A gaggle of cloned Robin Seymours should provide some strong competition in this year’s XC National Championship. Banbridge CC are hosting the event in the new venue of Tollymore Forest Park, Newcastle, Co. Down. See below for full details.
As you all know the IMBRC are running two races in Tymon Park this weekend - a team relay on the Saturday and the final round of the NPS on Sunday. This is an ideal opportunity for people to try out racing for the first time. The course will be flowing and non-technical and you also get two races for the cost of your day race-licence. It’s also very easy to get to.
We’re hoping to field a good few teams from MAD in the relay. If you’d like to take part just drop me an email to let me know. I’ll maintain a list of riders and teams here:
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgx9xz2d_8fs5j6f
(You can also find entry fee details there)
If you’d really like to be on a team with a particular person let me know that too.
With the run-in to the National Champs well underway, we’re looking at a fantastic duo of races in the next few weeks, with a bonus being that both venues are local to us.
On July 1st, EPICmtb are hosting Round 6 of the NPS in Djouce Woods, which should feature some favourite and challenging trails. More details will follow…
A week later, our IMBRC friends promote a double header of racing over the weekend of the 7th and 8th of July in a new MTB racing venue.
Saturday will see a new and innovative format of racing in Ireland - a team relay. Details of the composition requirements for the teams are being finalised, but it has been confirmed that they’ll be 3-member teams and there will be requirements on the number of elites/experts/ladies etc per team. Watch this space…
Sunday will see a return to the more traditional XCO format for Round 7 of the NPS, racing kicks off at 11am for the underage, 12 noon for Sports and U16’s and 1:30pm for everyone else.
The venue is Tymon Park in South Dublin, site of several Cyclocross races in recent times, which will guarantee fast and close racing and usually draws large crowds of spectators to the park, many of whom have not seen bike racing before.
Both Djouce and Tymon Park venues are ideal for bringing your friends/family/workmates out to cheer you on and all members who do not race should consider coming out to sample the atmosphere and adreniline of an XC raceday.
Sean
Mountain Bike UL will host Round 5 of the National Points Series in Ballycuggaran Woods near Killaloe, Co. Clare on Saturday, 16th June.
Practice and sign on begin at 10am. The U14, U16, Juniors, Ladies Sports and Mens Sports races start at 12pm while the Mens Elites, Ladies Elites, Expert, Masters and Veteran races will set off at 1.30pm.
Refreshments will be provided after the race and we hope to have access to the University of Limerick Activity Centre facilities for showers, refreshments and prize-giving.
Parking is available this year in the carpark in the woods and in the carpark opposite the forest entrance. Parking on the fireroad up to the carpark is prohibited.
Map to get to the course is here:
http://www.skynet.ie/~mtbclub/posters/Map_To_Killaloe.gif
Looking forward to a strong MAD turnout and performances!!!
In a cruel twist of fate, soon after upgrading his bike to one from this century, MAD wunderkind Christian (with his accomplice and über-home-baker, Sonia) has to return to Germany to take up a new job. We’ll be sorry to see him go, not to mention his endless supply of home-made cakes. He’s having a final, farewell ride this Saturday, meeting at the Yellow House at 10am, so be sure to come along and wish him well.
On Sunday, round four of the 2007 NPS takes place in Magheramorne Quarry, near Larne Co. Antrim. This is a totally new race venue, part of the Magheramorne Works redevelopment (read about it on www.magworks.info). The venue and organisation sound promising - “Riders should really enjoy the set up, the course includes a bridge crossing, a tunnel, a lake splash and plenty of single track. Facilities at the venue are great, we will be using the Blue Circle Sailing Club as the race HQ, and this includes access to changing rooms and showers.” This should be well worth the journey. Read more below.
Check out the MAD calendar for details of other spins this weekend.
The NPS season kicked off with a great race up north on sunday, in Glenarm Forest Park. MAD had a sizable contingent, with 8 of us taking to the start line (plus Cait from UCD who was honorary MAD for the day), on a course that included some tight twisty singletrack, some fast straight singletrack, some sketchy gripless sections and a killer steep fireroad climb.
Cait had a great race taking 2nd in the Elite ladies with Mel taking a well deserved 3rd place in her first race of the season, for MADs only official podium. Unfortunately for Judith the mechanical chain gremlins struck causing her to retire.
In the U16s class, Shane took 4th wiht Ciaran just behind in 5th place.
The sports race was great fun, despite chasing hard i just could not catch Daniel who took 7th place for MAD, with myself in 8th, Arek in 10th and Mr Diamond taking a great 13th in his first ever race. Hopefully we’ll get some good photos courtesy of Marta who was busily snapping away whenever i walked up any of the hills (dammit).
Round 2 takes place in Ballinastoe next Sunday which is so close to us that there’s no excuse for not getting out and giving it a try. As Tom would say .. Bring on the Power!
Yeah baby! XC racing to the MAX!!
Just to get you in the mood…turn the volume UP!
…but you know there’s a better quality one on the Irish XC MTB website - it’s the first News item halfway down the page.
Click on the image below to get there.
The K Capital Cup begins this Sunday with round one taking place in the grounds of Kilruddery Estate, Co. Wicklow. We hope to have a large group from MAD in attendance whether you’re racing or spectating. Bring your families and pets too! Sign on is at 10am with the races beginning at 12 noon (read more).
The course is open for practice from 1pm to 4pm on Saturday. If you’re racing you should definitely head down to preview it. If you’re a bit unsure about taking part you should go for the practice and then decide. This is your only opportunity to ride in Kilruddery - it’s closed to mountainbikers for the rest of the year.
We’re also having a race/fitness training spin on Thursday evening (Ticknock, 7pm). This will be similar to last weeks spin - completing as many short laps as possible in a specified time.
The 2007 race season is finally upon us with the K-Capital Cup starting next week (March 11th) in Kilruddery. If, like most of us, you haven’t been intensively training since November there are a couple of last-minute opportunities to get up to speed. EPIC will be running another night race in Leadmines this Thursday (handicapped, so everyone has an equal chance of winning). Then on Sunday Round 4 of the Connacht XC League takes place in Clarenbridge Co. Galway. I’d encourage everyone to try a race or two this year - it’s an opportunity to ride in different locations, it’ll make you fitter and of course it’s a lot of fun.
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