NPS XC RACE Bellurgan

[johnmcg]

Dromara CC had good representation today at the final round of the NPS XC series. Ben Wilson started things off by taking 3rd in the U12 race, Kelly Wilson also getting on the podium taking 3rd in the U14 girls. Peter Davidson was clocking faster lap times than some of the men to take 8th in the U16 race.

In S4 there was myself and Gibson Chambers, who was unlucky to punture when in 5th place but still managed to come in 11th after a long run to the finish. I ended up in 13th after a slow 2nd lap, trying a front wheel "wheelie" on a fast downhill is not a good idea, it didn't end well, and I now have some bruising and swelling, and the imprint of the fork top cap in an area that I will not be showing to anyone ! Finishing the race with bars and wheel pointing in different directions was not fun on a particularly tricky course.

In a large S3 field we had Brian Wilson leading the way in 18th, with Robert Davidson coming in shortly after. As John Shanks was not racing today its on to S1 where Barry Kellett was our only representative. Barry had not been feeling well leading up to the race but still managed to get one of his best starts, getting the "hole-shot" and leading the field up the 1st fire road. With all the big guns here today it was never going to be easy, yet Barry was holding on and fighting for 4th place for the majority of the race, just losing out at the end in a sprint finish to claim 8th spot.

I wasn't around for the U10, U8 and U6 races so if anyone knows of club members riding and how they got on feel free to post here.

[barryvankellett]

Cheers John, well done on not crying too much about your undercarriage injuries!

I felt a lot better last night and this morning so headed down anyway for a couple of practise laps to see how my body would cope. Felt a bit under powered but decided to give it a lash anyway and pull out if it got bad. Had a good start, decent first lap, 2nd lap wasn't too bad as the main men started to put time into the 2nd group of us. Dropped my chain and lost Graham Boyd so got going with a big effort to close back up, just as I made it after 10 minutes of hard riding, he then attacked hard and gapped me slightly again. Agony.

I faded massively on lap 4 and was caught by Tomasz and Aiden McDOnald, they immediately distanced me as I continued to slip backwards. I could hardly turn the pedals. Managed to get going on the final lap and get almost onto the two guys towards the very end of the lap, McDonald got a good line into the field and had opened his sprint before me and Tomasz had a chance. Power down and locking horns, head in the stem, I started to draw level with the big Pole but I had reached maximum velocity and he held it for the line by less than a bike length! Exciting stuff.

Slightly disappointing end to the NPS Season but the course was fantastic and set up 2nd to none. A great day out.

Well done to all our racers today.

Wilson kids leading the way again with a pair of podiums!

[manuel6b]

Well done to all the DCC riders on Sunday.

The next XC event is the National Championships in Fossa County Kerry. There had been talk of sharing the 5! hour journey down.

Any further input on that?



The week after the nationals is the Sperrin MTB sportive hosted by Harps CC. A great event. I'm planning on doing that one. Anyone else?

[barryvankellett]

I think I am travelling to the Nationals from Fermanagh from my rented creche facilities for the weekend.

I think after that my bikes will be retired and for sale. Possibly one last spin with a debut ride at the Cooley thriller, while I am still young enough to possibly enjoy it.