First of all well done to Paul Barry, Gar, Luke, Colm and all the rest of the Club for doing a great job.
The course is brilliant, event the stupid offcamber field of death is great but having talked to the lads over the past two days, this event nearly broke them.The NPS has gotten so big, the stakes are so high and the criticism so fierce that the pressure to run a fantastic event is enormous.
Now normally I don't feel sorry for anybody but I did genuinely feel sorry for the lads, The Weather is such a cnt in Ireland, I know from my own experiences that it can make or break a race. They had to weigh up every option yesterday and today but it put huge strain on the club and the relationships in it.
So fair play and I admire what they did over the two days and recognise the effort they put in to the whole show.
The racing was deadly and that bombhole is definitely THE Feature of the Year.
But I think it is time for one group to run the NPS..the IMBRC struggled for marshalls and there were several spots marshalls were needed and when I say Marshalls I don't mean some kid in a high viz.
So well done to the organisers..after all they had to battle a demotivated MTB Community after those ******s in limerick dropped their round.
The IMBRC is actually much smaller than you think. They have no Dictator running the show so they decide everything like reasonable human beings so sometimes it makes things harder.
Great results allround folks, especially to all the sneaky practice bandits who have been riding the course up there for ages.
I salute you..great result for Gar McKee..I am really looking forward the the Nationals now..
Mark McGauley is really motoring , Max was just there and old man Doris, he keeps telling me hes had enough but theres still fire in his belly !!
Great turnout from EPIC and its the first time ever being proud of Richard Lynch..riding the bombhole like a pro..certain EPIC Senior 3s didn't..I will find out and when I do..I'll leave the rest to your imagination.
Savage result for Marlena, Rob and all the other Youth and Underage riders..
Again, only one Junior Matt Adair..
Wake up Cycling Ireland and do something about that !
Unlaoised are now officially my adopted non Dublin/English speaking Club..
Gav Kelly was spectacular in the Bomhole and Aidan McDonald second Senior 1..fantastic..
Next Saturday..yeah I know, but the Holy God of the North won't allow some people race of a Sunday, so Martin Grimley is running a race on Dunmore..I'm going and I want my rippers to go..
So come on..lets build up some steam for the XC Nationals In Kilruddery !!
Well done everybody especially Colm who rode his first ever XC race today..
It takes a lot of guts to race XC , more than people get credit for !
Richie
That's a brilliant summary of the day, can't add much more!
Savage course and great racing, thanks to IMBRC for putting on a great show and to our pit crew for bottles and encouragement (I think I left a bottle up there, does somebody have it?). Great turnaround from Epic and some great results too!
I had a good race and finished well but I still think I can do better, roll on Nationals!
just to add..well done to Shona, Erica and Caroline for the bottles and the encouragement and to all the other supporters and Mums and Dads and critters ! you are essential to these events.
THis is the first NPS series in years that we have seen consistent attendance from people all over the Country..I saw Handlebars McGann there with his "special" friend all the way from Sligtrim or Rossmayo or one of those places near Knock Airport !
keep coming Dar..its not the same with you..
Yea well done to all the guys in IMBRC, they put on a great event over the two days with the relay yesterday and the Nps today. The course was great and the bombhole section is brilliant, although the climb out of it was a killer every lap. Course was completely different to yesterday, it's amazing how much it dried out! Well done all the Epic finishers, it was tough going in the heat and the breeze today. Was having a good race with Smithers until his back gave up again! Get yourself a nice full suss man!!!
Oh yea, thanks to Shona and the gang for bottles and encouragement, it was definitely needed today..
Yes, great summary indeed !
Huge pat on the back to IMBRC, what a course !! A lot of work went into the course and organisation, it all paid off !!
The bombhole section, that was an experience in itself, the roars of the crowd ( probably hoping you'd crash !) the cowbells, the sound of the rider coming down behind you, jeez it was magic !
Big thanks to Alfie for sorting my brakes out, and to Shona for the lend of the rear wheel , not to mention the best and loudest feedzone crew on the mountain !
