While many of the club were nursing a hangover in Nenagh, Emma Convey, Valdis Andersons and Michelle Geoghegan were squelching around Bangor in the latest round of the Ulster CX League. 

Sunday 8th November saw Round 5 of the Ulster Cyclocross League head to Bangor, hosted by North Down CC.

This was a different location to last year’s relatively dry course through trail and parkland. Instead it was back to Ballymacormick Park, the location for the 2012 race.

The former school sports ground was a great location, with three different height levels and wide open grass. As a result of the wet spell, combined with the torrential rain on the day, a very muddy race ensued. Just as Eskimos have different descriptions for snow, there are many different types of mud! This was soupy wet mud, as opposed to cloggy mud, sticky mud, packed mud or just plain dirty mud! This was to be a grind and one for the real power riders.

The women’s race was well attended with league points up for grabs. Beth McCluskey took home yet another great win. Emma Convey was our sole brave representative in Orwell colours, but associate member Michelle Geoghegan took home an excellent 2nd place.

Valdis Andersons had a good first ever cyclocross race and finished the race shouldering the bike! He seemed to enjoy the proper cyclocross conditions!

Glen Kinning won the A race, giving a masterclass in how to ride!

Next week sees the 3rd round of the Fixx Supercross Cup (Tymon Pk) and the 6th round of the Ulster Series (Craigavon).

Photos with thanks to David McVeigh (The Belgian Project).