Week 1:  Lurgan Park,

When I was riding in Lurgan park I was very nervous because it was my first Cyclocross race of the season and also the first time I had ever attempted Cyclocross, but when the whistle blew on the start line I started to realised I was racing further and further ahead of the others, I looked behind and everyone was well behind me. Until the second lap I was thinking to myself “I’m winning!” First race of the season and I was about to win.  Seconds later my bike started to make unusual clicking noises so I looked down and then the hanger on the back derailleur snapped clean off.  There was nothing I could do to fix it. So on my first race ever, I found myself walking with my bike down to the start to tell everyone.  I felt so sad and depressed.

Week 2: Lady Dixon Park,

I was very lucky to get my bike fixed in time for this race. As I did my warm up laps I thought the laps were longer than last time.  At sign on, I saw my friend Cameron Macintyre and he was with someone else called Adam Duff.  Adam was also in my under 14 race. I’d never seen Adam race before so I didn’t know if he was good or not so we all went on a warm up lap and we all just talked and cycled. So on the starting line we all got to know each other, we only had to do 4 laps and as the whistle blew it was me and Adam first into the whole shot.  Off we went and it was pretty much a race between him and me for first and second. During the race we just kept overtaking each other over and over again until the last lap when he was out in front.  I was trying not to let him get too far away or fall so I could catch  him on the flat straight finish.  On the spiral on the last lap, with Adam Duff out front, we went round and round until someone in front of him fell and caught his wheel.  This brought Adam down.  At this point, I managed to get past and started to cycle fast because Adam was straight up and on again.  But for the rest of the race I was out in front and it was a bit of sprint finish because if I didn’t sprint he would have over taken me. When I won this race, I promoted my mum to my manager.

Week 3: Dungannon

When we arrived in Dungannon, I looked up, “oh no, grey clouds”, rain was on the way. It was very long walk up to sign on and walking back I looked up the track and the muck was ankle deep.  I had never ridden in heavy thick muck before because in week 1 and week 2 it was dry and just grass. I got dressed and went on a warm up lap with Cameron and Adam Duff, and it was tough there was lots of roots and deep muck especially through the wind mill, it was hell. So again on the starting line…the whistle blew I didn’t look down to put my cleat in and there was no fiddling either, it was perfect my cleat just went in straight.  And again Adam and I were out in front. It was a grassy start,  on to the concrete then into the forest. In the forest it was like going round a roundabout, it was just corners and corners, you couldn’t pick up speed because just around the corner was…another corner. Adam Duff started to edge ahead because he had a mountain bike so he had more traction in the muck, coming down the hill about to bear slightly left I went over a root. And I’m sure you know if you are going over a root you need to come at it perpendicular, but me not knowing it was there, went over it sideways and obviously my bike just slipped out from underneath me and I hit the ground like a sack of spuds.  Thankfully that was the only fall I had that day and the rest of the remaining laps went according to plan. It was a solid 2nd finish.

Week 4: Bangor,

It had been raining throughout the week so I kind of predicted that it was going to be a very mucky course.  When I signed on I had seen that Adam Duff had signed on already, my opponent.  That week Cameron Adam and I went round together just talking not really paying much attention to the course and once we finished the pre-lap we didn’t do anymore laps, we were just focused on keeping warm!  The wind was a bit fierce in the open air.  On the starting line again like always I’ve got butterflies in my stomach. And as I heard  that whistle blow again, my brain automatically realised that it was go time and we were all pedal to the metal on the concrete, then up the big hill, along a mucky grassy football field, then into the forest. Again there were roots everywhere, in all angles and I was just lucky to get out of that minefield of roots without falling off.   It was just leaves from then on in until a long stretch of big drops of muck but once past that there was a mound up then down and within 3 seconds a very tight u-turn, then back into the forest. On the u-turn I saw my dad in his big hi-vis jacket, chuffed to bits that he is marshalling by the way. Up until now I was placed 3rd until the boy in front of me, Thomas, got a mechanical and pulled out. I finished a good 2nd that day as well.

