2009 NPS reviews

I just thought i would say a small piece about this years XC NPS from my point of view as EPIC President.
First I think the efforts made by Fergal Kilkenny, Sean Herlihy , Morgan O'Connell and the Offroad Commission have re energized the nps and established it as the Premier XC points series in the Country.
EPIC had a great nps with loads of us finishing the series in high positions. We had loads of new riders doing great, establishing us as the most successful XC racers in the Country.
We ran the final round which was a huge success and a great team effort, but none of the rounds would have been the success they were without the assistance of Fergal Kilkenny.
He introduced the Red tag timing system, the online sign on and even the coloured number plates.
He even dug some of the track for rnd 1 in killarney.
The highlights for me were the after race craic in Killarney.
The Carlingford Singletrack
The Sunshine and the hospitality in lady Dixon Park
the craic i had at the MADs nps
And everything at our nps on Sunday..but to see all our saturday spinners and Thursday night racers competing like pros and having the craic was the biggest win for us.
the National Points series is the arena our best riders should be found, its the proving ground for our up and coming XC riders. It was great to see so many riders from other clubs doing so well too, from Matt Adair in the under16s , Conal Higgins from Sorrento in Juniors and Gerry mcCabe from cuchulainn in Elites, not to mention the 2 boys in the Masters , Oisin from MAD and Rob Tobin from IMBRC..and of Course the 2 Edge shop Boys , James and Rory..these are just examples theres loads more.
Obviously XC racing is not for everybody, its hard ,regardless of whether its in Parks or in Mountain forests, and there are fools out there who think its not cool or as deadly as other disciplines, but they are wrong.
It takes huge skill and fitness and balls to be a good xc racer, there are so many things to master before you become a good one. So many basic skills to ingrain into your behaviour before you develop the co-ordination and the technique to go flat out on a technical singletrack and not doubt yourself, when your sitting right up and this 22lb skeleton bike is threatening to send you sideways in to a tree.
It also takes a lot of nerve to wear full lycra and a lot of effort to look like you belong in it.
but XC racing will make you a better Mountainbiker and while i've been to crap races on good tracks and great races on crap tracks, I always have the craic, especially this year.
So fair play to everybody in EPIC and all the other clubs who made the effort to attend and compete in this years NPS.
Next years will be even better.
Richie

Well said! Five bikes later I can say that was a deadly season!
XC racing is all about the people involved and every race this season was a pleasure to attend thanks to the commitment of racers (sports and senior alike), organisers, supporters and Fergal!

I can't speak for the racing element as I only did one, but having done so I have a whole new level of respect for those that do this on a regular basis. Especially for new guys like Smithers and RicardL who are new to the sport yet are happy to throw themselves in the deep end and feel the pain, infact anyone who can push themselves hard for 2, 3 and 4 laps are legends in my books.

A big shout out to the Commission for making a great success out of the NPS. Without them the whole thing would go to sh1t. A massive ammount of sacrifice and heart ache goes into these things and I for one am very greatfull for their efforts.

"it also takes alot of nerve to wear full lycra and alot of effort to look like you belong in it" Too True I was very sheepish when I first turned up in that gear and to tell you the truth quite embarresed but hey look at me now!!!! Hairless legs,lycra all over and its all thanks to Epic.
I have to thank Richie and all at Epic for getting me involved in racing,I only threw my leg over a mountain bike in late October last year and never crossed my mind that I would be racing in the NPS's Didnt even know what an NPS was, nevermind racing every week in our club league aswell.
The effort that goes into running anything like this is massive,thanks to all who give up there time to make these events happen.
Looking forward to next year's already!!! Bring on the Masters.

There's very little you can add to those inspiring comments! We are all so hot in Epic lycra, right now!
I've had loads of folks asking me "how can I be part of this"... sitting were I was on sunday gave me a great feeling of being part of something special, Dame it, I love you crazy guys and gals!!!!

Have to agree with everyone. Although I've been bike with epic a few years this was the first time I went racing. Really not that competitive minded and was always nerves that Alfie would lap me during the races!! but I really enjoyed the NPS this year. I found it really hard at the start but always tried my hardest to finish and as high up as I could. I found I was always pushed on by the epic supporters and fellow epic riders. I learnt so much from people about racing and riding the bike this year which is great.

Epic did great this year across the board with many first time riders and was great to be apart if it. Just shows what the club league and hard sunday spins does for you. :)

the one good thing about this years NPS..well for, me ,Alfie and Luke is that its been great training for our September trip to Scotland with Damo..I don't know how Roo and BON are going to cope, then again they are well ahead on the drinking training..