PLUSH Winter League Round 1

Feb 05

The 2005 winter league kicked of with a great day of racing on the popular Ballycarton Downhill track

The Track

Following the same track as last years NPS this is one of the steepest courses on the Irish calendar. Starting at the highest point in Ballycarton forest the track drops into steep single track consisting of slippy chutes followed by life saving berms. Riders get spat out at high speed onto a short straight followed by the ski jump which saw some big air action. The track continues down the mountain in the same technical way crossing the fire road a few times with lightening fast sections where the faster riders just where not braking! A short fire road sprint into a bus stop and the final section is reached where riders tackle the rock garden drop and log roller coaster to the finish. The high speed nature of the track led to some very close racing as riders blew out the winter cobwebs and found out they shaped up after a few months of Training/Beer (delete as appropriate).

As usual, the event was flawlessly run by the Plush crew who showed that you don’t need uplift to run a good event.

The Racing

U16

Racing was extremely tight with 8 seconds covering the first three. Peter Davey took the first win of the year followed closely by Matthew Coulter and Christy Brown.

Vets

Always one of the most contested categories. Peter Popham took the win with Derek Cowan and Tom Clogher just behind and on the same second! This sets the scene for the aggressive closely fought season we always expect.

Ladies

Michelle took the win and was seen going pretty quick on most parts of the course. Apparently she was going so fast she was mistaken for a bloke. Maybe Abigail Hogg will race next time and give her a run for her money as she was seen riding the course on Saturday.

Masters

Marty McGuigan showed he is still a force to be reckoned with and was pushed closely by a fast Joe Ward. Ian MacIntyre on his gorgeous M3 rounded off the podium. Good to see Michael White back racing on a Hard Tail but rumor has it, he could soon be appearing on something a bit faster.

Seniors

Gerard Wolfe took first with the 2 nd fastest time of the day followed closely by Jamie Scott. Good to see Jamie back and showing some form. Ricky Lawrence wasn’t far behind in 3 rd place, especially after jumping over some fallen riders during his race run!

Juniors

Steven McClintock had some bad luck and broke his rear spring but still manged to pull off the win in his usual, flat out style. Daniel Wolfe and Paul Cummins where close behind.

Elite

Glyn O’Brien finished first in convincing fashion with the fastest time of the day. John Lawlor and Michael Cowan were close behind and on the same second, followed by Dale McMullan and Ricky McKillen who managed to do the timing as well as put in some fast times himself!

The Craic

125 Scooters are the new mini bikes

Single pivot bikes are faster – first 3 places in elite

Jamie Scott to make a comeback after an impressive 2 st place in senior?

What’s Gerard Wolfe doing in the seniors? He is one to watch with 2 nd fastest time of the day.

Watch out for Stevie McClintock 1:49 on a bike with a broken rear spring!

New Bikes on Show

Alan Clogher was out on his new Kona with some nice Gold Risse crowns. Michael Cowan rode to 3 rd Elite on his new Gemini. Ricky Lawrence proved that Blue paint is faster than Silver on his re-sprayed Azonic and, trickest bike of the day goes to Ian Macintyre’s Intense M3.

A big shout to the parents and other who helped out on the day, especially Anne who helped with sign on, Ian Brown and Mr Dunlop. Hope I have the names right but you know who you are. Without the help of the friends and family of the riders these events would not run so smoothly.

All in all it was a great race and left plenty of scores to be settled and points to be proven in round two on the 13 th of March.

For a full list of results click HERE