Week 5: Moira

When we turned up and signed on, me and mum walked to the coffee shop just round the corner and got an Americano each.   I was just sitting in the warm with a warm coffee dreading going back to the cold muck!  This time Ben Webb and I went on a pre-lap this time and it was so mucky. There was a bear left then a big mucky hill up, I just knew I would have to carry my bike up there! So on the starting line just chatting away, then I jumped when the whistle blew for the under 16’s making me realise I was next… When the whistle blew for us it was a long concrete hill up to the start of the track, so again me and Adam were out front by miles! I was trying to stay behind him just in case he made a break for it  and sprinted off.  This time I was just ahead of him on the 2^nd lap but I carried my bike up that big mucky hill on the last lap and that was the worst mistake I made as I couldn’t get my feet clicked back in and Adam was cycling off ahead. As soon as I got clicked in it was all hands on deck. I did not stop pedalling until I crossed the finished line, that day was also a 2nd finish.

I joined NDCC to ride on the roads and really enjoy the club runs, when I’m not selected to play rugby for school on Saturdays but I am smitten by Cyclocross.  I just need to persuade my parents that I now need a mountain bike to add to my collection!

Adam Preece

After a fantastic summer of cycling it’s time to put the “good bike” away and get the mudguards out.

 So does that mean an end to racing and time to let the testosterone levels drop and simply enjoy a leisurely ramble? Not if you’re part of the every growing cyclo-cross scene.

What is cyclo-cross?

Well imagine taking your road bike, sticking on wider knobbly tyres and then heading to a forest to ride through mud, climb steps, jump over obstacles and climbing hills for an hour. Forget tactics, drafting, and teamwork, cyclo-cross is about aerobic endurance and bike-handling skills.

The Ulster Cyclo-Cross series is spread over 8 rounds and also includes races for kids and Mountain Bikes. North Down CC now hosts an event and this year made a welcome return to Castle Park for Round 4 of the series.

NDCC have competed at every event and have had their share of podium spots across the categories. None more so than in the junior and children categories.

Maia Simmons

Maia competes in the Under 10 Females and has so far competed in all 5 rounds. Not only has she taken part but is currently topping the table with 4 wins and a 3rd place. She has a lead of 15 points over her nearest rival and with just 3 rounds left we wish her the very best.

Molly McClarnon

Molly has carried her form from a great season in road racing and time trials into the cyclo-cross season. Her father, Colm, has passed on his wealth of cyclo-cross knowledge to her which she has combined with raw talent and determination to finish on the podium in 4 out of the 5 rounds in the Under 14 female category. It is currently extremely close for the top 3 places but with her win in Moira Park in round 5, Molly now leads the table going into the final 3 rounds. Colm has been relegated to driver, financial support, motivator and bike cleaner.

Ben Webb

Where Molly has got some of her talents from her father, we have no idea where Ben is getting his. Yes there are “short hills” on a cyclo-cross course but there are no opportunities for a sit-in specialist like his father Jonny.
Ben has raced cyclo-cross before and this season is in the under 14 males and has been on the podium 3 times. This solid form sees him top the leader board but it’s extremely close with only 6 points between the top 3 places. There are 30 points awarded to the winner and so this category could well be decided on the final round.

Adam Preece

Adam also competes in the Under 14 Male category. This is his first season and he has written a diary of his exploits which will be posted later. Adam has had a fantastic series so far and is currently sitting just behind Ben and hot on his heals. Adam had a mechanical in round 1 that meant he scored no points. But since then he has not placed lower than 2nd and a top place in his second race at Lady Dixon Park. Adam has been smitten by cyclo-cross and we look forward to hearing about a potential 1-2 NDCC.

Will Hamilton

It’s been a tough road season for Will moving up to the Under 16 males. Towards the end of the season Will was gaining on his older, stronger competitors and he has carried this form into his cyclo-cross season. Will got a 3rd place in round 1 and got a well-earned 1st place in the last round at Moira Park. With some of his rivals not scoring points in round 5, by my calculations, Will moves up into 2nd place overall and even with a gap of 25 points to first place, don’t rule out his chances of an overall victory yet.

