Favourable weather conditions and a well designed course on private land made for some excellent racing in an enjoyable day for all involved as the Cyclo-cross season heads to a conclusion.
The 2024 Cyclo-cross National Championships was on everyone's mind as the dust settled on Sunday evening, but not after a fast and furious day of racing as riders competed for round six and overall victory.
Dean Harvey, fresh off a block of racing in Belgium over the festive period, was in flying form in the senior race. Harvey finished well clear of the field as Tadhg Killeen's fourth place earned him overall victory in the category.
Greta Lawless came out victorious on what could be considered home soil in the women's race, the Team WORC rider and Aliyah Rafferty thrilled in a tremendous battle between the junior stars as Lawless pulled out a small gap in the final two laps for victory ahead of Rafferty and Aine Doherty to make an all-junior top three.
Conor Murphy returned from an impressive stint in Belgium to take a commanding victory in the junior race, elsewhere David Gaffney finished in third and sealed the overall win in the category.
In the masters categories, there were big wins for Glenn Kinning, Alan Bingham and Johnny McCabe as the experienced riders took victory in the M40, M50 and M60 categories respectively. McCabe's win meant he took every round of the series on the way to overall M60 victory while Marcus Flavin was the overall winner in the M40 category as Fearghal Regan was crowned overall winner in the M50 category.
In the U14 category, Katie Turner won her fourth round of the series as she claimed overall victory in the U14 girls race. In the U14 boys race, Josh McClune took victory after a great battle with James Cunningham while Kieran Mulvaney took overall victory in the category.
James Armstrong took overall victory in the U16 boys category, but was second on the day to the impressive Ryan Daly. In the U16 girls race, Emer Heverin was strongest as she claimed the win and overall victory in the category.
After a successful second Cyclo-cross National Series, attention now switches to the National Championships this weekend, January 13th and 14th, hosted by Greenmount Cycling Academy.
Full results from Round Six of the Cyclo-cross National Series click here
2023/24 Cyclo-cross National Series Overall Winners
Senior
1 - Tadhg Killeen (Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospacial)
2 - Travis Harkness (Spellman-Dublin Port)
3 - Richard Barry (St. Finbarrs CC)
Senior Women
1 - Doireann Killeen (Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospacial)
2 - Stephanie Roche (Scott Racing IRL)
3 - Caoimhe May (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club)
Junior
1 - David Gaffney (Villeneuve Cycliste)
2 - Maximilian Fitzgerald (JEGG-DJR Academy)
3 - Michael Collins (Newcastle West Cycling Club)
Junior Women
1 - Aliyah Rafferty (Tofauti Everyone Active)
2 - Greta Lawless (Team WORC)
3 - Aine Doherty (VC Glendale)
M40
1 - Marcus Flavin (Dungarvan CC)
2 - Ronan O’Flynn (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club)
3 - Barry Paul Dunne (Kildare Cycling Club)
M50
1 - Fearghal Regan (Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospacial)
2 - Jason Henry (Inspired Cycling)
3 - Declan McEntee (Emyvale CC)
M60
1 - Johnny McCabe (Cuchulainn CC)
2 - Paul Birchall (Verge Sport PI Cycles)
3 - Anthony Talt (Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospacial)
Masters Women
1 - Jean Wilson (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club)
2 - Emma Convey (EPIC MTB/Expert Cycles)
3 - Hazel Murphy (Yellow Furze Road Club)
U16 Boys
1 - James Armstrong (VC Glendale)
2 - Caleb McGreevy (VC Glendale)
3 - Hugh Og Mulhearne (Verge Sport PI Cycles)
U16 Girls
1 - Emer Heverin (Kinning Cycles Cycling Club)
2 - Ami Flavin (Dungarvan CC)
3 - Mia Geary (Fermoy Cycling Club)
U14 Boys
1 - Kieran Mulvaney (Sliabh Luachra Cycling Club)
2 - James Cunningham (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club)
3 - Eoin Davis (Bohermeen CC)
U14 Girls
1 - Katie Turner (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club)
2 - Ciara Flavin (Dungarvan CC)
3 - Ava Baker (Breffni Wheelers)
Full Overall results are available click here
Cyclo-cross National Series Round Six Preview
The sixth and final round of the 2023/24 Cyclo-cross National Series takes place this Sunday, January 7th, in Kilgobbin, Co. Dublin.
After a fantastic series saw some great days of racing for all involved, the series concludes in the capital as Team WORC play host.
The standard of competition has been better than ever this season, with every category's overall rankings still up for grabs as we head into the final round - with the exception of the M60 category as recently crowned M65-69 world champion Johnny McCabe taking five victories in a row to seal the overall win.
With the Cyclo-cross National Championships to follow next weekend, riders are likely to be in top form as they fine tune preparation for the championships as well as compete for the National Series points on offer in the final round.
Here's everything you need to know ahead of round six of the 2023/24 Cyclo-cross National Series:
Date and Location
Round Six of the Cyclo-cross National Series takes place in Kilgobbin, Co. Dublin, on Sunday, January 7th.
Racing will take place on private land and the course can only be accessed on the day of the event. The location can be found here.
Those attending the event should follow marshals directions for parking, further details will be announced on the club's social media platforms.
Schedule
9:50am - Under 6s
10:00am - Under 8s
10:15am - Under 10s
10:35am - Under 12s
11:30am - Under 14s, Under 16s, Women
12:55pm - Junior, M50s, M60s, Support race
2:15pm - Senior, M40s
Categories
The following categories will be included in the Cyclo-cross National Series:
• Under 14 boys
• Under 14 girls
• Under 16 boys
• Under 16 girls
• Junior
• Women (an additional prize for the first unplaced Junior and master on each round)
• Senior
• M40
• M50
• M60
Quotes Corner
Team WORC said:
"The 6th and final round of the 2023/2024 Cyclo-cross National Series is to be held by Team WORC on a new venue in Kilgobbin on the South Side of Dublin. A rare opportunity to compete on private land on the edge of the city, the course features a mixture of old wood land, grass, some tarmac and gravel path. The course has a few tricky sections, some off cambers, kickers, potentially a running section depending on conditions and faster more open riding."
Entries for the Cyclo-cross National Championships close at midnight on Sunday, September 7th.
Results from round five can be found click here
The current standings can be found click here
More information on the 2023/24 Cyclo-cross National Series can be found click here