260 riders turned out for the CRC/Epic 2007 Winter League - the biggest number of riders ever seen at a winter league. With the introduction of the Sport category in 2007, this opened up the racing to all abilities - showing some riders they were actually 'better than they though'. Each category got more competitive this year as U14's moved up to U16, U16's moved to Junior, Juniors moved to elite and masters moved to vets!

Here's how the categories ended up!

U14

Round No.	1		2		3		4
U14'S	Pos	Pts	Pos	Pts	Pos	Pts	Pos	Pts	Total	Rank
Gavin Carroll	1	250	1	250			1	250	750	1
Michael McCann	2	200	2	200	1	250	4		650	2
Kyle Rimmer	3	170	3	170	2	200	3		540	3
Adam Byrne	7	90	4	150			2	200	440	4
Niall O'Dowd	4	150			3	170			320	5
Dan Sheridan	12		5	130	6	95	10	75	300	6
Justin Ferris	13	63	6	95			5	130	288	7
Paul Smyth			7	90	8	85	8	85	260	8
Richard Byrne					4	150	9	80	230	9
Richard Keane	14	62	8	85			11	71	218	10

20 U14 riders battled it out for top position, but in the end, Gavin Carroll, having only competed in three rounds, managed to win all three bringing his points to a maximum of 750. Rostrevor's Michael McCann took a first place positions, two 2nd places and a fourth to take second place, 100 points behind with 650, while Kyle Rimmer, had three consistent third places and a second, however, had to drop points from his final round to finish up with 540 completing the U14 podium.

VIEW THE FULL U14 TABLE HERE

U16

Round No.	1		2		3		4
U16'S	Pos	Pts	Pos	Pts	Pos	Pts	Pos	Pts	Total	Rank
David Graham	1	250	1	250	1	250	1		750	1
Greg Callaghan	3	170	2	200	3	170	4		540	2
Paul McGrady	2	200	8		2	200	5	130	530	3
Mark Potts	4	150	4	150			2	200	500	4
Gavin Kelly	5	130	5		5	130	3	170	430	5
Peter McCartan	12	67	3	170			7	90	327	6
Matthew McDowell	9	80	9		4	150	6	95	325	7
Eoin O'Siochru	13	63			6	95	9	80	238	8

A remarkable 35 riders completed in the U16 section, however, Banbridge's David Graham won all four rounds in the U16 league to walk away with first place. Congratulations David. Epic's Greg Callaghan who competed in all four rounds, managed a 2nd, two 3rds and a fourth place to come home with 540 points in second place, just beating Paul McGrady to the post who finished up with 530 points! Congratulations U16's.

VIEW THE FULL U16 TABLE HERE

Vets

Round No.	1		2		3		4
VETS	Pos	Pts	Pos	Pts	Pos	Pts	Pos	Pts	Total	Rank
Stevie Davidson	1	250	1	250	2	200	2		700	1
Carl Young	2	200	2	200	3	170	3		570	2
Stevie Bell					1	250	1	250	500	3
Michael White	4	150			8	85	4	150	385	4
Derek Cowan	5	130	4	150	6	95	7		375	5
Tom Sheridan	6	95	5	130	9		8	85	310	6
Chris Hagan					4	150	5	130	280	7
Steven Graham					5	130	6	95	225	8
Steve Baskerville	3	170							170	9
Richie Byrne			3	170					170	9
Peter Popham					7	90			90	11

A record number of vet riders, with masters Team real Cycles/Commencal's Stevie Davidson, Stevie Bell and Michael White all moving up to the new category. Stevie Davidson managed to hold onto first place, with 700 points following two wins and a second place. Last year's vet winner, Carl Young held onto second place with 570 points ahead of CRC's Stevie Bell who two two first place positions to gather 500 points and finish third. A special mention to all the 'auld' boys who completed with their younger competitors!!!

VIEW THE FULL VETS TABLE HERE

Women

Round No.	1		2		3		4
WOMEN	Pos	Pts	Pos	Pts	Pos	Pts	Pos	Pts	Total	Rank
Abagail Hogg	1	250			1	250			500	1

Following a lazy winter league by the ladies, the only woman competitor was CRC's Abagail Hogg who competed in the two Moneyscalp races. Congratulations Abagail.

VIEW THE FULL WOMENS TABLE HERE

Sport

Round No.	1		2		3		4
SPORT	Pos	Pts	Pos	Pts	Pos	Pts	Pos	Pts	Total	Rank
Brian Cooney	1	250	1	250	1	250	1		750	1
Malcolm Bloomer	2	200	6		4	150	3	170	520	2
Derek O'Donoaghue			18	58	3	170	2	200	428	3
Enda Munnelly	5	130	8	85	2	200			415	4
Robert Seth	10	75	4	150	5	130			355	5
Robert Ferguson	4	150	7	90	11		6	95	335	6
Martin McCarthy	8	85	2	200					285	7
Luke Small	14	62	12	67			4	150	279	8
Darragh Moloney			5	130	20	56	18	58	244	9
Niall Donovan	3	170					15	61	231	10

The new sport category attracted 60 riders to the sport. Epic's Brian Cooney managed to surprise himself in sport and won every race! Congratulations Brian. MTBRider's Malcolm Bloomer finished in 2nd, 3rd and 4th to award him second place with 520 points, while Derek O'Donoghue put in some good scores to take third place with 428 points!!! No doubt we'll see these guys moving category for the NPS.