Aaron McCutcheon

Aaron is a seasoned mountain biker but cyclo-cross is less technical than the races he’s used to and he races on his MTB as opposed to the lighter, more nimble cyclo-cross bikes. Aaron competes in the same category as Will and has had some strong top5 placings this year. He is currently sitting in 5th place overall and has every chance of climbing further.

MTB Support Races

North Down’s successes have not just come from the youth sections. Paul Ferguson has continued his winning ways and is sitting clear at the top of the Men’s MTB Support category. Johnny Reid has only been able to enter 2 races so far but has won them both, which included our local race through Castle Park. In this race NDCC finished 1st, 2nd and 4th in the Male MTB Support race with Warren Gregg finishing a strong 4th after starting un-seeded from the back.
Alison McMullan has been flying the flag for NDCC women and despite face planting a tree, resulting in a broken nose, she got back on the bike and finished 4th. Alison is currently in 3rd place overall in the Women’s MTB Support race category.
Other regular MTB racers include Brendan Kirk, Ian McCurly, Clifford Blayney, Shane Farren, Gordon Simmons with some guest appearances by Ian Blayney, Shaun Carey, Kerry Speers, Claire Scott and a few other newbies who turned up for the craic at our own local race.

Cyclo-Cross A and B Races

The main events are the cyclo-cross A and B races. Last year Colm McLarnon won a B race meaning automatic promotion to race with the big boys. It’s been a tougher season this year but the “wee man” never gives up and has been doing a great job supporting his talented daughter. Our man to cheer in the A races has been James McMaster. James has returned to race for NDCC and has only completed 3 of the 5 rounds so far but has finished in the top 5 in all of them. So although James has not scored points in 2 of the rounds he is currently sitting in the top 10 overall.

The B races are where most of our riders compete. We have a strong showing this year and a serious challenger in the form of Paul McArthur. Paul has tried his hand, and competed, at almost every out-door sport there is. Paul turned his hand to road racing this season and now cyclo-cross. His fitness and determination have seen him place strongly in every round but he was unable to take part in round 5 and so his rivals have been able to jump ahead. Other newcomers who have shown great form include Keith Hooks and Mark Farrell. I would not be surprised to hear of a podium finish for any of these 3 riders.

Other riders include some seasoned racers such as Mike Hamilton, Michael McMullan, Barry Hamilton, Paul Kirk and Garth Beattie and others new to the discipline such as David McKeague and Kieran Beattie. All using these races for training, fun and to set them up for the road season ahead.

The next race takes place at Ormeau Park on Sunday 17th November. Why not come along to cheer on our young people, men and women of NDCC or better still throw your MTB in the car and give the support race a go. Don’t let the video footage of our chairman on his knees in the mud put you off!

S Cousins NDCC-PRO

The Ulster 25 mile time trial championships were held a couple of weeks ago on the A4 Dungannon to Ballygawley dual carriageway.

The event was promoted by the UCPC for the first time and they pulled out all the stops to make this a memorable day. The weather was dry and very mild with the temperature sitting at 20 degrees with a slight wind

The course along the new carriageway from Dungannon to Ballygawley was excellent in that the surface was smooth and there was little traffic. There was a climb or long drag on the course, which proved tough, but fast times were still recorded.

Janine 25 Mile TT

Fastest Ulster man on the day was Daniel Stewart of EC Mayenne who lifted the title in a time of 53.44, Surprise medallist on the day, however, was local man Fraser Duncan of Eurocycles riding his very first 25 mile TT. Fraser has had a great year and is the current Ulster Road Race Champion. As an adopted North Down rider Fraser is well known by all the club and everyone at the club is delighted to see him do so well.

