First of all thanks to Tony and the Cuchulainns and Andy who owns Bellurgan for running this event.
Ok..the Course was difficult, but the lads had done their utmost to make it rideable and the weather fcuked it up for them.
Still, it was racing and everybody was racing on the same track.
It broke a lot of people and bikes, it wasn't exactly enjoyable but there were some fantastic results.
Carol got 3rd in Sports Women, it nearly killed her and she hated it but she was proud to represent the Club and get a podium.
Hughie got 2nd expert which was a great result, hats off to Stephen Scrivener from MAD who Dominated the Experts, superb win.
Alfie fought back hard after a puncture to get 5th in Masters, well done son.
Smithers got a very impressive 9th in Masters .
New EPIC member Killian Byrne got a podium in Sports , not sure of his place, sorry.
Fintan Hughes won the Junior race.
Robin once again showed his superb ability by running away with the Elites.
Myself and Robin have had many rows over the years, probably due to our passion for the sport but that always takes a back seat when I watch him race. He just seems to be unstoppable, at 38 he just seems to be as smooth and as fast as ever.
Well done Robin !
The course was well concieved, marked and the organisation without the assistance of Fergal was excellent.
The Cuchulainn boys went to great lengths to run a good race. Considering the weather they have had I consider it was a great success. Theres no denying it was too long and unrelenting but, its a new venue and I know for a fact that the lads broke their hearts to prove they could run an NPS in the future.
The venue was superb, the Portaloos were rank as ever ( I would just rather use a bush!! I have never liked Portaloos !!)
The MC and the Atmosphere legendary.
So well done to everybody even the broken people, but race organizers, consider shorter loops..this creates wheel to wheel snappy racing and gives people more enjoyment !
Richie ( full report and photos to follow!!)
Yea, tough old course, particulary the first half, the second half was alot better. The bike shops will be busy during the week with people looking for rear mechs and mech hangers!!!! Well done Alfie on your fight back up the field and Darragh and Hughie, great results.
Well I got 500mts and my rear-mech and bike decided to part company! Absolutely no idea what happened - definately didn't hit anything! Only thing I can think of is that a stone from the hardcore spread on the track (to cover the mud!) got stuck in the mech! I wasn't the only one either - the same thing happened to 4-5 other people!
Really difficult course which will be great on a dry July day - if we ever get one! Still ... had a good laugh with Richie at the Start-FInish! Congrats to everybody who finished and particularly to everybody who did well!
welldone to tony and all the cuchulainn crew tough course and tough racing but loved every minute of it:) mud and sweat flying everwhere bikes and bodies falling all about the place,i know some people will give out about the course but it will be an even better venue next season they have only been working on the course for a few months, i did 1 of there club spring league races a few weeks ago during the dry spell and it was a class race circuit the weather makes all the difference to most race circuits there are not many places that could cope with the weather we had on monday, tuesday or wednesday. i enjoyed it and its days like today ill remember forever thats why i love to mtb so thanks again cuchulainn a great day of racing;D
its always going be that race in Carlingford that was desperate but i think the people who won would have any way, barring mechanicals.
The weather was great, the course could be deadly in the dry, we had a difficult Blast course a couple of years ago because of the weather. 3 years in a row in Djouce the Weather has been cruel to us.
And yet Castlewellan has never been raced in the wet and so always stands out as everybodys favourite course !!
We have to deal the hand we are given and make the best of it. I have seen more than my fair share of crap courses and desperate races.
