The second round of the 2009 Irish downhill NPS took place on 2nd and 3rd May in the most southerly venue of the 2009 race calendar in Dunmanway Co Cork.

The course had generated a lot of debate prior to the event, but in the end, the 021 guys opted for the course used in the 2007 NPS, much to the delight of most of the participants. It seemed a lot of riders had never competed on the 2007 course, so most of Saturday was spent with riders trying to familiarise themselves with the course, trying to identify the trickier sections.

Ciaran O'Donoghue - Elite

Most participants were left trying to master the rock slab, or the even trickier 'chicken run' around the rock. However, by half way through the day, the chicken run became the easier line with some of the inexperienced riders choosing it as their faster line.

The bottom section of corners proved difficult to even the advanced rider as the tight turns, coupled with the mud from the previous week's rain made it a difficult section to master.

Rain on Saturday night made very little difference to the course, with the sun shining from early on, drying the course to the same condition as Saturday evening, however, riders still at odds as to tyre choice.

The event kicked off at 12noon with timing by NACC events, who as always did a top job.

Here's how the riders fared.

U14

021 racing's Cameron Cornforth took his second win of the 2009 Irish NPS with a second run time of 1.48.998. Talked about over the weekend was 12 year old Luke Cornforth, Cam's younger brother, otherwise referred to as 'the wee lad on the red hardtail' who put the second fastest time of the U14s with a first run time of 2.16.244.

Robert Crowley - U14

Third place on the podium was filled by Angus Fyffe who registered a first run time of 2.02.409. Flow Racing's Adam Tarbett completed his first run in a time of 2.10.210 with 021 Racing's Jamie O'Brien taking fifth place.

U14 podium - 1st Cameron Cornforth, 2nd Luke Cornforth, 3rd Angus Fyffe

U16

Six Under 16 riders battled it out for top spot. Following the first run, MSC/Chain Reaction Cycle's Christopher McGlinchy was sitting in first place, only just, ahead of Trail Rider's Eoin Grant. In the second run, Kipper upped his game to complete his run in a time of 1.46.015, Eoin unable to better his first run time of 1.49.329 had to settle for second place.

Paul Smyth attended his first race of the 2009 NPS to register a second run time of 1.59.718 to take third place on the podium. 021 Racing's Stephan Graef took fourth place with a time of 2.00.813, just off the bronze medal position. Killarney's Damien McCarthy took fifth place with a second run time of 2.03.384 with David Connolly in sixth place to complete the Under 16 category.

U16 Podium - 1st Christopher McGlinchy, 2nd Eoin Grant, 3rd Paul Smyth

Women

Two lady riders turned out at Dunmanway to compete for the gold medal. After the first run, Chain Reaction's Michele McMullan was sitting in first place by five seconds. However, Epic's Natalie Jedda upped her game in the second run to take first place with a time of 2.27.091. Michele, going faster by a fraction of a second with a time of 2.28.751 took home the silver medal.

Women - 1st Natalie Jedda, 2nd - Michele McMullan

Supervets

Two supervets in the form of Flow Racing's Tom Sheridan and Chain Reaction Cycle's Derek Cowan turned out to compete for top spot. having spent the morning in Cork General Hospital with son Dan, Tom managed to make it back for his second win of the 2009 season with a second and only run time of 2.21.227. Chain Reaction's Derek Cowan managed a first (and only) run with a time of 2.58.799 to take home the silver medal.

Supervets - 1st Tom Sheridan, 2nd Derek Cowan

Vets

Stevie Graham stepped it up a level from the first NPS with a first run time of 1.57.149 to take home the gold medal. Dublin Blazer's Carl Young went two seconds faster in his second run, only 0.257 slower than Steven with a time of 1.57.406 to take second place with Epic's Joe Jackman completing the podium with a second run time of 2.02.790 to take home bronze.

Supervets - 1st Steven Graham, 2nd - Carl Young, 3rd - Joe Jackman

Sport

Less than two seconds seperated the top 3 in the sport category. Gareth O'Reilly, spending another year in the sport category took his second win of the 2009 season with a second run time of 1.53.668.

