October 2000 |
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SEYMOUR 3rd IN AMERICA: RUSTON, LA. (October 29, 2000) - The American Mountain Bike Challenge (AMBC) overall finals, also known as the Piney Hills Fall Classic, hosted more than 500 competitors from 20 states and three countries. The race took place Oct. 29 at Lincoln Parish Park in Ruston, La. Jason Sager (Austin, Texas) took the shot at the start and never looked back, winning the 30-mile pro/expert men's cross-country with a time of two hours and five minutes. Behind Sager was Sugar Land, Texas, resident Dana Weber. Second-place Weber recently earned a bronze medal at the 2000 National Collegiate Mountain Bike Championships in Idaho. Third place at the AMBC finals was 2000 Irish Olympian Robin Seymour, with a time of two hours and nine minutes. Thomas Turner (Canton, Ga.) blew away the competition in the male Junior X division with a time of two hours and 14 minutes. He was the Junior AMBC winner last year in Memphis, Tenn. While Turner was cruising out for first, a fierce battle was waged for second. Tyler Clark (Springfield, Mo.) narrowly defeated Keaton Tucker (Burleson, Texas) by four seconds, with a time of two hours and 26 minutes. The day's activities concluded with awards and trials demonstration by French National trials Champion Thomas Odier. Next year's Piney Hills Fall Classic VIII will again be part of the AMBC. (results as provided by promoter) Pro/Expert Men: 1. Jason Sager (Austin, Texas) 2:05:29 2. Dana Weber (Sugar Land, Texas), 2:06:56 3. Robin Seymour (Kilmacanogue, Ireland) 2:09:05 4. Will Black, (Houston) 2:10:55 5. Eric Pritle (St. Louis) 2:12:56 6. James Van Toever, (Bristol, Tenn.) 2:13:40 7. Eric Murphy (Baton Rouge, La.) 2:13:55 8. Rhett Griggs (Jackson Hole, Wyo.) 2:16:11 9. Marty Christman (Blanco, Texas) 2:16:44 10. Joel Mischke (Apsen, Colo.) 2:19:53 The UCI's new environmental guidelines: Through mountain biking the UCI has gained a new awareness of environmental issues. And through IMBA we have a growing appreciation of how trail wear, usually a sign of trail system health, can be properly managed. The emphasis on local clubs and associations building, repairing, maintaining and even improving trails is an important part of the sport. Certainly, we have found no research that pinpoints mountain biking as environmentally unacceptable. It seems fair to say that thanks to mountain biking, the UCI is an international federation waking up to its environmental responsibilities. We are opening our minds and re-considering our role. Not long ago, we contacted a variety of Non Govermental Organisations (NGOs) to give feedback on what they thought our role should be. Throughout these consultations, a reference to race events kept appearing. We commissioned an independent, specialist agency to develop along with us a set of 'Environmental Guidelines' related to the organisation of our major race events: World Championships, World Cup series', Continental Championships, and so on. The guidelines are directed at groups developing bids to organise events. Such groups must have a concept that respects the environment. They are also aimed at the UCI itself, to provide us with a yardstick against which bids can be evaluated. And finally, they are aimed at the successful organising committees, to help them develop events carefully, and to assist post-event analysis. We have concentrated on six key areas: noise, transport, waste, soil erosion, destruction of flora, and disturbance of fauna. We have observed that impact is made by competitors, those that accompany them, and to the greatest extent by spectators. We have found that for most mountain bike events the principle environmental risk is not the visible impact of the event during or immediately after it takes place. Such impact disappears quite rapidly, either naturally or following direct intervention to repair any damage and remove temporary infrastructure. Indirect long-term impact is often more significant: in particular, damage that has a long repair period, such as soil erosion or vegetation damage at altitude, or the disturbance of fauna at critical times. Such longer-term