Well done all Epic racers :)
God that was tough! Big thanks to all the IMBRC lads - a great two days racing! On the way down I had decided to "wimp" on the Bombhole but Alfie stopped and showed me the line during my practice lap, told me I could do it ...... and he was right - great buzz! Totally blew up after my first lap, disgusted with myself but settled down and felt better for the 2nd half of the race! I really enjoy the craic and comraderie of the NPSs but Jeysus I wish they were a bit easier!!! Many thanks to the crew at the start/finish for the bottles and encouragement!
Fair play Richard, you always had it in you!
As for XC racing... yes it's fekin hard and I always wish I was somewhere else during the race (think beach, drink with an umbrella and sexy girls in bikinis). Afterwards though, you feel deadly and nothing compares to the sense of accomplishment when you finish a race.
Well I'm totally Shattered after that but what a great 2 days XC racing and a great course.
Congrats to all in IMBRC for putting on a great show and even beating the weather which made a huge effort to spoil the party! Course was much drier than yesterday which meant for great racing. Had a great aul battle with Rudolf in the middle of the race and a banbridge racer near the end. Usual story for me of showing too much caution in the first 2 laps & then throwing caution to the wind for the last 2 when u start to find the best lines and crshinga few times. Thanks to the epic pit crew, best in the world, would have died without the bottles in the heat so thnx a mill, great encouragement all round the course too which makes such a difference when you're hurting so bad! think i left 2 bottles up there so if anyone has them would be great. Sangers and cake washed down with iced blackcurrant was fab. Well done to all the epic racers and well done IMBRC!
Yep, great show indeed, Bombhole stole the show, Led the 1st lap and blew me back out in the second part of the bombhole, lost a load of places but kept going, couldnt face BYRNER if i didnt finish another race, have to get a full sus old age catching up.
Big thanks to our bottliers for refreshments and encouragment really needed i tells yah. Great to see so many Epicurians out racing, well done to Colm on his 1st NPS too and all the racers who finished, it was a tough course and now where to hide.
IMBRC did a great job full stop well done lads.
that was a great turn-out for a great race, I'm delighted for Paul Barry and the IMBRC heads that everyone enjoyed the pain, speed, roots, slips, slidders, cramps, thoughts-of-being-somewhere-else (great mental imagery there Maxy!) to ease the stinging in the legs and all the rest that goes with XC racing.
It NEVER gets any easier, but sitting back in the sun now after a feed that would satisfy a small army, it was all worth it.
Thanks to Shona and the MAD pit crew for the roars of encouragement- they really helped getting up the last evil kicker before the feed zone-that yoke was steep!
Well done to the Epic racers today. I think I've done about 20 races this year of one sort or the other but that was the toughest! Maybe it was the heat, the roots or the sticky mud. Either way it was really enjoyable. All credit due to IMBRC, they were still digging and fixing the course when I was out on my warm-up lap. The bombhole was a super addition to the race this year.
Thanks the Epic crew. My bottle was there waiting for me on cue at the start of the 4th lap.
Deadly race. I went too hard at the start, but settled in and had a very enjoyable race.
The bombhole was rad to the power of max... the cheers & cowbells....
I missed it on the practice lap, so it was a cool surprise.
Well done IMBRC.
pictures to come..some of them are fricking Sick to the power of a 2 week skid !! That climb to the feed station..a class piece of trail..I told Luke Manning to cross the fireroad and build it all the way up to the top fireroad !!
Some pieces of trail are once in an era..that bit was. Its real easy to make a deadly down bit but a fine piece of climb takes real class.
It made some great pain drenched photos.
thats the thing..
you are choosing 90 mins of pain..not the 90minute dribble fest of Soccer. Say nothing, it was my first love and I am defensive about it !! but the kind of 90 mins Bear Grylls would fear. 90 minutes of no rest, where the Wall starts 10 metres from the start..
90 mins followed by 90 days of glory if you are Gar KcKee.. or 90 mins of mockery if you are the EPIC S3 rider who rode the Chiken run !!
I've rode all disciplines in my long career of racing and Cross Country done properly is the Ultimate..you can only rely so much on the machine. Theres no hiding on the Fireroads or from me.
Well done everybody..you are all in the Hall of Fame.
Mark McGauley..do me a test pilot report and somebody from Unlaoised !
har har!! :D
wait'll the likes of JohnnyLuvsHucks and Sykk_DHer on Irish DH see that qoute!
They'll sell their bikes and buy 100mm carbonium machines just to repeat that qoute over and over...
