Niall McLoughlin fought his way from the back of the field to take gold in the U16 boys race at the National Cyclocross Championships today.
The McConvey Cycles rider claimed the Irish title ahead of Adam Gilsenan (Bohermeen CC) and Liam O'Brien (Fermoy CC).
On a very challenging day out given the muddy course after plenty of rainfall, McLoughlin started gridded at the back of the field as he is riding his first full season of cyclocross.
However, he soon picked his way through the riders ahead and made his way to the pointy end of the action in the Ballina CC promotion in Enniscrone.
The eventual winner was among a group of six riders that put distance between themselves at the rest of the field, before being whittled down to just four.
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In the leading quartet coming to the latter stages of the contest were the eventual medal winners along with Conal Scully (Carlow CC).
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On the last lap McLoughlin attacked his rivals on one of the inclines on the course and managed to get clear.
Once he found himself on his own he reached for the afterburners and built a very solid lead on those behind, who were now fighting for the remaining two medals.
At the finish McLoughlin had plenty of time to celebrate his win with Gilsenan getting the better of O'Brien in the silver-bronze scrap and Scully unfortunately missing out.
In the U14 race Conor Murphy came away with the Irish title riding in the colours of his Rostrevor MBC outfit.
The champion won it well, getting clear at the front and piling the pressure on to prevail by a very big margin.
Behind him Joseph Mullen of
Navan Road Club claimed the silver medal, with Samuel Coleman of Shelbourne
Orchard Wheelers rounding out the podium.
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