More than most of you will ever see, because they have all definitely improved and this one is defintely not one of those
Richie
found the practice lap abismal, but after sports and the drying out, 3/4's of the course was A1, very deamanding, but really enjoyable
some amazing flowing trails, deadly natural berms and techy bits that put a huge grin when ridden clean
really hope to race at that venue again!
must have been some work put into the course, well done Cuchulainn!
well fair play to all that took part, the first half with the think mud was very tough going. some great results from the Epic team. Alfie working his way back to to get 5th was some savage riding.
personlly i had a bad race nealy one of my worst days on the bike, had a great start got into the single track just behind smithers and steve near the front but a few slips and major loss of energy i just slipped further down the field. but didn't want to pull out so just kept going but there was some soul searching in parts. as also being part of epic and hearing Richie on the PA kept me pedeling.
really enjoyed the race yesterday,a seriously tough course in the wet but still really good in parts,cant wait to ride it in the dry...sick that i didnt get one of those trophys they looked deadly...well done cuichullan for the organisation and well done to all the riders for supporting the event....great venue for a national champs in the future!
Your some savage Alfie, my hart stopped when he came behind me I thought he was lapping me I was going to burn the bike and throw away all the bike gear and run of naked into the wilderness. I was never so happy to just let him go past me. Dealy event pitty about all the mechanicals but sh1t happens! Richie on the mc rocked the party as always well done to everyone who finished, very tough last lap!
I hated nearly every minute of yesterdays race,rode like my granny and at least twice told myself I shouldnt have worn my Epic jersey as I wasnt doing the club justice.It was only Richie on the mic and the other nice people shouting encouragement at the end of each lap that kept me going!And Conor from MAD gave me encouragement on the 2nd lap as he passed me!!A grime day,and when I got home every joint on my body was sore.Micky
A love it or hate it course for sure. I went through phases of both during the practice lap but loved every minute of it during the race. (except that trudge through the deep muddy fireroad at the start) I'd say it was fairly spectacular in the dry... Fair play Richie doing MC, I'd say you're dying to to race at this stage but it makes all the difference to the atmosphere having an abusive commentator! EPIC/MAD domination continues for another race!
Micky, I try and encourage anyone I can. Sure we were all going through the same torture! I kind of enjoyed my race, apart from the first 20 mins when I wanted to collapse.
And dont forget Micky, it was MAD who tought you how to be a mountainbiker, Richie and co just made you savage!
First of all thanks to Tony and the Cuchulainns and Andy who owns Bellurgan for running this event.
Ok..the Course was difficult, but the lads had done their utmost to make it rideable and the weather fcuked it up for them.
Still, it was racing and everybody was racing on the same track.
It broke a lot of people and bikes, it wasn't exactly enjoyable but there were some fantastic results.
Carol got 3rd in Sports Women, it nearly killed her and she hated it but she was proud to represent the Club and get a podium.
Hughie got 2nd expert which was a great result, hats off to Stephen Scrivener from MAD who Dominated the Experts, superb win.
Alfie fought back hard after a puncture to get 5th in Masters, well done son.
Smithers got a very impressive 9th in Masters .
New EPIC member Killian Byrne got a podium in Sports , not sure of his place, sorry.
Fintan Hughes won the Junior race.
Robin once again showed his superb ability by running away with the Elites.
Myself and Robin have had many rows over the years, probably due to our passion for the sport but that always takes a back seat when I watch him race. He just seems to be unstoppable, at 38 he just seems to be as smooth and as fast as ever.
Well done Robin !
The course was well concieved, marked and the organisation without the assistance of Fergal was excellent.
The Cuchulainn boys went to great lengths to run a good race. Considering the weather they have had I consider it was a great success. Theres no denying it was too long and unrelenting but, its a new venue and I know for a fact that the lads broke their hearts to prove they could run an NPS in the future.
The venue was superb, the Portaloos were rank as ever ( I would just rather use a bush!! I have never liked Portaloos !!)
The MC and the Atmosphere legendary.
So well done to everybody even the broken people, but race organizers, consider shorter loops..this creates wheel to wheel snappy racing and gives people more enjoyment !
Richie ( full report and photos to follow!!)
Yea, tough old course, particulary the first half, the second half was alot better. The bike shops will be busy during the week with people looking for rear mechs and mech hangers!!!! Well done Alfie on your fight back up the field and Darragh and Hughie, great results.