First of all well done to Paul Barry, Gar, Luke, Colm and all the rest of the Club for doing a great job.
The course is brilliant, event the stupid offcamber field of death is great but having talked to the lads over the past two days, this event nearly broke them.The NPS has gotten so big, the stakes are so high and the criticism so fierce that the pressure to run a fantastic event is enormous.
Now normally I don't feel sorry for anybody but I did genuinely feel sorry for the lads, The Weather is such a cnt in Ireland, I know from my own experiences that it can make or break a race. They had to weigh up every option yesterday and today but it put huge strain on the club and the relationships in it.
So fair play and I admire what they did over the two days and recognise the effort they put in to the whole show.
The racing was deadly and that bombhole is definitely THE Feature of the Year.
But I think it is time for one group to run the NPS..the IMBRC struggled for marshalls and there were several spots marshalls were needed and when I say Marshalls I don't mean some kid in a high viz.
So well done to the organisers..after all they had to battle a demotivated MTB Community after those ******s in limerick dropped their round.
The IMBRC is actually much smaller than you think. They have no Dictator running the show so they decide everything like reasonable human beings so sometimes it makes things harder.
Great results allround folks, especially to all the sneaky practice bandits who have been riding the course up there for ages.
I salute you..great result for Gar McKee..I am really looking forward the the Nationals now..
Mark McGauley is really motoring , Max was just there and old man Doris, he keeps telling me hes had enough but theres still fire in his belly !!
Great turnout from EPIC and its the first time ever being proud of Richard Lynch..riding the bombhole like a pro..certain EPIC Senior 3s didn't..I will find out and when I do..I'll leave the rest to your imagination.
Savage result for Marlena, Rob and all the other Youth and Underage riders..
Again, only one Junior Matt Adair..
Wake up Cycling Ireland and do something about that !
Unlaoised are now officially my adopted non Dublin/English speaking Club..
Gav Kelly was spectacular in the Bomhole and Aidan McDonald second Senior 1..fantastic..
Next Saturday..yeah I know, but the Holy God of the North won't allow some people race of a Sunday, so Martin Grimley is running a race on Dunmore..I'm going and I want my rippers to go..
So come on..lets build up some steam for the XC Nationals In Kilruddery !!
Well done everybody especially Colm who rode his first ever XC race today..
It takes a lot of guts to race XC , more than people get credit for !
Richie
That's a brilliant summary of the day, can't add much more!
Savage course and great racing, thanks to IMBRC for putting on a great show and to our pit crew for bottles and encouragement (I think I left a bottle up there, does somebody have it?). Great turnaround from Epic and some great results too!
I had a good race and finished well but I still think I can do better, roll on Nationals!
just to add..well done to Shona, Erica and Caroline for the bottles and the encouragement and to all the other supporters and Mums and Dads and critters ! you are essential to these events.
THis is the first NPS series in years that we have seen consistent attendance from people all over the Country..I saw Handlebars McGann there with his "special" friend all the way from Sligtrim or Rossmayo or one of those places near Knock Airport !
keep coming Dar..its not the same with you..
Yea well done to all the guys in IMBRC, they put on a great event over the two days with the relay yesterday and the Nps today. The course was great and the bombhole section is brilliant, although the climb out of it was a killer every lap. Course was completely different to yesterday, it's amazing how much it dried out! Well done all the Epic finishers, it was tough going in the heat and the breeze today. Was having a good race with Smithers until his back gave up again! Get yourself a nice full suss man!!!
Oh yea, thanks to Shona and the gang for bottles and encouragement, it was definitely needed today..
Yes, great summary indeed !
Huge pat on the back to IMBRC, what a course !! A lot of work went into the course and organisation, it all paid off !!
The bombhole section, that was an experience in itself, the roars of the crowd ( probably hoping you'd crash !) the cowbells, the sound of the rider coming down behind you, jeez it was magic !
Big thanks to Alfie for sorting my brakes out, and to Shona for the lend of the rear wheel , not to mention the best and loudest feedzone crew on the mountain !
