Flying McConville takes National Vets Cyclocross Championships from Bogues

Peter McConville set out with great purpose and drove it home all the way for gold (Photo: Toby Watson)

Newry Wheelers’ Peter McConville has rounded out a string of very strong performances in the cyclocross season with victory in yesterday’s veterans’ national title race in Muirhevnamor Park, Dundalk.

Of the strongest riders who would eventually go on to fill the podium after the five lap event, McConville set out his stall very early when he lashed around the opening lap in by far the quickest time.

He completed that in 8:58, putting 19 seconds into his nearest challenger John Bogues (Phoenix CC), with the eventual bronze medallist Jason Henry (Unattached Ulster) a further four seconds back.

McConville did not have it all his own way though, with Bogues recovering on the second lap and closing the gap to the leader by six seconds, though Henry was to relinquish a further eight seconds to the flying leader.

However, from that point on McConville simply set about his task and battered out an impressive tempo in the muddy conditions to put 19 seconds in Bogues on the third lap and 21 into him on the penultimate fourth circuit. Similarly, Henry also slipped out of contention for the victory and lost 23 and 35 seconds to McConville on those third and fourth laps.

The champion never eased up on the last circuit and even though he savoured his win on the closing straight he extended his lead by another six seconds on Bogues and put another 40 seconds into Henry.

In the end the winner had an impressive 57 seconds to spare over Bogues, with Henry 2:08 down, though very nearly two minutes ahead of the best of the rest in fourth place, Niall Quinlan (EPIC MTB).

John Bogues had a great ride and was bested only by a very strong McConville (Photo: Toby Watson)

Jason Henry battled through tough January conditions for a great bronze (Photo: Toby Watson)

National Cyclocross Vets Championships, Muirhevnamor Park, Dundalk

Position	Surname	First Name	Club	Time
1	MC CONVILLE	Peter	Newry Wheelers/Greenbikes	47:50
2	BOGUES	john	phoenix cc	48:47	0'57"
3	HENRY	Jason	Unattached Ulster	49:58	2'08"
4	QUINLAN	Niall	Epic mtb	51:51	4'01"
5	FITZSIMON	Vinnie	Team WORC	53:11	5'21"
6	TREACY	Russell	St Finbarr's	53:35	5'45"
7	MCCABE	Johnny	Cuchulainn	53:41	5'51"
8	CURRY	Simon	Banbridge cc	54:42	6'52"
9	MULLIGAN	William	Banbridge CC	55:21	7'31"
10	SHEILS	Gary	Cuchulainn CC	56:01	8'11"
11	CAMPBELL	greg	Sundrive	56:33	8'43"
12	BUGGLE	Ronan	Team worc	57:34	9'44"
13	O'HAGON	Martin	Cuchulainn CC	57:38	9'48"
14	MCGRANE	Damien	Team Madigan CC	57:59	10'09"
15	O'CONNOR	Dave	Park Wheelers	59:03	11'13"
16	KIDD	Mark	Fixx Rouleur	1:01:04	13'14"
17	GRIMLEY	Martin	Dromara Cycling Club	47:56	1 lap
18	MACSORLEY	fred	Apollo	48:07	1 lap
19	BARTLEY	Mark	Yeti grassroots	48:17	1 lap
20	BOYLE	Edmund	PhoenixCC	48:23	1 lap
DNF	ELDER	Nigel	Chain Reaction Cycles	33:06