Aiken again proves the dominant force, wraps up series and Ulster title

Roger Aiken again proved too much for the opposition in Belfast today, taking his fifth win in a row in the Ulster cyclocross series and lifting the senior provincial title in the process.

The Banbridge CC rider had been suffering from a cold in recent days and opted not to ride the latest round of the Supercross Cup in Dublin yesterday in order to focus on today’s assignment in Ormeau Park.

It was a policy that paid dividends; delivering another impressive win and the Ulster title. Overall victory for him in the 2011 Ulster series is certain with just one round remaining.

Unlike last year’s title race, none of the men from Team WORC in the Republic made the journey North to contest today’s contest.

This meant teenager Matthew Adair (Unattached) and the boys from Newry Wheelers – including Conor Campbell and Peter McConville – always looked the most likely to trouble Aiken on the day.

In the end it was Adair who ran the winner closest in what was a fast race despite the slippy conditions; with plenty of climbing and running thrown in to test the field.

Adair has been very impressive this season and while Aiken has simply been far too good to overhaul, the teenager’s performances bode well for the future.

He remains second in the Ulster cyclocross series behind Aiken with just one event to go, at Kilbroney Park in Rostrevor next Sunday.

Conor Campbell led the challenge today from Newry Wheelers CC, which as anticipated scooped the Ulster team title.

Campbell took the bronze medal ahead of international junior road rider Jack Wilson (USC Crabbe Performance).

While Adair and Wilson were showing that their youth wasn’t holding them back against the more seasoned elites, the evergreen Johnny Bogues (Phoenix CC) and Peter McConville (Newry Wheelers CC) showed that they are far from over the hill.

Both veterans – though still elite riders of some note – they were fifth and sixth today respectively and so took gold and silver in the Ulster vets championship race. Robbie Lamont (McConvey XMTB) took the vets’ bronze.

Ciara McManus beat Gill Smith for the women’s title while Jack Wilson’s fourth in the elite race landed him the junior Ulster title ahead of Cormac Clarke (Newry) and Stuart Ballantine (McConvey XMTB).

Clarke’s high placing, when added to that of his team mates Conor Campbell – last year’s senior champion - and Peter McConville, was enough for Newry to bag the team prize again this year.

Johnny McCabe (Cuchulainn CC) took the supervets' title beating today’s sponsor Eamon McConvey (McConvey XMTB) into second place.

(See results of all of the races after the photos below. We’ll have more photos later so please come back.)