Well done all Epic racers :)
God that was tough! Big thanks to all the IMBRC lads - a great two days racing! On the way down I had decided to "wimp" on the Bombhole but Alfie stopped and showed me the line during my practice lap, told me I could do it ...... and he was right - great buzz! Totally blew up after my first lap, disgusted with myself but settled down and felt better for the 2nd half of the race! I really enjoy the craic and comraderie of the NPSs but Jeysus I wish they were a bit easier!!! Many thanks to the crew at the start/finish for the bottles and encouragement!
Fair play Richard, you always had it in you!
As for XC racing... yes it's fekin hard and I always wish I was somewhere else during the race (think beach, drink with an umbrella and sexy girls in bikinis). Afterwards though, you feel deadly and nothing compares to the sense of accomplishment when you finish a race.
Well I'm totally Shattered after that but what a great 2 days XC racing and a great course.
Congrats to all in IMBRC for putting on a great show and even beating the weather which made a huge effort to spoil the party! Course was much drier than yesterday which meant for great racing. Had a great aul battle with Rudolf in the middle of the race and a banbridge racer near the end. Usual story for me of showing too much caution in the first 2 laps & then throwing caution to the wind for the last 2 when u start to find the best lines and crshinga few times. Thanks to the epic pit crew, best in the world, would have died without the bottles in the heat so thnx a mill, great encouragement all round the course too which makes such a difference when you're hurting so bad! think i left 2 bottles up there so if anyone has them would be great. Sangers and cake washed down with iced blackcurrant was fab. Well done to all the epic racers and well done IMBRC!
Yep, great show indeed, Bombhole stole the show, Led the 1st lap and blew me back out in the second part of the bombhole, lost a load of places but kept going, couldnt face BYRNER if i didnt finish another race, have to get a full sus old age catching up.
Big thanks to our bottliers for refreshments and encouragment really needed i tells yah. Great to see so many Epicurians out racing, well done to Colm on his 1st NPS too and all the racers who finished, it was a tough course and now where to hide.
IMBRC did a great job full stop well done lads.
that was a great turn-out for a great race, I'm delighted for Paul Barry and the IMBRC heads that everyone enjoyed the pain, speed, roots, slips, slidders, cramps, thoughts-of-being-somewhere-else (great mental imagery there Maxy!) to ease the stinging in the legs and all the rest that goes with XC racing.
It NEVER gets any easier, but sitting back in the sun now after a feed that would satisfy a small army, it was all worth it.
Thanks to Shona and the MAD pit crew for the roars of encouragement- they really helped getting up the last evil kicker before the feed zone-that yoke was steep!
Well done to the Epic racers today. I think I've done about 20 races this year of one sort or the other but that was the toughest! Maybe it was the heat, the roots or the sticky mud. Either way it was really enjoyable. All credit due to IMBRC, they were still digging and fixing the course when I was out on my warm-up lap. The bombhole was a super addition to the race this year.
Thanks the Epic crew. My bottle was there waiting for me on cue at the start of the 4th lap.
Deadly race. I went too hard at the start, but settled in and had a very enjoyable race.
The bombhole was rad to the power of max... the cheers & cowbells....
I missed it on the practice lap, so it was a cool surprise.
Well done IMBRC.
pictures to come..some of them are fricking Sick to the power of a 2 week skid !! That climb to the feed station..a class piece of trail..I told Luke Manning to cross the fireroad and build it all the way up to the top fireroad !!
Some pieces of trail are once in an era..that bit was. Its real easy to make a deadly down bit but a fine piece of climb takes real class.
It made some great pain drenched photos.
thats the thing..
you are choosing 90 mins of pain..not the 90minute dribble fest of Soccer. Say nothing, it was my first love and I am defensive about it !! but the kind of 90 mins Bear Grylls would fear. 90 minutes of no rest, where the Wall starts 10 metres from the start..
90 mins followed by 90 days of glory if you are Gar KcKee.. or 90 mins of mockery if you are the EPIC S3 rider who rode the Chiken run !!
I've rode all disciplines in my long career of racing and Cross Country done properly is the Ultimate..you can only rely so much on the machine. Theres no hiding on the Fireroads or from me.
Well done everybody..you are all in the Hall of Fame.
Mark McGauley..do me a test pilot report and somebody from Unlaoised !
har har!! :D
wait'll the likes of JohnnyLuvsHucks and Sykk_DHer on Irish DH see that qoute!
They'll sell their bikes and buy 100mm carbonium machines just to repeat that qoute over and over...
