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Multiple cyclo-cross champion Robin Seymour’s dream of taking a fourteenth straight national title was dashed on Saturday when he was defeated by Roger Aiken in the 2004 championship race at Kilbroney Park, Rostrevor.
Seymour went into the race still smarting from a rare defeat in the third round of the Northern Ireland race one week ago but despite his determination to get the better of Aiken this time round, the Banbridge rider proved too strong. The two were neck and neck for most of the contest but Aiken was quickest in the sprint finish which decided the race, so winning his first national title.
A disappointed Seymour took silver with Owen Jeffries landing bronze, 59 seconds later.
A total of forty-six riders lined out for the seven-lap Newry Wheelers event, which took place on a two mile course featuring a mix of terrain. The expected head-to-head between Seymour and Aiken didn’t take long to materialise, with the gold and silver medal winners from last year pressing ahead of the rest of the field on the first lap and opening a sizeable lead.
Seymour drew slightly clear each lap on the run-up to the hill before the finish but was unable to establish any sort of lasting advantage over Aiken. As a result, the title went right down to the final 200 metres. Here the younger rider’s road racing experience paid off with a strong sprint to the line, so bringing a dramatic end to Seymour’s golden run.
Jefferies was next home, finishing just four seconds clear of the 2003 bronze medallist Lewis Ferguson (Team Fergie). Robert Lamont (XMTB) and VC Glendale’s Brendan Doherty completed the top six, while the under 16 title went to Newry Wheelers’ Ronan Byrne. Banbridge had a clean sweep in the under 14 race, Sean Downey winning ahead of Liam McGreevy and Matt Quinn. Michael Runciman, Robbie Lamont and Mark Downey were the one-two-three in the under 12 contest.
WORC took the team prize in the main event, Seymour’s second place combining with that of David Gill (7th) and Philip Roche (8th) to net the best club award.
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Roger Aiken
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Irish national cyclo-cross championships, Kilbroney Park, Rostrevor:
1, Roger Aiken (Banbridge) 1 hour 1 min 45 secs
2, Robin Seymour (Team WORC) at 2 secs
3, Owen Jefferies (Rockansium CRE) at 59 secs
4, Lewis Ferguson (Team Fergie) at 1 min 3 secs
5, Robert Lamont (XMTB) at 1 min 59 secs
6, Brendan Doherty (VC Glendale) at 3 mins 15 secs
7, David Gill (Team WORC) at 4 mins 52 secs
8, Philip Roche (Team WORC) at 5 mins 22 secs
9, Adam Kelly (Bray Wheelers) at 5 mins 41 secs
10, Brian Keane (Dublin Wheelers) at 5 mins 51 secs
11, Ross Blaney (Ards CC) same time
12, Robert Moore (Stamullen M. Donnelly) at 7 mins 51 secs
Team: Team WORC (Seymour, Gill, Roche)
Other results:
13th Mick Stead Killcullen 1.09.50 (race time)
14th Drew McKinley Newry Whs 1.10.05
15th Stephen O'Sullivan Cycleways 1.10.25
16th Andrew McAlister ECV 1.10.35
17th Niall Quinnlan Cycleways 1.11.12
18th Stewart Galloway WORC 1.11.38
19th Andrew McSorley Apollo 1.11.54
20th Willaim Mulligan Banbridge CC 1.12.20
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IRISH CYCLO CROSS CHAMPIONSHIP DETAILS (Dec 3)
A humdinger of a contest looks to be in store tomorrow at the Irish national cyclo-cross championships in Kilbroney Park, Rostrevor. Thirteen-times Irish champion Robin Seymour squares up against a number of challengers, including last weekend’s winner of the Northern Ireland league race Roger Aiken.
The championship course has a good balance of terrain, with hills, flat grass areas, wooded sections, gravel paths and tarmac stretches plus several dismounts all featuring. Underage riders will be first to start at 11 am, with the main event following at 12.30.
Seymour’s Team WORC squad will be one of the favourites for the team award, with Banbridge, XMTB and the promoting club Newry Wheelers also in the running.