THERE were horses of a difference colour in action at Limerick Racecourse this past weekend as Greenmount Cycling Academy played host to the Irish National Cyclocross Championships for the first time.
Cyclocross is the fastest growing cycle sport and takes place primarily on grass, though it requires competitors at times to negotiate sand, steps, steep climbs, and slippy mud.
Almost 400 racers from every province of Ireland took part in the weekend run, with an event for everyone from Under-6s to Over-60s.
A team of volunteers from Greenmount Cycling Academy spent several weeks constructing the cyclocross course in preparation for the event.
Befitting a national championship, the course included tests for riders’ technical ability, including a steep off-camber bend, stairs, numerous tight turns, as well as straight dry sections to test competitors’ fitness and power.
In spite of strong efforts from local riders, the main prizes could not be kept on Shannonside.
Youth won the day as Dean Harvey took the men’s senior race, crowning what has been an incredible season for the Trinity Racing man. Dean won his second national elite cyclocross title at just 20 of age.
In the women’s race, seasoned veteran competitors had no answers to the skill and strength of 16-year-old Aliyah Rafferty from the Tofauti Everyone Active team, who took the top step on the podium confirming her prodigious talent.
Organisers say the event would not have been possible without the support of Limerick Racecourse, along with the generosity of local sponsors including Hincheys car dealership, PBC builders, Velorevolution, Irish Wire Products, UL Sport, Shanahan’s Family Foods, Kennedy Jewellers, The Hub Bike for Life, Irish Cycling News, Modulacc, Gems Coffee Cork, Munster Cyclocross, and Cycling Ireland.
Greenmount Cycling Academy is a long-established cycling club in Limerick and competes across road, cyclocross, gravel, and mountain biking.
The group welcomes new members, including children, who can learn the skills and joy of cycle racing in a safe, casual environment, away from cars, in Limerick Racecourse.
Further details on how to take part are available on greenmountca.com.