First of all well done to Paul Barry, Gar, Luke, Colm and all the rest of the Club for doing a great job.
The course is brilliant, event the stupid offcamber field of death is great but having talked to the lads over the past two days, this event nearly broke them.The NPS has gotten so big, the stakes are so high and the criticism so fierce that the pressure to run a fantastic event is enormous.
Now normally I don't feel sorry for anybody but I did genuinely feel sorry for the lads, The Weather is such a cnt in Ireland, I know from my own experiences that it can make or break a race. They had to weigh up every option yesterday and today but it put huge strain on the club and the relationships in it.
So fair play and I admire what they did over the two days and recognise the effort they put in to the whole show.
The racing was deadly and that bombhole is definitely THE Feature of the Year.
But I think it is time for one group to run the NPS..the IMBRC struggled for marshalls and there were several spots marshalls were needed and when I say Marshalls I don't mean some kid in a high viz.
So well done to the organisers..after all they had to battle a demotivated MTB Community after those ******s in limerick dropped their round.
The IMBRC is actually much smaller than you think. They have no Dictator running the show so they decide everything like reasonable human beings so sometimes it makes things harder.
Great results allround folks, especially to all the sneaky practice bandits who have been riding the course up there for ages.
I salute you..great result for Gar McKee..I am really looking forward the the Nationals now..
Mark McGauley is really motoring , Max was just there and old man Doris, he keeps telling me hes had enough but theres still fire in his belly !!
Great turnout from EPIC and its the first time ever being proud of Richard Lynch..riding the bombhole like a pro..certain EPIC Senior 3s didn't..I will find out and when I do..I'll leave the rest to your imagination.
Savage result for Marlena, Rob and all the other Youth and Underage riders..
Again, only one Junior Matt Adair..
Wake up Cycling Ireland and do something about that !
Unlaoised are now officially my adopted non Dublin/English speaking Club..
Gav Kelly was spectacular in the Bomhole and Aidan McDonald second Senior 1..fantastic..
Next Saturday..yeah I know, but the Holy God of the North won't allow some people race of a Sunday, so Martin Grimley is running a race on Dunmore..I'm going and I want my rippers to go..
So come on..lets build up some steam for the XC Nationals In Kilruddery !!
Well done everybody especially Colm who rode his first ever XC race today..
It takes a lot of guts to race XC , more than people get credit for !
Richie
That's a brilliant summary of the day, can't add much more!
Savage course and great racing, thanks to IMBRC for putting on a great show and to our pit crew for bottles and encouragement (I think I left a bottle up there, does somebody have it?). Great turnaround from Epic and some great results too!
I had a good race and finished well but I still think I can do better, roll on Nationals!
just to add..well done to Shona, Erica and Caroline for the bottles and the encouragement and to all the other supporters and Mums and Dads and critters ! you are essential to these events.
THis is the first NPS series in years that we have seen consistent attendance from people all over the Country..I saw Handlebars McGann there with his "special" friend all the way from Sligtrim or Rossmayo or one of those places near Knock Airport !
keep coming Dar..its not the same with you..
Yea well done to all the guys in IMBRC, they put on a great event over the two days with the relay yesterday and the Nps today. The course was great and the bombhole section is brilliant, although the climb out of it was a killer every lap. Course was completely different to yesterday, it's amazing how much it dried out! Well done all the Epic finishers, it was tough going in the heat and the breeze today. Was having a good race with Smithers until his back gave up again! Get yourself a nice full suss man!!!
Oh yea, thanks to Shona and the gang for bottles and encouragement, it was definitely needed today..
Yes, great summary indeed !
Huge pat on the back to IMBRC, what a course !! A lot of work went into the course and organisation, it all paid off !!
The bombhole section, that was an experience in itself, the roars of the crowd ( probably hoping you'd crash !) the cowbells, the sound of the rider coming down behind you, jeez it was magic !
Big thanks to Alfie for sorting my brakes out, and to Shona for the lend of the rear wheel , not to mention the best and loudest feedzone crew on the mountain !
