Allen takes ‘tightest ever finish’ at Leinster XCO League in Bunclody

Allen (right) just about edges out Buggle (Photo: Joe Guinan)

By Greg May  

In conditions more reminiscent of the Algarve than south east Ireland in spring, it was Riverside’s Martyn Allen who just about grabbed victory in ‘Round 1’ of the Leinster XCO League in Bunclody, Co Wexford, on Sunday. His winning margin was perhaps the closest ever in an MTB event in Ireland.

With current national champion Robin Seymour racing the British National Points Series in Sherwood Pines, the S1 race was lead out by Richie Felle (USN) who was closely tracked by Peter Buggle (Rocky Mountain) and Martyn Allen (Riverside).

During the second lap, Buggle and Allen rode away from Felle and built up a commanding lead that resulted in a three minute gap forming by the last lap. The leading pair rode the rest of the race together with neither gaining an advantage over the other. On the finish line the final sprint came down to a gap of 0.07seconds, with Allen taking the win.

Thankfully, for the riders and officials the timing chips had been mounted on the fork stanchions of the racers bikes to settle the close finish that could have been decided by less than a pedal stroke... or perhaps wheel size?

Although many of us are trying to ignore the rise of the 29er, the first win on a 29er of the season (or ever in Irish XCO?) came on a technical track with a sprint finish. Maybe these clown wheels are a good idea after all….. Maybe even something in between if Nino Schurters win on 27.5 wheels in Pietermaritzburg last weekend is a sign of the future.

Over 120 riders turned out on a glorious day to race on the established trails on the side of Mount Leinster with Racing 795 having made a few improvements to last year’s course; adding extra vertical gain to the lap as well as new sections of singletrack.

The course designers left the final descent into the start finish area that forms a focal point on the course for spectators crowding around waiting for the inevitable crashes to occur.

In the S2 race Team WORC took all three places on the podium for a dominant victory, with Paddy Mackey, Stewart Galloway and Paul Coyne. The S3 race was lead by local Ross Morehead (Racing 795). He ate into the tail of the S2 field, after bridging the starting two-minute gap, before fading and being passed by a well paced Brian Hutchinson (EPIC MTB).

With Mel Spath (Cycleways) also racing at Sherwood Pines, placing an excellent 3^rd place to gather some UCI points, the women’s race was open for Orla McClean (EPIC MTB) to take the win in the S1 race over Rose Griffin (IMBRC).

The S2 race was won by Caroline Murphy (EPIC MTB) with Agatha Tamulewicz (MAD) taking second place. In the S3 race Aine McKenna took her first victory in excellent style hopefully a sign of her plans to move up the categories and a sign that more women are starting to race. Long may it continue.

A number of race cancellations and a resultant late reshuffle in the calendar meant Sunday’s ‘Round 1’ of the Leinster League was run off a week after ‘Round 2’ in Annamoe, Co Wicklow.

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Here's a closer look at the winning margin!  (Photo: Joe Guinan)

Leinster League Round 1: Bunclody, County Wexford. Hosted by Racing 795

Men S1

Women S1

Men S2

Men S3

Men S4 Women S3 and U16

Youth Race Results

(Youth prizes sponsored by Kennys for Bikes)

Under 8

1. Henry Seebach
2. Simon Hughes
3. Niall Furlong
4. Lorenz Weber
5. Robyn Conway

Under 10

1. Sean Price
2. David Furlong
3. Jared Byrne
4. Eve Furlong

Under 12

1.  Ross Ennis

Under 14

1. Jamie Grifferty
2. Allesandro Martinis
3. Tommy Kealy
4. Claudia ?