2015 Irish BMX National Series – Round 4

 

5 July 2015

 

 

 

 

The Irish BMX community were out in full force at Lucan BMX for the 4th Round of the 2015 Irish National Series. Brilliant racing, great food on the BBQ’s, cool tunes on the sound system, Chad and his entertaining commentating … even the occasional thunder storm in between the sunshine couldn’t dampen the day.

 

A massive shout out has to go to all the clubs and riders who travelled from Belfast, Cork, Larne, Limerick, Meath and Wicklow to the excellent Lucan BMX facility in Co. Dublin. It’s the riders, young and old, who are always the stars of the show. We had a lot of new riders here too, this great sport of ours is growing.

 

 

 

 

The Lucan BMX track, as per usual was immaculate, pruned to within an inch of its life. The Lucan BMX crew along with the BMX Ireland Race Team lead by Ms Race Director herself, Nathalie Lawlor, ran another flawless event.

 

The Under 6 Class saw frantic parents running from berms to finish lines to catch up-close views of the pocket rockets. We think some of those parents should burn off some of that excess energy on a bike with the cool kids in Masters. The eventual winner of the Under 6 class was Lucan BMX’s very own Killian McCoy. Josh Hamilton chased hard and took the second step on the podium with Daniel Jones in an impressive third. These kids are getting faster by the week.

 

 

 

 

Ratoath BMX’s Tommy Campbell from the Reconcile Meybo dynasty took the win in the Male 7-8 Class in impressive style, you’ll rarely see both of Tommy’s wheels on the ground at the same time. Dylan Gannon took second place followed by Evan Fynes in third.

 

Reuben Byrne took just enough time out of his team managers never ending photo shoot (thanks Eugene) to take the win in the 9-10 Male Class. Ratoath’s James Wood, riding up an age group, took the second spot while looking all cool in his Unit 8 Haro team kit. Jade Gaffney’s berm warfare gave rise to some of the days most exciting commentating, who knew Chad had so many different pitches … Jade ‘s nifty manoeuvring secured her the third step on the podium, the boys better watch their backs …

 

 

 

 

 

 

During the break in the racing it was time to hand out the Irish Worlds Team kit to the riders travelling over to BMX Zolder in Belgium later this month for the 2015 UCI BMX World Championships. Ratoath BMX’s Finney Campbell (Reconcile Meybo dynasty) along with Lucan BMX’s Grace Quinn (‘A’ Shop dynasty) have been spearheading the Worlds Team fundraising for the last few months and gathered an impressive sum to produce the Irish Team t-shirts, hoodies, kit bags, caps and bottles. You will all be easy to spot in the crowds at Zolder now … behave yourselves! Best of luck to all our riders, it was great to see them all kitted out together before they travel.

 

 

 

 

The Strider and Rocker kids took to the track during the break too, these races are always entertaining and worth dragging yourself from your exhaustion induced coma to watch. The kids on the Rockers are slowly morphing into a tribute to the 70’s/80’s movie The Warriors  … don’t mess with the Rockers!

 

 

 

 

Back in the 11-12 Male category, Principal Stay Strong’s Ryan Quinn has been untouchable all year, there must be something in the rumour that he has had his leg bones replaced with springs … if you build it, he will jump it! Nail Davis was hot on Ryan’s heels all day, the last two rounds in Ratoath are going to be interesting. Aaron Masterson-Weir was right in the mix too with a third place while all Calvin Dunne could do was look on after his trails crash last week which landed his wrist in a cast. The 11-12 group are fast becoming some of the most talented riders we have.

 

 

 

 

 

Unit 8 Haro’s Daniel Barker from Ratoath BMX is brimming with confidence these days, he took the win in the 13-14’s, even a practice crash didn’t slow him down. It’s true that a new bike will give you a 10% speed burst, the proof is in Ronan Phibbs performance, he was all over Daniel but just couldn’t find that tiny extra bit to push him to first … soon. Adam Jackson looked very happy with his third, all his hard work is starting to pay off.

 

The Murtagh sisters from Lucan BMX dominated the girls classes, Aoife took the win in the 8-10 Girls while Ella, not to be out done took the win in the 11-14 Girls Class. Charlotte McGuffin from Lisburn BMX took a well deserved second with Belfast City BMX’s Katie Lemon just behind in the 8-10 Girls. Kirsty McGuffin also from Lisburn BMX ended up on the second step of the podium in the 11-14 Girls with Jodie Lynch all the way from Larne’s East Coast Raiders just below on the third step. Lots of trophies headed north with the girls this time out.

 

 

 

 

The 15+ group has got some really fast, skilled riders, Adam Davis & Matthew Campbell tore the track up all day but it was Adam who eventually took top spot. Congress Racing’s Brain Gillen was right in there too, taking third. One of Ireland’s international hopefuls, Principal Stay Strong’s Katie O’Neill caused the boys problems all day, she took fourth but the break through is coming …

 

 

 

 

The cool kids in the Masters have the most competition by a country mile, always pushing close to the 20 riders mark. It’s not ‘all about the kids’, it’s about riders on bikes, age is irrelevant. Lar Massey took the win again and has yet to drop a round although he did look more tired than usual. One straight at a time, no problem … four together and repeat … pain! Ilmars Virsis kept the pressure on taking second with Eugene ‘paparazzi’ Jackson from Kings n Leon in third. There is a growing trend in the Masters that 4 more inches is better, even the Irish BMX legends Steve Bell and Shay McNally have fallen from grace! 20 inches should be enough for anyone … we’ll let it slide until after Zolder  …

 

Superclass is FAST! All the training programs, strength & conditioning coaches and nutritionist’s are clearly making a difference. You have got to love that Ireland’s fastest are racing on flats, there’s a lesson to be learned here. BMX Ireland Development Team rider Eoin Corrigan was almost untouchable all day, even managing zero crashes. Eoin styled his way to the top of the podium chased closely by Geronimo Roa from the Reconcile Meybo dynasty. Stay Strong’s Matthew Malone, also from the BMX Ireland Development Team, was right on their heels to take third. Eamonn Wyer kept them all on their toes down the first straight but it was Adam Fynes, not long back after a litany of injuries who took an impressive fourth.

 

 

 

 

 

The day finished with a BBQ … in a tent … in torrential rain … you gotta love BMX. So there you have it, excellent racing, excellent fun … just excellent!

 

The final two rounds of the 2015 series are on August 15th & 16th at Ratoath BMX … no National Plates are yet guaranteed … get ready for the showdown!

 

 2015 Series Table is updated HERE