Well done all Epic racers :)
God that was tough! Big thanks to all the IMBRC lads - a great two days racing! On the way down I had decided to "wimp" on the Bombhole but Alfie stopped and showed me the line during my practice lap, told me I could do it ...... and he was right - great buzz! Totally blew up after my first lap, disgusted with myself but settled down and felt better for the 2nd half of the race! I really enjoy the craic and comraderie of the NPSs but Jeysus I wish they were a bit easier!!! Many thanks to the crew at the start/finish for the bottles and encouragement!
Fair play Richard, you always had it in you!
As for XC racing... yes it's fekin hard and I always wish I was somewhere else during the race (think beach, drink with an umbrella and sexy girls in bikinis). Afterwards though, you feel deadly and nothing compares to the sense of accomplishment when you finish a race.
Well I'm totally Shattered after that but what a great 2 days XC racing and a great course.
Congrats to all in IMBRC for putting on a great show and even beating the weather which made a huge effort to spoil the party! Course was much drier than yesterday which meant for great racing. Had a great aul battle with Rudolf in the middle of the race and a banbridge racer near the end. Usual story for me of showing too much caution in the first 2 laps & then throwing caution to the wind for the last 2 when u start to find the best lines and crshinga few times. Thanks to the epic pit crew, best in the world, would have died without the bottles in the heat so thnx a mill, great encouragement all round the course too which makes such a difference when you're hurting so bad! think i left 2 bottles up there so if anyone has them would be great. Sangers and cake washed down with iced blackcurrant was fab. Well done to all the epic racers and well done IMBRC!
Yep, great show indeed, Bombhole stole the show, Led the 1st lap and blew me back out in the second part of the bombhole, lost a load of places but kept going, couldnt face BYRNER if i didnt finish another race, have to get a full sus old age catching up.
Big thanks to our bottliers for refreshments and encouragment really needed i tells yah. Great to see so many Epicurians out racing, well done to Colm on his 1st NPS too and all the racers who finished, it was a tough course and now where to hide.
IMBRC did a great job full stop well done lads.
that was a great turn-out for a great race, I'm delighted for Paul Barry and the IMBRC heads that everyone enjoyed the pain, speed, roots, slips, slidders, cramps, thoughts-of-being-somewhere-else (great mental imagery there Maxy!) to ease the stinging in the legs and all the rest that goes with XC racing.
It NEVER gets any easier, but sitting back in the sun now after a feed that would satisfy a small army, it was all worth it.
Thanks to Shona and the MAD pit crew for the roars of encouragement- they really helped getting up the last evil kicker before the feed zone-that yoke was steep!
Well done to the Epic racers today. I think I've done about 20 races this year of one sort or the other but that was the toughest! Maybe it was the heat, the roots or the sticky mud. Either way it was really enjoyable. All credit due to IMBRC, they were still digging and fixing the course when I was out on my warm-up lap. The bombhole was a super addition to the race this year.
Thanks the Epic crew. My bottle was there waiting for me on cue at the start of the 4th lap.
Deadly race. I went too hard at the start, but settled in and had a very enjoyable race.
The bombhole was rad to the power of max... the cheers & cowbells....
I missed it on the practice lap, so it was a cool surprise.
Well done IMBRC.
pictures to come..some of them are fricking Sick to the power of a 2 week skid !! That climb to the feed station..a class piece of trail..I told Luke Manning to cross the fireroad and build it all the way up to the top fireroad !!
Some pieces of trail are once in an era..that bit was. Its real easy to make a deadly down bit but a fine piece of climb takes real class.
It made some great pain drenched photos.
thats the thing..
you are choosing 90 mins of pain..not the 90minute dribble fest of Soccer. Say nothing, it was my first love and I am defensive about it !! but the kind of 90 mins Bear Grylls would fear. 90 minutes of no rest, where the Wall starts 10 metres from the start..
90 mins followed by 90 days of glory if you are Gar KcKee.. or 90 mins of mockery if you are the EPIC S3 rider who rode the Chiken run !!
I've rode all disciplines in my long career of racing and Cross Country done properly is the Ultimate..you can only rely so much on the machine. Theres no hiding on the Fireroads or from me.
Well done everybody..you are all in the Hall of Fame.
Mark McGauley..do me a test pilot report and somebody from Unlaoised !
har har!! :D
wait'll the likes of JohnnyLuvsHucks and Sykk_DHer on Irish DH see that qoute!
They'll sell their bikes and buy 100mm carbonium machines just to repeat that qoute over and over...
