AIKEN WINS ULSTER CROSS CHAMPS

Posted in: Shane Stokes
By Shane Stokes
Nov 30, 2009 - 1:45:00 PM

Former Irish champion Roger Aiken (Banbridge CC) finished comfortably clear at the end of Sunday’s Ulster Cyclo Cross championship in Kilbroney Park on Sunday, beating Connor McConvey (De-Brink Ten Tuccher) by 14 seconds at the end of the race.

The duo showed they were the strongest early on when they broke clear of the rest of the field, leaving Lewis Ferguson (Curran Racing) as the closest chaser.

They in turn were being pursued by Joe Mc Call (Rocky Mountain), Ryan Sherlock (MAD MTB), Evan Ryan (Team WORC), Glenn Kinning (Castlereagh CC), Liam McGreevy (Banbridge CC) and the Canadian rider Mark Pagell.

There was a regrouping of sorts by the halfway point, with seven riders joining up at the front, but towards the end Aiken and McConvey accelerated and drew clear once again to fight it out for the win.

Aiken finally managed to shake McConvey off on the final lap and soloed to victory, showing promising form in the build-up to the national championships.

Sherlock finished 36 seconds behind McConvey in third place, while Evan Ryan (4th) and McCall (5th) sprinted in very soon afterwards.

Glen Kinning, Lewis Ferguson, Mark Pagell, Liam McGreevey and Sean O’Tuathail completed the top ten.

Of the other categories, Peter McConville was twelfth and won the Ulster veteran’s prize. Matthew Adair (Banbridge CC) finished 16th and was the first junior, while Francine Meehan (Tullamore CTC) was first woman. Claire Oakley (XMTB McConvey Cycles) took the Ulster women's CX prize. Banbridge CC was best team.

The main event was preceded by the underage races. The winners there were Mantas Spirius (Juiced Orchard, under 16), Chris Oakley (XMTB McConvey Cycles, under 14), Aaron Swan (TSC Racing, under 12), Stuart Dunlop (Banbridge, under 10), Chris Curry (Banbridge CC, under 8).


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Ulster cyclo cross championships/SuperCross Round 3, Kilbroney Park (promoted by Newry Wheelers):

1, Roger Aiken 53:51
2, Conor Mc Convey 54:05
3, Ryan Sherlock 54:41
4, Evan Ryan 54:50
5, Joe Mc Call 54:51
6, Glen Kinning 55:45
7, Lewis Ferguson 56:09
8, Mark Pagell 56:15
9, Liam McGreevy 57:08
10, Sean O Tuathail 57:30
11, Alan Clogher 57:59
12, Peter Mc Conville 58:14
13, Aidan Mc Donald 58:57
14, Andy Newman 59:49
15, Noel Carr 59:56
16, Matthew Adair 01:00:12
17, John Bogues 01:00:21
18, Willliam Mulligan 01:02:31
19, Luke Ireland 01:02:37
20, Stuart Gallloway 01:03:37
21, Jason Henry 00:54:06
22, Kevin Lynch 00:54:25
23, Simon Curry 00:54:52
24, Niall Quinlan 00:54:55
25, William Boyd 00:55:11
26, Mark Salon 00:55:36
27, Francine Meehan 00:56:11
28, Rodney Hanna 00:56:40
29, Greg Campbell 00:57:00
30, Stephen Moffitt 00:57:54
31, Colm Robinson 01:00:22
32, Fred Mc Sorley 01:00:23
33, Ivan McConville 01:03:51
34, Claire Oakley 01:04:40
35, Kevin Murdock 00:57:02
36, Jeff Finn 00:57:31
37, Philip McGovern 00:57:55
38, Connor McGrane 01:06:54

DNF: Cormac Clarke, Gareth Gormely, Colm Ahern, Graham Boyd, Greg May


Underage:

Under 16:

1, Mantas Spirius (Juiced Orchard)
2, Aimee Ogilby (XMTB McConvey Cycles)

Under 14:

1, Chris Oakley (XMTB McConvey Cycles)
2, Craig Crawford (TSC Racing)
3, Mark Downey (Banbridge CC)

Under 12:

1, Aaron Swan (TSC Racing)
2, Luke Hanna (Newry Wheelers)
3, James Curry (Banbridge CC)

Under 10:

1, Stuart Dunlop (Banbridge)
2, Joel Smyth (XMTB McConvey Cycles)
3, Craig McCarthy (Castlereagh CC)

Under 8:

1, Chris Curry (Banbridge CC)
2, Charley Dunlop (Banbridge CC)