impact can often be caused by intense use of a site, post-event, as riders explore the new trails. We believe the guidelines will help us address the inevitable impact, and place it in a context that looks to the future and balances the disadvantages with the advantages. They are a practical tool to be used in project conception, and a communication tool to be used with different partners. They are designed to allow a coherent strategy to be set up and offer the opportunity for a candidate group to fulfil its potential and submit and an environmentally friendly bid. We believe they will ensure minimal risk of ecological confrontation, or of sponsor withdrawal, and they will certainly allow the UCI to standardise its working practices, integrating environmental criteria. They respect recognised environmental management systems, so called ISO 14001, and as such we hope will be formally recognised. And of major importance, the proposed strategy can be applied, with minor modifications, to all of our different cycling disciplines, perhaps even to other sports. Special thanks to Jim Hasenauer (IMBA), and Dominique Rossell (AB Conseil) For more information about the Guidelines, please contact Chris Payne at the UCI. Cyclo Cross Racing: Craigavon cyclocross Sat 4 Nov 12.00 midday contact Myles 00442838 322943 Newry cyclocross Sat 11 Nov 12.00 midday FISHER/ Newry wheelers. Championship cyclocross race Lurgan Early Dec. - Contact Myles 004428 38 3229843 or Aidan 042 93 73 226 Top-level UCI meeting in Europe yields new rules - Read them Here American Results: Two Irish riders who were competing in the final round of the 2000 AMBC in Memphis yesterday. Mark Kenny and Brian Rafferty were competing in the 12th annual Outdoors Tour de Wolf Mountain Bike Race at Shelby Farms Park, Memphis, Tennessee. Further details of the race are available at www.outdoorsinc.com The race is one of 16 NORBA Classic Mountain Bike Races in the US and draws a field of 1,000 riders Mark Kenny finished 4th in the Masters Expert category (30 to 34) and Brian Rafferty finished 6th in the Masters Sport category (40 - 44). September 2000
IRISH COMPLETE OLYMPIC PARTICIPATION: (By Shane Stokes Sept 29) And so it ends. The time trial medals remain to be disputed, but the Irish participation in the cycling events in Sydney have come to a close. So how should we judge their performances? Realistically, can be the only answer. First mountain biking: Going into the games Robin Seymour and Tarja Owens were best qualified to predict their finishing positions, given that cross country racing is less dependant on tactics than on pure strength. The variables that exist in road racing simply are not present; the fact that Seymour and Owens have competed against most of their rivals in the past also enabled them to better approximate their own strengths relative to the world's best. <Full Olympic Report Here> RED BULL NATIONAL DOWNHILL MOUNTAIN BIKE CHAMPIONSHIPS: Elite Men 1, Rich Warner (Giant/Toyota UK Team); 2, C. Carrick-Anderson (Giant/Toyota UK Team); 3, J. Lawlor Team (Raleigh Nissan) Veteran 1, Peter Popham (Team Raleigh Nissan); 2, T. Cloghier (Trek/Volkswagan/Reload); 3, G. Worden (unattached) Masters 1, Marc Sadier (unattached); 2, M. Dickson (unattached); 3, J. E Beckett (Descent-World) Sport Men 1, Conor Campbell (Newry Wheelers); 2, J. Jordan (Irish MTB Racing Club); 3, R. Kearney (unattached) Junior 1 Colin Ross (unattached); 2, W. Carey (Wulf MBI Storm); 3, Ross Roseingrave (unattached) Under 16 1, Jamie Scott (TIB Rothwild); 2, C. Clark (Mayo MTB); 3, Danny Carrie (BMBC) Under 14 1, Jamie Popham (Team Raleigh Nissan); 2, B. Reid (Bike Works/Ards CC); 3, M. King (Manitou/Spy) COLM MULLEN WINS EXPERT RACE AT BRITISH MTB SERIES RAV4 FINAL: (Sept 10) Silver Medalist in our recent cross country championships, 19 year old Colm Mullen from Bray pulled out a great performance to win the final round of the RAV4 series in Nannarch, North Wales on Sunday. Colm led the four lap race from half way through the first lap, winning with over one and a half minutes from English rider Joe Armstrong. Of the other XC riders who took part, Glen Kinning 12th Junior, Knud Jensen 