June 2001

McDonald wins in Leadmines: (Jun 24) Apollo's 30+ master beat the senior elite riders to win the Toyota North Downs open cross country in the Leadmines Ards.  Early leaders included Simon Loughlin and Don Travers, McDonald who was lying in third place punctured about half way through the 8 lap race.  A quick repair and he was back chasing, finally overtaking the leader Don Travers with one lap to go. <See Pictures Here>

ENTRY FORMS FOR THE BRAY WEEKEND HERE: Closing date for entries for the combined weekend of Dual Racing on Bray Head Sat 7th July and NPS 1 Downhill in Ballinastoe Wood Sun 8th July is approaching soon. <Go Here for Entry Forms and Details>

SEYMOUR WINS AMERICAN RACE: (By Shane Stokes Jun 18) Olympic mountain bike rider Robin Seymour enhanced his chances of securing a team for the remainder of the season when he won the 4th round of the SRAM New England Series in Vermont. Despite tough opposition, the national MTB cross-country champion forged clear of the field with four others at the start of the race and then pressed ahead alone at the half-way point of the four lap race. He eventually finished one and a half minutes ahead of series leader Luis Francisco of the Trek team. Seymour's next race is the West Virginia round of the Norba series this weekend, with two American rounds of the World Cup scheduled in the coming weeks.

Moneyscalp Wood: (Jun 17) Don Travers won Round 2 of the Northern Ireland MTB XC League in Moneyscalp. <See Pictures Here>

Mountain Bike News: (By Peter Purfield Jun 7) The Irish MTB Scene has been given the all clear to resume, after months of inactivity due to the Foot & Mouth outbreak. Last week the ICF MTB Committee met to reschedule the Irish MTB calendar for the remainder of the season. A new revised Calendar is now available <Click Here to Download> although this is a Draft, more details will be added as they are finalised.  The important thing is to inform everybody as soon as possible.  MTB riders can be racing from next week if they wish.

To help kick start the MTB season the MTB committee have invited the race organisers to a meeting in Kelly Roche House next week.  This meeting will be in a workshop format, hopefully we can combine our efforts to make the most of the remainder of the season.

Some major changes to the calendar is that the XC Championships will be rescheduled for September 23rd in Bray and the popular Bray Downhill will be replaced with a Dual event on Bray Head on July 7th.

BMB NPS Cross Country Plymouth, UK: (Jun 3) <See Pictures Here> Elite men 6 laps: 1  LIAM KILLEEN TEAM Y2K 02:16:07, 2  OLI BECKINGSALE SCOTT UK 02:16:07, 3  BARRIE CLARKE DIAMONDBACK 02:18:01, 25  DON TRAVERS BANBRIDGE CC 02:36:02, 26  SIMON LOUGHLIN 02:37:24, 29  NIALL QUINLAN TEAM CYCLEWAYS/MAD 02:16:39, 30 -1 COLM MULLEN CYCLEWAYS/MAD 02:18:40 -1
Junior men 4 laps: 1  SIMON RICHARDSON MARIN 01:37:30, 2  PHILIP SPENCER MERLIN/ROCK LOBSTER 01:39:01, 3  JORDAN AVEYARD CYCLE FORCE 2000 01:41:55, 10  NIALL O'SHEA CYCLEWAYS/MAD 01:47:33
Youth men 2 laps: 1  ADAM GASCOIGNE MELTON OLYMPIC 00:50:42, 5  LEWIS FERGUSON X MTB 00:53:55, 12  CHRIS JONES X MTB 00:56:09, 22  MICHAEL MULVENNA X MTB 00:58:24

Preview the new 2001 draft calendar <New MTB Calendar Here> <Click Here to Download> do call back for the latest updates.

May 2001

Mountain Bikers Do Well in UK: (May 20) Glen Kinning from Belfast had a great race in the Tethford round of the RAV4 British MTB Series finishing 2nd in the Junior race. Beth McCluskey was 5th in the Senior Women's race, Thomas Jensen was 3rd in the Juvenile race and Knud Jensen was 10 in the Veterans event. <Pictures & Report Here>

SEYMOUR 57th in Houffalize: (May 20) The 3rd round of the Tissot UCI Mountain Bike World Cup was held in Houffalize, Belgium. Irish cross country MTB champion Robin Seymour rode a good race and finished in 57th out of 260 starters. Tarja Owens, qualified 40th for her event, but punctured during the race and did not finish.

Support Events: There were also strong performances for the two Irish riders competing in the Masters race on May 19. Out of a field of 100 riders, featuring the top masters competitors from Germany, Holland, Belgium & France, Aidan McDonald finished in 4th place and Mark Kenny 16th (riding for Team Rocky Mountain Bicycles)

OWENS RIDES WELL IN WORLD CUP RACE: (By Shane Stokes May 14) Irishwoman Tarja Owens yesterday showed the benefits of her season thus far with the Michela Fanini professional road team when she recorded one of her best ever performances in mountainbike competition. The Irish national MTB cross country champion finished a fine 35th in the second round of the Tissot UCI World Cup in Sarentino, Italy, despite losing time with a crash when she looked set for a top-25 placing. On the first lap, Owens had jumped from 31st on the grid to a place in the top twenty, only to be delayed at this crucial stage when she was knocked from her bike by another competitor.

