Jennings (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) was a rider on a mission, setting off at speed and finishing well ahead of his nearest rival, visitor Lorcan Lamont (Ilkeston Cycle Club). Josh Ruddell (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) completed the podium for the boys’ race. Ríonach Campbell (Square Wheels) was the first girl and had crossed the line just behind the top 3 boys. Ciara McCool (Square Wheels) was second with Pippa Ruddell (Shelbourne Orchard CC) third.

The Under 12s had 5 laps of their course. In the boys’ race Benjamin Cunningham (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) took the chequered flag. He was chased hard by Max McGrath (Fermoy Cycling Club) who finished second with Tadhg Connolly (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) third, Jack McGahan (Square Wheels) fourth and Fabian Drwal (Lynx Cycling Club) fifth.

Finishing ahead of Tadhg Connolly was the first girl, Aoife Campbell (Square Wheels). Molly Turner (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) was second with Caroline Collins (Sliabh Luachra Cycling Club) taking the third place medal in the girls’ race.

After a break for podium presentations and a chance to grab a cuppa from Last Lap Café, it was the turn of the Under 14s, Under 16s and Women to race.

In the 4 lap Under 14 boys’ race James Cunningham (Team WORC) took his fourth win of the series, a clean sweep. Tomás Connolly (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) was second with Rory McCool (Square Wheels) third.

For the overall series trophies it was James Cunningham first, Rory McCool second and Tomás Connolly third.

In the 3 lap Under 14 girls’ race Lilly McDermott (TC Racing) got her first win of the series which left her with an overall second place.

The series winner Ava Baker (Breffni Wheelers) finished second today. Ciara O’Connor (Drogheda Wheelers) finished third today and third in the overall series.

The Under 16 boys’ had 4 laps to complete. Missing from today’s start line was Caleb McGreevy who had been leading the series with 3 wins. Today was an opportunity for someone else to take the top step on the podium. That rider was Rian McCrystal (Bear Cycling) who knows the course inside and out. Second was Shane O’Brien (Fermoy Cycling Club), third Conor Regan (Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospacial) and fourth Eoin Davis (Bohermeen CC).

For the overall series it was Shane O’Brien, Eoin Davis and Conor Regan as first, second and third respectively.

In the Under 16 girl’s race the battle for first place was between Katie Turner (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) and Emer Heverin (All human/VeloRevolution Racing Team). On the penultimate lap Emer was leading but Katie got ahead and a crucial slip by Emer on a muddy descent meant there was no final straight sprint. Katie took the win, Emer was second with Aoife Craig (VC Glendale) third and Ciara Flavin (Dungarvan CC) fourth. For the overall series it was Katie Turner first, Naoise Byrne second and Emer Heverin third.

In the women’s race Doireann Killeen (Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospacial) got her second win of the series. Elena Wallace (Harps CC) was second with the 2023 National Champion Maria Larkin (Cuttin Crew/Donkey Label) over from Chicago finishing third. Stephanie Roche (Scott Racing IRL) was fourth which was enough to secure the overall series victory

. Junior rider Rhiannon Dolan (TC Racing) was 5th, first master Helen White (Stamullen RC) was sixth. Master’s rider Jean Wilson (EPIC MTB Expert Cycles) was 7th and took 3rd place overall in the series. Rachel Newell (McConvey Cycles) was 8th and took the second place overall in the series. Sinead Parsons (Islandeady Cycling Club) managed to finish the race despite dislocating her thumb on the final lap. The podium presentations were for the top 3 Senior women – Doireann Killeen, Elena Wallace and Maria Larkin.

There was a podium for the junior women Rhiannon Dolan and Ami Flavin (Dungarvan CC) and a podium for the Masters women – Helen White, Jean Wilson and Trudy Brown (VC Glendale). For the overall series the trophies were provided for the…
Top 3 Seniors
1.Stephanie Roche (Scott Racing IRL)
2.Rachel Newell (McConvey Cycles)
3.Doireann Killeen (Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospacial)
Top 2 Juniors
1.Aoife O’Donovan (Dungarvan CC)
2.Ami Flavin (Dungarvan CC)
Top 3 Masters
1.Jean Wilson (EPIC MTB Expert Cycles)
2.Sally Drennan (Midleton CTC)
3.Sinead Parsons (Islandeady Cycling Club)

Next up were the M50s and M60s who both had 5 laps to complete. There were no entries for this round for the non-cyclo-cross bike support race. In the M50s race Alan Bingham (Inspired Cycling) lead from the start but couldn’t afford to make any mistakes as Declan McEntee (Emyvale CC) was never far behind him. Jason Henry (Inspired Cycling) had a great battle with Barry Convery (Newry Wheelers CC), who has only just turned 50, but it was Jason who made the podium in third place, leaving Barry to settle for fourth

. Fearghal Regan (Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospacial) finished fifth.

For the overall series Barry Convery (Newry Wheelers CC) was first, Jay McCauley (Strabane Lifford Cycling Club) was second, with Brian O’Connor (Lucan Cycling Road Club) and Declan McEntee (Emyvale CC) joint third.

In the M60s race it was no surprise when the ex World Champion Johnny McCabe (Cuchulainn CC) crossed the finish line first making this his fourth win from four rounds. Kevin McDowell (Un-Attached Ulster) was second with Terence O’Neill (EPIC MTB Expert Cycles) third, Derek Patterson (Killinchy Cycling Club) fourth and Glenn Watson (Galway Bay CC) fifth. For the overall series, Johnny McCabe was first, Glenn Watson was second with Kevin McDowell third (below)

.The final race of the day was for the Junior men, Seniors and M40s.
The Junior men had 5 laps to complete. With some of the usual names not registered for this race Hugh Og Mulhearne (ASVILLEMUR CYCLISME) took full advantage and finished comfortably ahead of his nearest rival Oliver O’Shaughnessy (Bellurgan Wheelers) with Ashton Moore (Strabane Lifford Cycling Club) completing the podium. (no photos of the juniors and podiums last race due to damp camera)

In the 6 lap M40s race the current national champion Glenn Kinning (Kinning Cycles Cycling Club) put on a fine display to take the win. Ronan O’Flynn (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) had been sitting in second place for the first 4 laps but Marcus Flavin (Dungarvan CC) managed to get ahead of Ronan to take second leaving Ronan to settle for third. Evan Ryan (Team WORC) was fourth with Barry Kellett (Dromara Cycling Club) fifth.

The overall series win went to Ronan O’Flynn (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) with Trevor Costello (Islandeady Cycling Club) second and Evan Ryan (Team WORC) third.

In the 7 lap Senior race current national champion Dean Harvey (Trinity Racing) got ahead of Tadhg Killeen (Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospacial) on lap 2 and then stretched out his lead to the finish. Tadhg was second with Darnell Moore (Team Caldwell Cycles) managing to make it back up to third after having to run a long distance with a bike issue.

Current M50 national champion Robin Seymour (Team WORC) was back showing off his skills among the younger men to finish 4th. David Montgomery (Spellman-Dublin Port) was 5th with Richard Barry (St. Finbarrs CC) 6th, Graham Boyd (McConvey Cycles) 7th and Timothy O’Regan (All human/VeloRevolution Racing Team) 8th. For the overall series Tadhg Killeen lifted the first place trophy with Richard Barry second and Timothy O’Regan third.

A huge thanks to all the riders who turned up today and who have supported the 2024 National Series. We now look forward to the 2025 National Cyclo-cross Championships which take place over the weekend of 11-12 January hosted by Ballinasloe Cycling Club.
Commissaires: Henry Whitston, Liz Roche, Ronan Fox and Martin Grimley