First of all well done to Paul Barry, Gar, Luke, Colm and all the rest of the Club for doing a great job.
The course is brilliant, event the stupid offcamber field of death is great but having talked to the lads over the past two days, this event nearly broke them.The NPS has gotten so big, the stakes are so high and the criticism so fierce that the pressure to run a fantastic event is enormous.
Now normally I don't feel sorry for anybody but I did genuinely feel sorry for the lads, The Weather is such a cnt in Ireland, I know from my own experiences that it can make or break a race. They had to weigh up every option yesterday and today but it put huge strain on the club and the relationships in it.
So fair play and I admire what they did over the two days and recognise the effort they put in to the whole show.
The racing was deadly and that bombhole is definitely THE Feature of the Year.
But I think it is time for one group to run the NPS..the IMBRC struggled for marshalls and there were several spots marshalls were needed and when I say Marshalls I don't mean some kid in a high viz.
So well done to the organisers..after all they had to battle a demotivated MTB Community after those ******s in limerick dropped their round.
The IMBRC is actually much smaller than you think. They have no Dictator running the show so they decide everything like reasonable human beings so sometimes it makes things harder.
Great results allround folks, especially to all the sneaky practice bandits who have been riding the course up there for ages.
I salute you..great result for Gar McKee..I am really looking forward the the Nationals now..
Mark McGauley is really motoring , Max was just there and old man Doris, he keeps telling me hes had enough but theres still fire in his belly !!
Great turnout from EPIC and its the first time ever being proud of Richard Lynch..riding the bombhole like a pro..certain EPIC Senior 3s didn't..I will find out and when I do..I'll leave the rest to your imagination.
Savage result for Marlena, Rob and all the other Youth and Underage riders..
Again, only one Junior Matt Adair..
Wake up Cycling Ireland and do something about that !
Unlaoised are now officially my adopted non Dublin/English speaking Club..
Gav Kelly was spectacular in the Bomhole and Aidan McDonald second Senior 1..fantastic..
Next Saturday..yeah I know, but the Holy God of the North won't allow some people race of a Sunday, so Martin Grimley is running a race on Dunmore..I'm going and I want my rippers to go..
So come on..lets build up some steam for the XC Nationals In Kilruddery !!
Well done everybody especially Colm who rode his first ever XC race today..
It takes a lot of guts to race XC , more than people get credit for !
Richie
That's a brilliant summary of the day, can't add much more!
Savage course and great racing, thanks to IMBRC for putting on a great show and to our pit crew for bottles and encouragement (I think I left a bottle up there, does somebody have it?). Great turnaround from Epic and some great results too!
I had a good race and finished well but I still think I can do better, roll on Nationals!
just to add..well done to Shona, Erica and Caroline for the bottles and the encouragement and to all the other supporters and Mums and Dads and critters ! you are essential to these events.
THis is the first NPS series in years that we have seen consistent attendance from people all over the Country..I saw Handlebars McGann there with his "special" friend all the way from Sligtrim or Rossmayo or one of those places near Knock Airport !
keep coming Dar..its not the same with you..
Yea well done to all the guys in IMBRC, they put on a great event over the two days with the relay yesterday and the Nps today. The course was great and the bombhole section is brilliant, although the climb out of it was a killer every lap. Course was completely different to yesterday, it's amazing how much it dried out! Well done all the Epic finishers, it was tough going in the heat and the breeze today. Was having a good race with Smithers until his back gave up again! Get yourself a nice full suss man!!!
Oh yea, thanks to Shona and the gang for bottles and encouragement, it was definitely needed today..
Yes, great summary indeed !
Huge pat on the back to IMBRC, what a course !! A lot of work went into the course and organisation, it all paid off !!
The bombhole section, that was an experience in itself, the roars of the crowd ( probably hoping you'd crash !) the cowbells, the sound of the rider coming down behind you, jeez it was magic !
Big thanks to Alfie for sorting my brakes out, and to Shona for the lend of the rear wheel , not to mention the best and loudest feedzone crew on the mountain !