For fellow Olympian Robin Seymour, there was disappointment. Starting well up on the grid due to his strong performance in round one at Napa, California last month, he had the luxury of being able to coast during the qualification time trial which determines the starting positions of those lower down the field. During the race he was lying 54th of 160 starters and climbing well, when he too was delayed - in this case, a rear wheel puncture hampered his progress. However, the inconvenience assumed much greater significance when, sole spare tube used, he then suffered a front wheel flat which ended his race.

Seymour's disappointment will be accentuated by the fact that he will now lose his automatic grid position for next weekend's race in Houffalize, Belgium and will have to worry about the qualification time trial once more.

Both of Ireland's other entrants will be happy with their performances in the supporting Masters event, for competitors over 30. Aidan McDonald from Dundalk had a storming race, placing 5th in his M2 class (for those 35-39 years of age), and 9th overall. Rocky Mountain team rider Mark Kenny followed up his fine 8th place in Napa by finishing a good 15th yesterday. They, like Seymour and Owens, will line out in the third round of the World Cup at the end of the week.

BMB DH 1 Fort William, Scotland: (May 13) Irish Results - Youth: 3rd Jamie Popham 5.46 7th Ben Reid 5.50 19th Greg Okeefe 6.52 Junior: 4th Colin Ross 5.13 7th Will Corry 5.27 Elite: 12th G.Obrien 5.06 17th J.Lawlor 5.13 38th A.Yoong 5.32 44th M.McGuigan 5.49 46th J.O'Carroll 5.53 47th D.Halton 6.09 49th A.Clogher 6.18

April 2001

Banbridge Open MTB event Postponed: (Marty Kearns Apr 26) Banbridge Cycling Club's open mountain bike event for Sunday 27th May in Gill Hall Estate, Dromore is to be postponed to later in the season.

SEYMOUR 45th in NAPA: (Apr 8) Irish mountain bike cross country champion Robin Seymour finished 45th in the first round of the Tissot-UCI World Cup series in Napa Valley, California. The 30-year-old conceded just 9 minutes and 8 seconds to Spanish winner Jose Antonio Hermida of the Bianchi Motorex team. Seymour's fellow Irishman Philip McNamara was 95th of 121 entrants.

News from the UCI World of cycling: (By Pini Fabienne UCI Release Apr 6) The 2001 Tissot-UCI Mountain Bike World Cup will kick off under the shining sun of Napa Valley in California (USA) for the 5th consecutive year this coming week-end (7-8.04.2001). One of the new feature is the introduction of time trials events which will normally take place the day before the Cross-Country Elite events. These time trial events will definitely show us new talents since the winner of this event will have the opportunity of being on the first line at the start of the Cross-Country event the following day. A new yellow leader jersey for this event and a general ranking will be maintained throughout the season. Another feature will be the bike nameplates instead of number plates for the top 20 men and top 10 women in each discipline.

SEYMOUR HAPPY WITH RIDE IN AMERICAN RACE: (By Shane Stokes Apr 2) Despite his lack of race fitness, Olympic mountain-bike competitor Robin Seymour performed above his expectations to finish 11th in the Sizzler Classic in California. As a warm-up competition for the forthcoming first round of the World Cup in Napa Valley, many top grade riders were in attendance and Seymour rode well to concede just 7 minutes to world number 8 Bas Van Dooren of the Netherlands. Canadian rider Andreas Hestler was second.

Seven times national champion Seymour will compete in the Napa World Cup race on Sunday, and intends spending most of the 2001 season racing in America. The Wicklowman had previously competed for the English Helly Hansen team but decided, after top-35 finishes in the world championships and Olympic games last year, to immerse himself in tougher competition this season.

‘I intend racing for another couple of years and really want to give it a decent shot,’ he says. ‘I still feel that I am improving but in order to get the most out of myself, I had to decide to get out of England and go to where the competition is a bit tougher. I raced in America last year and really enjoyed it, so the goal is to stay over there, ride well and earn a place with a good team.’

FIRST ICF NPS XC POSTPONED: (Apr 2) in relation to the foot and mouth outbreak Apollo ct were to promote the first round of the cross country league at Ravensdale

the restrictions will not be lifted on this area by race date we are postponing the race to later in the season (most likely in early July for good preparation for the championships) a definite date will be released in ample time. - Myles McCorry Apollo ct PRO

March 2001

ICF MTB News 27th March - <To read it Click Here>

Road Racing to resume but Mountain Bikers Not to go Off-Road: (Mar 16) While there is some relaxation on the restrictions of movement in the light of the Foot and Mouth situation, the Government are allowing indoor sports to resume this weekend and some outdoor sports next weekend.  However the high risk sports and activities that go onto farmland, forestry or into wild life areas are still banned.  MTB events are due to start up in April (see calendar), at this stage it is unsure if the restrictions will be over by then.