Well I got 500mts and my rear-mech and bike decided to part company! Absolutely no idea what happened - definately didn't hit anything! Only thing I can think of is that a stone from the hardcore spread on the track (to cover the mud!) got stuck in the mech! I wasn't the only one either - the same thing happened to 4-5 other people!
Really difficult course which will be great on a dry July day - if we ever get one! Still ... had a good laugh with Richie at the Start-FInish! Congrats to everybody who finished and particularly to everybody who did well!
welldone to tony and all the cuchulainn crew tough course and tough racing but loved every minute of it:) mud and sweat flying everwhere bikes and bodies falling all about the place,i know some people will give out about the course but it will be an even better venue next season they have only been working on the course for a few months, i did 1 of there club spring league races a few weeks ago during the dry spell and it was a class race circuit the weather makes all the difference to most race circuits there are not many places that could cope with the weather we had on monday, tuesday or wednesday. i enjoyed it and its days like today ill remember forever thats why i love to mtb so thanks again cuchulainn a great day of racing;D
its always going be that race in Carlingford that was desperate but i think the people who won would have any way, barring mechanicals.
The weather was great, the course could be deadly in the dry, we had a difficult Blast course a couple of years ago because of the weather. 3 years in a row in Djouce the Weather has been cruel to us.
And yet Castlewellan has never been raced in the wet and so always stands out as everybodys favourite course !!
We have to deal the hand we are given and make the best of it. I have seen more than my fair share of crap courses and desperate races.
More than most of you will ever see, because they have all definitely improved and this one is defintely not one of those
Richie
found the practice lap abismal, but after sports and the drying out, 3/4's of the course was A1, very deamanding, but really enjoyable
some amazing flowing trails, deadly natural berms and techy bits that put a huge grin when ridden clean
really hope to race at that venue again!
must have been some work put into the course, well done Cuchulainn!
well fair play to all that took part, the first half with the think mud was very tough going. some great results from the Epic team. Alfie working his way back to to get 5th was some savage riding.
personlly i had a bad race nealy one of my worst days on the bike, had a great start got into the single track just behind smithers and steve near the front but a few slips and major loss of energy i just slipped further down the field. but didn't want to pull out so just kept going but there was some soul searching in parts. as also being part of epic and hearing Richie on the PA kept me pedeling.
really enjoyed the race yesterday,a seriously tough course in the wet but still really good in parts,cant wait to ride it in the dry...sick that i didnt get one of those trophys they looked deadly...well done cuichullan for the organisation and well done to all the riders for supporting the event....great venue for a national champs in the future!
Your some savage Alfie, my hart stopped when he came behind me I thought he was lapping me I was going to burn the bike and throw away all the bike gear and run of naked into the wilderness. I was never so happy to just let him go past me. Dealy event pitty about all the mechanicals but sh1t happens! Richie on the mc rocked the party as always well done to everyone who finished, very tough last lap!
I hated nearly every minute of yesterdays race,rode like my granny and at least twice told myself I shouldnt have worn my Epic jersey as I wasnt doing the club justice.It was only Richie on the mic and the other nice people shouting encouragement at the end of each lap that kept me going!And Conor from MAD gave me encouragement on the 2nd lap as he passed me!!A grime day,and when I got home every joint on my body was sore.Micky
A love it or hate it course for sure. I went through phases of both during the practice lap but loved every minute of it during the race. (except that trudge through the deep muddy fireroad at the start) I'd say it was fairly spectacular in the dry... Fair play Richie doing MC, I'd say you're dying to to race at this stage but it makes all the difference to the atmosphere having an abusive commentator! EPIC/MAD domination continues for another race!
Micky, I try and encourage anyone I can. Sure we were all going through the same torture! I kind of enjoyed my race, apart from the first 20 mins when I wanted to collapse.
And dont forget Micky, it was MAD who tought you how to be a mountainbiker, Richie and co just made you savage!