Well done all Epic racers :)
God that was tough! Big thanks to all the IMBRC lads - a great two days racing! On the way down I had decided to "wimp" on the Bombhole but Alfie stopped and showed me the line during my practice lap, told me I could do it ...... and he was right - great buzz! Totally blew up after my first lap, disgusted with myself but settled down and felt better for the 2nd half of the race! I really enjoy the craic and comraderie of the NPSs but Jeysus I wish they were a bit easier!!! Many thanks to the crew at the start/finish for the bottles and encouragement!
Fair play Richard, you always had it in you!
As for XC racing... yes it's fekin hard and I always wish I was somewhere else during the race (think beach, drink with an umbrella and sexy girls in bikinis). Afterwards though, you feel deadly and nothing compares to the sense of accomplishment when you finish a race.
Well I'm totally Shattered after that but what a great 2 days XC racing and a great course.
Congrats to all in IMBRC for putting on a great show and even beating the weather which made a huge effort to spoil the party! Course was much drier than yesterday which meant for great racing. Had a great aul battle with Rudolf in the middle of the race and a banbridge racer near the end. Usual story for me of showing too much caution in the first 2 laps & then throwing caution to the wind for the last 2 when u start to find the best lines and crshinga few times. Thanks to the epic pit crew, best in the world, would have died without the bottles in the heat so thnx a mill, great encouragement all round the course too which makes such a difference when you're hurting so bad! think i left 2 bottles up there so if anyone has them would be great. Sangers and cake washed down with iced blackcurrant was fab. Well done to all the epic racers and well done IMBRC!
Yep, great show indeed, Bombhole stole the show, Led the 1st lap and blew me back out in the second part of the bombhole, lost a load of places but kept going, couldnt face BYRNER if i didnt finish another race, have to get a full sus old age catching up.
Big thanks to our bottliers for refreshments and encouragment really needed i tells yah. Great to see so many Epicurians out racing, well done to Colm on his 1st NPS too and all the racers who finished, it was a tough course and now where to hide.
IMBRC did a great job full stop well done lads.
that was a great turn-out for a great race, I'm delighted for Paul Barry and the IMBRC heads that everyone enjoyed the pain, speed, roots, slips, slidders, cramps, thoughts-of-being-somewhere-else (great mental imagery there Maxy!) to ease the stinging in the legs and all the rest that goes with XC racing.
It NEVER gets any easier, but sitting back in the sun now after a feed that would satisfy a small army, it was all worth it.
Thanks to Shona and the MAD pit crew for the roars of encouragement- they really helped getting up the last evil kicker before the feed zone-that yoke was steep!
Well done to the Epic racers today. I think I've done about 20 races this year of one sort or the other but that was the toughest! Maybe it was the heat, the roots or the sticky mud. Either way it was really enjoyable. All credit due to IMBRC, they were still digging and fixing the course when I was out on my warm-up lap. The bombhole was a super addition to the race this year.
Thanks the Epic crew. My bottle was there waiting for me on cue at the start of the 4th lap.
Deadly race. I went too hard at the start, but settled in and had a very enjoyable race.
The bombhole was rad to the power of max... the cheers & cowbells....
I missed it on the practice lap, so it was a cool surprise.
Well done IMBRC.
pictures to come..some of them are fricking Sick to the power of a 2 week skid !! That climb to the feed station..a class piece of trail..I told Luke Manning to cross the fireroad and build it all the way up to the top fireroad !!
Some pieces of trail are once in an era..that bit was. Its real easy to make a deadly down bit but a fine piece of climb takes real class.
It made some great pain drenched photos.
thats the thing..
you are choosing 90 mins of pain..not the 90minute dribble fest of Soccer. Say nothing, it was my first love and I am defensive about it !! but the kind of 90 mins Bear Grylls would fear. 90 minutes of no rest, where the Wall starts 10 metres from the start..
90 mins followed by 90 days of glory if you are Gar KcKee.. or 90 mins of mockery if you are the EPIC S3 rider who rode the Chiken run !!
I've rode all disciplines in my long career of racing and Cross Country done properly is the Ultimate..you can only rely so much on the machine. Theres no hiding on the Fireroads or from me.
Well done everybody..you are all in the Hall of Fame.
Mark McGauley..do me a test pilot report and somebody from Unlaoised !
har har!! :D
wait'll the likes of JohnnyLuvsHucks and Sykk_DHer on Irish DH see that qoute!
They'll sell their bikes and buy 100mm carbonium machines just to repeat that qoute over and over...