There was good turnout of women for the event making a real competition on the day. Laura Maxwell of Roe Valley who has shown consistent form all year added both the Junior and senior women’s 25 mile TT titles to her collection with a time of 1:02:54. She was followed in by North Down’s very own Marianne Vos – Janine McNally who took silver with a time of 1:04:20 Both these women are not long back from riding Rás na mBan, Ireland’s only women specific stage race which featured many international teams. It caps a fantastic season for Janine making her, by far, our most successful senior rider of 2013.

Dates for your Diary

There are a few important dates coming up over the next couple of weeks that you may want to take note of. The club AGM will be held on Wednesday 6th November at 19:30. As usual the venue will be the salubrious surroundings of the Club House at Ward Park. Don’t forget that it’s YOUR club so please make an effort to attend. This year there are some great committee roles up for grabs so why not come along and nominate your friends!

Then the action moves to Pickie Bowling Club for the social event of the year. Prize night will be Saturday 30th November at 19:00. Please be aware that since the building is licensed all children must have left the building by 21:00. Please ensure that all perpetual trophies are returned to Eric Blayney cleaned and engraved in plenty of time.

In between these two milestones in your social calendar there will be the second North Down Cyclo-Cross race held at Aurora Leisure Centre on the 27th October utilising Castle Park. Building on the success of last year’s race at Ballymacormick the 2013 edition should prove to be another great race with arguably our strongest team of ‘cross racers for years. If not actually racing then why not turn

up to help marshal the event or even just come to cheer on our hardy racers. It’s a great spectator sport with fans able to see the entire course and get right up close to the action!

One should only run when being chased and swim only to prevent drowning. Seems simple enough though we have a few members in North Down who not only flaunt this simple logic but have turned it into one of greatest sporting achievement of the club this year.

Many of you may have watched some of the event in question – The World Triathon Championships, held in the nation’s capital. Watched with amazement from your armchair while Brownlee and Gomez fought it out over the final metres for gold, both men battling it out by the slimmest of margins. What you may not know however is that, we at North Down, had three athletes competing in the very same event. On Sunday 15^th September of this year more than 1000 triathletes descended upon London to contest the World Championships. From North Down we sent Dougie Ruddock, Les Wilkinson and Louise Tognieri. Unfortunately Gary Swenarton missed out having broken his collarbone one week previous. Triathlete fans will know that Gary recently competed in the Championships in New Zealand finishing as highest placed national athlete in his category so who knows what he could have achieved on home soil?

Louise Togneri

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There have been rumours going round that the cycle season is over for 2013 but someone must have forgotten to tell North Down CC the news.

Janine McNally has been battling all week against some of the best female cyclists in the world over the hard roads of County Clare at the Ras na mBan. Long road stages, criteriums, crashes, atrocious weather and team time trials were all thrown at Janine and her Cycling Ulster Team. It was a steep learning curve at times but anyone who knows Janine will testify that she’ll back for the 2014 race faster, stronger and apparently lighter. Perhaps, with a bit of support from the club, with respect to masseur/soigneur provision then Janine will be able to mount a strong attack on the GC in this prestigious race next year.

At a slightly more sedate pace the Touring Team was yet again clocking up the miles. Saturday was the Marie Curie “Tour of South Down”. This event has traditionally been well supported by North Down and this year was no exception. Leaving the clubhouse on Saturday morning and picking up various nefarious characters along the way a large team of pink and black assembled at the Downpatrick Racecourse ready to support this worthy charity. The weather was kind and the course well marshalled resulting in a great days touring. Some of the team decided post lunch to take the short way home, picking up the ferry at Strangford and heading straight back to Bangor. With “The Ferries” left behind a much-depleted team pushed on round the course tackling hills at an enthusiastic pace, which moved Denise Hart to thank everyone at the front for their efforts. At the 85-mile mark, however, the team was beginning to show signs of fatigue but Rachy Sinnamon then moved to front and dragged everyone back home and more importantly through the psychological 100-mile marker. Altogether it was a great day out raising money for charity with great company and some fine late summer weather.

Touring Team Downpatrick

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