6th Vet and Thomas Jensen 8th U14. Final RAV4 Downhill: (Sept 9) Elite:18th Glyn O'Brien, 38th Andrew Yoong, 45th Paul Gilsenan, 46th Alan Clogher, 47th Richard McGlynn. Junior: 4th Colin Ross. ICF NPS XC5 Cancelled: The final round of the XC league in Townley Hall, Drogheda has been cancelled. It is unsure at the moment if another race will be added to the series for the overall points table. We will keep you informed as thing progress. August 2000 UNEXPECTED OLYMPIC PLACE FOR TARJA OWENS: (Shane Stokes Aug 23) After the confirmation of a professional contract for Mark Scanlon earlier today, Irish cycling has got another boost with the announcement of an Olympic place for moutainbike rider Tarja Owens. Owens was listed as a reserve for the Elite women’s cross-country event, narrowly missing qualification last season, but since some of the countries awarded selection have opted not to travel to Sydney she has been given the nod by the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale). She joins Ciaran Power, David McCann (Elite men’s road race), Deirdre Murphy (Elite women’s road race) and Robin Seymour (Elite moutainbike cross-country event) on the squad. Interestingly, the 24 year old is both Helly Hansen team-mate and girlfriend of Seymour. INJURED SEYMOUR PULLS OUT OF EUROPEAN MTB CHAMPIONSHIPS: (Shane Stokes Aug 21) Mountain bike rider Robin Seymour today suffered a blow in his preparation for the Sydney Olympics when he was forced to pull out of the European championships in Rhenen, Holland. The 29 year old went into the race with hopes of a top-twenty finish, but back problems led to him wheeling to a halt on the fourth lap. Seymour had fallen in an English event last week, hurting his back, but had hoped it would be symptom-free today. Seymour is travelling back to his base in England and will receive treatment from physiotherapist and former Irish professional cyclist Martin Earley on Tuesday. He will dispute the final world cup in Lausanne, Switzerland on September 3rd before flying out to Sydney. Of the other Irish riders in the European championships, Tarja Owen finished 33rd behind race winner Laurence Leboucher of France in the Elite women’s competition. Colm Mullen was 63rd in the under 23 race, while Ollie Gray and Glen Kinning were 58th and 69th respectively in the junior men’s SEYMOUR’S OLYMPIC PARTICIPATION NOT IN QUESTION: (Aug 21) Despite his withdrawal from Sunday’s European mountainbike championships in Rhenen, the Netherlands, no interruption in Robin Seymour’s Olympic preparation is expected. The 29 year old pulled out of yesterday’s race with some back trouble, but these have been attributed more to the nature of the course rather than a fall he sustained last week. A large number of riders, including 1999 world champion Michael Rasmussen retired from the race, held on sand dunes and described as a ‘back-breaker’ of a course. Seymour will go for physiotherapy today ‘just for a check-up’, but expects to be fully fit for the forthcoming world cup race in Lausanne, Switzerland. He will dispute the Olympic cross-country mountainbike race on September 24th. Irish MTB XC Europeans Team: The cross country team for the European MTB Championships in Rhenen, Holland this weekend is; Senior: Robin Seymour and Tarja Owens, Under 23: Colm Mullen, Juniors: Glen Kinning and Ollie Gray.
IRISH NATIONAL MTB CHAMPIONSHIPS, SLIGO: (Aug 6) Elite men: 1, Robin Seymour (Helly Hansen) 1hr 51 mins 49 secs; 2, C. Mullen (Cycleways) at 12 mins 26 seconds; 3, D. Travers (Banbridge CC) at 13 mins 24 secs; 4, N. Quinlan (Cycleways) at 17 mins 10 secs; 5, Simon Loughlin at 22 mins 44 secs; 6, M. Dempsey (IMBRC) at 23 mins 43 secs Elite women: 1, Sadie Parker (Helly Hansen) 1 hr 31 mins 48 secs; 2, T. Owens (Helly Hansen) at 4 secs (wins Irish championship); 3, B. McCluskey (IMBRC) at 7 mins 52 secs Junior: 1, Ollie Gray (Cycleways) 1hr 21 38; 2, G. Kinning (Ards CC) at 1 min 24 secs; 3, J. Rippon at 3 mins 43 secs Expert: D. Foley (Sligo CC); Sports: Patrick Loughman (Killarney CC) (Vets. Knud Jensen (Sorrento CC); Masters: Robert Lamont (Newry Haldane Fisher); Under 16: Gavin Weston (IMBRC); Under 14: Tomas Jensen (Sorrento CC); Under 12; Patrick McTiernan (Eire Og) Pictures: <Elite Race> <Other Races> <The Podium>SEYMOUR AIMS FOR SEVENTH CONSECUTIVE TITLE: (Aug 4) This weekend, one of the most impressive records in Irish sport comes back to the fore when Elite Mountain bike rider Robin Seymour attempts to win his seventh successive national cross-country title. Seymour, who is targeting a top twenty finish in his debut Olympics in just over one month’s time, starts Sunday’s race in Union wood, Sligo as the clear favourite to take the men’s race. Similarly, his Helly Hansen team-mate and girlfriend Tarja Owens lines out in the women’s event seeking what will be her sixth consecutive gold medal. As sporting relationships go, that makes some pairing. <MORE>
July 2000 KILLARNEY CC - ROUND 4 NPS: Results - Expert: 1 Don Travers Bambridge, 2 Brett Nelson IMBRC, 3 Keith Meghen Unattached Pro-Elite: 1 Matt Slattery Team Killarney, 2 John Mason Premier, 3 Ryan Hamilton Phoenix CC Vets: 1 Peter Popham Team Raleigh, 2 Kevin Roberts Team Killarney Junior: Ollie Gray Cycle Ways, Ladies: Beth McCluskey IMBRC, Sport: Patrick Loughnane Team Killarney, U-12: Liam O'Rourke Team Killarney, U-14: Jamie Popham Team Raleigh, U-16: Johnny Hickey Team Killarney. LEINSTER CF CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS: (July 16) Seniors 1 Colm Mullen Cycleways 2 A Cartwright IMBRC 3 K Byrne IMBRC Masters 1 M Jordan IMBRC 2 C Higgins Sorrento 3 P Coyle unattached 1st Vet A Ryan Sorrento 1st Junior O Gray Cycleways 1st Sport P Hicks unattached U16 G Weston IMBRC U14 J Popham Team Raleigh U12 C Jensen Sorrento. Balbriggan XC Race Cancelled: Organiser Oliver McKenna has been forced to cancel the Leinster CF cross country event scheduled for the 30th July. The land has been sold for housing and this week the bull dozers have moved in, ruling out any future events. After the disappointment with Ardgillen Park last year, Oliver will have to look hard to get a new venue, he says he will definitely have it sorted for next year. European MTB Selections: Downhill: An ICF Team has been selected for the European Downhill Championships in Vars, France on July 29-30. The team is as follows: Elite Men DH: G O'Brien, J Lawlor, A Yoong, D O'Hara, R McKillen and P Gilsenan. Masters DH: M Dickson and S Bell. Manager Colin Finley. Colin will also be taking over the responsibilities of Eamonn Lawlor who resigned from the ICF MTB Committee at the end of May last. Cross Country: While the Cross Country Europeans are not till mid August in Rhenen, Holland, Peter Purfield has pre-selected a number of riders who will be given the opportunity to compete in the event. Final selection will take place on the 26th July and will be based on riders performances prior to that date. Preference will be given to U23 and juniors. The riders who already have been pre-selected are: Elite Men: R Seymour, P McNamara. U23 Men: M Slattery. Elite Women: T Owens, B McCluskey. Junior Men: O Gray, G Kinning. Both European championships are part funded by the ICF MTB international fund. As there are very limited funds available riders usually have to pay the greater portion of the cost. Irish Cross Country Championships Aug 6th: Venue: The
venue for the Championships will be Union Wood, Ballysadare, Co. Sligo.
The course is relatively easy to get to from the new dual carriage-way coming
into Sligo from Dublin & Galway, just take a right at the second
round-about, go about 3miles to a T junction, your in Ballygawley, take a left
and the course is another 2 miles along the road, the entrance to Union Wood is
on the left. If your coming from the North go through Sligo on the Dublin
road to the first round-about and go left, then immediately left again, then
immediately right, and follow the signs to the entrance to Union Wood approx
2miles on the right.
Camping: Camping is strictly prohibited at the venue in Union Wood, anyone intending to camp should contact Colin Bell Tel 071 71217. The nearest official campsite is in Sligo Town or Strandhill. Both campsites are close to amenities The ICF
National Points Series XC event for Sunday 2nd July will be held at
Carrick Mountain in County Wicklow. |