Jeffrey Griffin - Sport

Jan White went faster on his second run, just pipped off top spot by 0.073 seconds with a second run time of 1.53.741. Tommy MacGuinness completed his first run with a time of 1.55.392 to take the bronze position in the podium, just a second ahead of MBCC's Brian O'Sullivan who completed his second run in a time of 1.56.788. Alan Stokes took fifth place with a time of 1.59.174.

Sport - 1st Gareth O'Reilly, 2nd Jan White, 3rd Tommy MacGuinness

Senior

29 senior riders turned out to compete for top spot in the ever competitive senior category. His first race of the 2009 NPS, Epic's Edmind Smith took first place, with a first run time of 1.42.559, less than a second ahead of Conor Duffy who went faster by seven seconds in his second run to register a time of 1.43.327.

Niall Egan - Senior

Third place on the podium was filled by 021 Racing's Sean Murphy who completed his second run in a time of 1.43.839. Epic's Adam Tynan completed his first run in a time of 1.44.006 t take first place, ahead of one of the Welsh contigent who made their way for the trip. Matthew Pinches completed his first run in a time of 1.44.407 to take fifth place.

Paul Fitzgerald -senior

Senior - 1st Edmund Smith, 2nd Conor Duffy, 3rd Sean Murphy

Master

The master podium was mixed up by CRC and Epic crew as an ever growing masters category with 21 riders battled it out for top spot with all top 5 riders going faster on his second run. Chain Reaction Cycles's Michael Cowan took top place on a podium with a time time of 1.41.407.

Gary Wall -8th Master

2nd-5th places registered within a second of each other with Epic's Mark Tiernan taking second place with a time of 1.43.109, third place was CRC's Dale McMullan who registered a time of 1.43.425, and Epic's Sean Herilhy completed the 1.43 time slot with 1.43.982. Fifth place, 021 Racing's John Thompson, aka JT registered a second run time of 1.44.109. Looks like the old boys are getting more competitive than ever.

 

Master - 1st Michael Cowan, 2nd Mark Tiernan, 3rd - Dale McMullan

Junior

The young boys turned out to race for top spot, with BikeTart.com's David Graham taking his first win of the 2009 Irish NPS with a first run time of 1.37.397, 1.399 seconds clear of second place.

Gavin Carroll - 3rd Junior

2Stage Bike's Greg Callaghan was going fast all weekend and completed a faster second run of 1.38.796 to take home the silver medal. Gavin Carroll completed his second run with a time of 1.39.476 to take bronze on the podium . Marc Potts completed his first run with a time of 1.41.931 with Epic's Gavin O'Connell registering his second run time of 1.46.733 to take fourth and fifth place consecutively.

Paul McGrady - 11th Junior

Junior - 1st David Graham, 2nd Greg Callaghan, 3rd Gavin Carroll

Elite

The battle between Ewan, Gerard and Dan Wolfe continued with the same faces on the podium as the first round, however positions changed.

Ewan Doherty - 2nd Elite

First place on the podium was claimed by Flow Racing's Gerard Wolfe who registered a second run time of 1.33.354, 1.54 seconds ahead of second place. Sandwiched between the Wolfe brothers, OC Tuning's Ewan Doherty completed his second run faster to gain a place with a time of 1.34.894 while Dan Wolfe completed his first run with a time of 1.35.096 to take home the bronze medal and all three riders securing their place to the European Championships in Slovenia in June along with Irish pro Ben Reid.

Colin Ross - 4th Elite

Bike Doc's Colin Ross registered a second run time of 1.35.928 to take fourth place on the podium with 2Stage Bike's Gareth McKee taking fifth place with a time of 1.36.540.

Congratulations to everyone who turned out to compete in what was a plush event hosted flawlessly by 021 Racing. Great uplift, great track and great weather!

Get well wishes to Dan Sheridan who suffered a broken collarbone during practice on Sunday morning. Here's hoping he won't be off his bike for too long.

The next round brings to us Rostrevor in Co Down on 23rd & 24th May hosted by Chain Reaction Cycling Club. A preview will be online soon.

Elite - 1st Ger Wolfe, 2nd Ewan Doherty, 3rd - Dan Wolfe