• Don’t visit the countryside

• Don’t travel from farm to farm

• Avoid gatherings of people ie. sports, agri - events,

• Don’t engage in hunting or shooting if this involves going onto farmland or publicly owned land with animals thereon.

• Do not enter farmland without the permission of the farm owner

• All anglers should refrain from fishing at this time

See more information on the Irish Government Website Here >>

SEYMOUR STARTS WELL: (By Shane Stokes Mar 3) Irish mountain bike champion Robin Seymour yesterday finished an encouraging 14th of 80 riders in his first race of the year, in Sestre Livante, Italy. Expecting a modest line-up in this first round of the Italian national points series, the Olympian instead found himself competing against many top-ranked world riders.

Olympic and world champion Miguel Martinez of France proved fastest, with Italians Marco Bui and Hubert Pallhuber next, but despite his lack of recent racing Seymour rode well to finish in the top fifteen. He intends focusing on world cup and American competition this season.

ICF MTB NEWS: Mountain Bikers Do Not go Off-Road: (Mar 1) In view of the seriousness of the Foot and Mouth situation, the ICF MTB representative Peter Purfield requests all MTB cyclists to refrain from going off-road until the situation improves.  The implications of the spread of Foot and Mouth could have devastating consequences for this country.  We must play our part to ensure that we do not aid the possible spread of this decease.  I would ask you all to please follow these basic guidelines until further notice;

• Do Not go off-road on foot or by bike. 

• Avoid trips in the countryside in any form (by Car, on Bike or on Foot)

ICF CANCELS EVENTS DUE TO FOOT AND MOUTH: (By Shane Stokes Mar 1) The Irish Cycling Federation have become the latest sporting body to cancel its immediate sporting fixtures due to the Foot and Mouth crisis. The racing season was due to begin this weekend with competitors travelling from all over the country to venues in Annaclone, Navan and Cork, but these events will not now take place because of the risks of spreading the virus.

According to Ciaran McKenna of the ICF, races are suspended for the next fortnight at least, with further cancellations certain if the crisis lingers. The ICF have also asked competitors not to travel abroad to events elsewhere. ‘It would make no sense for people to be prevented from racing here but to be able to go abroad and carry on’, he says.

February 2001

Some of the winners at the ICF MTB League Presentations in Bray on Sunday 25th

ADVENTURE SPORT: Cycle to the centre of the Earth - Plummeting at breakneck speed through disused tunnels in an old salt mine were some of the world's best downhill mountain-bike riders. Shane Stokes went 600 metres underground to watch the surreal race. Read the full story in the Irish Times >>

OWENS LANDS SLOT WITH PROFESSIONAL TEAM: (By Shane Stokes Feb 8) Olympic mountain bike rider Tarja Owens has become the latest Irish cyclist to secure a place with a professional cycling team, signing for one year with the Italian SC Michela Fanini set up. Having decided to concentrate on road racing for two years in order to better prepare for the Athens games in 2004, she will travel next Tuesday to the team base in Tuscany to begin life with the elite squad.

'I don't really have much experience of road racing', she confesses, 'but decided that it would be good preparation for the next Olympics if I was to spend two years doing it. I got in touch with all the squads and landed a slot with the Michela Fanini team - they are a really good set-up and it should be very good to help me develop.' More on this and other Reports HERE >>

PRIZE PRESENTATION:  On the 25th Feb. the Irish Cycling Federation MTB Committee will present the awards for the National Points Series mountainbike races.  The awards will be for the 2000 NPS for both cross country and downhill, the 1999 DH NPS and also the Underage Irish DH Championship medals.  The presentation will take place in THE MARTELLO HOTEL BRAY SEAFRONT BRAY Co WICKLOW and will start at 3.00pm.
MEETING This will be preceded by a open meeting for all riders and organisers starting at 1.45pm.It are hoped a good attendance from everyone interested in the sport will help to improve mountain bike racing for 2001. MEMBERS WANTED FOR COMMITTEE: Before the start of the prize giving a open Meeting will be held starting at 1.45 pm for all those interested racing in, or organising MTB events. During this meeting it is hoped that those people interested in joining the MTB committee would put their names forward for inclusion on the 2001 committee. To effectively run events the committee needs people who can commit to taking and organising various elements of the sport. Your involvement is both welcome and necessary.  After the awards light refreshments will be served. Results are available <See NPS Results Here>

Info. for Vail World Championships is now available at: http://www.uci.ch/english/mtb/worlds_mondiale/worlds_2001/index.htm & http://www.vail01.com/

UCI MTB Newsletter (PDF format): New Rule Changes / Calendar: http://www.uci.ch/english/data_lang/data_2001/offroadnews_200012.PDF