VIEW THE FULL SPORT TABLE HERE

Senior

Round No.	1		2		3		4
SENIORS	Pos	Pts	Pos	Pts	Pos	Pts	Pos	Pts	Total	Rank
James Burns	1	250	9		1	250	4	150	650	1
Ben Mullan			11	71	2	200	1	250	521	2
Sean Herilhy	3	170	4		4	150	3	170	490	3
Luke Ireland	7		2	200	3	170	6	95	465	4
Rory Beirne			1	250			2	200	450	5
David Molloy	5	130			8	85	5	130	345	6
Bobbie St Ledger	8	85	3	170	14	62			317	7
Andrew Gillis	16		5	130	9	80	10	75	285	8
Alastair Maxwell			6	95	15	61	8	85	241	9
Damien Duggan	13		8	85	10	75	9	80	240	10

James Burns took two first place positions, aswell as a fourth place to gather 650 points and go home with first place. Ben Mullan registered some fast times and good results with take second place with 521 points, while Epic's Sean Herilhy was consistent with third and fourth places to collect 490 points and third place.

VIEW THE FULL SENIOR TABLE HERE

Master

Round No.	1		2		3		4
MASTERS	Pos	Pts	Pos	Pts	Pos	Pts	Pos	Pts	Total	Rank
Michael Cowan	1	250	2		1	250	1	250	750	1
Joe Ward	2	200	1	250	2	200	2		650	2
Stephen Franzoni	3	170	4	150	3	170			490	3
Ian McIntyre	4	150	5		4	150	3	170	470	4
Stephen Paskin	7	90	7	90	5	130	15		310	5
Barry Dunne	6	95	10		7	90	7	90	275	6
Killian Donoghue	8	85	12		6	95	10	75	255	7
Stewart Carr	9	80	11	71			6	95	246	8
Paul Callan	15	61	15		9	80	9	80	221	9
Brian Stack	11	71	13	63			11	71	205	10

New to the masters, CRC's Michael Cowan had all to prove and gained maximum points with three wins at rounds 1, 3 and 4. CRC's Joe Ward followed behind with a first place and three third places to gain 650 points, with Steve Franzoni completing the masters podium with 490 points.

VIEW THE FULL MASTER TABLE HERE

Junior

Round No.	1		2		3		4
JUNIORS	Pos	Pts	Pos	Pts	Pos	Pts	Pos	Pts	Total	Rank
Ewan Doherty	1	250	2	200	1	250			700	1
Seanan O'Riordan	2	200	1	250			1	250	700	1
Karl O'Sullivan	5		3	170	2	200	3	170	540	3
Colin Franklin	4	150	4		3	170	2	200	520	4
Jason Murphy	6		5	130	4	150	4	150	430	5
Andrew Godfrey	3	170			5	130	9	80	380	6
David Keenan	10		8	85	9	80	5	130	295	7
Matthew Coulter	8	85	6	95	6	95			275	8
Kevin O'Leary	15		9	80	7	90	7	90	260	9
Johnathon McKee	14	62			8	85	8	85	232	10

A joint first place position goes to Ewan Doherty and Seanan O'Riordan. Ewan completed rounds 1 and 2 to gain first place, while Seanan completed rounds 2 and 4 for first places. both sharing 700 points. Team Real Cycles/Commencal's Karl O'Sullivan took third place with 540 points. A record 34 riders raced in the junior category.

VIEW THE FULL JUNIOR TABLE HERE

Elite

Round No.	1		2		3		4
ELITE	Pos	Pts	Pos	Pts	Pos	Pts	Pos	Pts	Total	Rank
Ger Wolfe	3		1	250	2	200	1	250	700	1
Ben Reid	1	250	2	200	1	250			700	1
Stephen Beattie	5		4	150	3	170	2	200	520	3
Gareth McKee	4	150	8		4	150	4	150	450	4
Dan Wolfe	7	90	3	170			3	170	430	5
Glyn O'Brien	2	200	6	95	7	90	12		385	6
Dale McMullan	9		5	130	6	95	6	95	320	7
Jamie McCullough	6	95	7	90	5	130			315	8
John Lawlor			14	62	8	85	5	130	277	9
Darren Quille			11	71	9	80	8	85	236	10

23 competitors battled it out for top position in elites. Another joint first place to Ger Wolfe and Ben Reid. Gerard took two first place positions at Cloon, while Ben took two first place positions at Moneyscalp, both of them earning 700 points. team real Cycles/Commencal's Stephen Beattie finished off the podium on 520 taking third place.

VIEW THE FULL ELITE TABLE HERE

 

A big thanks to everyone who made the winter league a great success with more riders than ever competing in all four rounds.

+ the CRC (formerly the Plush crew) and all the Epic guys (you know who you are) and all the individual riders who turned up every week, the MTB DH Commission member Eamon Lawlor. See you all at the NPS.