O Tuathail wins from Seymour as battle goes to the wire

Sean O’Tuathail has delivered a grade-A display to just edge Robin Seymour in round four of the Fixx Supercross series in Kiltiernan, south Dublin (Photo: Sean Rowe)

By Brian Canty

Sean O’Tuathail has claimed the scalp of off-road kingpin Robin Seymour in round four of the Fixx Supercross Series in Kiltiernan, south Dublin.

The Bray Wheelers man has often been the bridesmaid of the cyclocross scene in Leinster but he got one over on the most successful rider in the sport’s history in woeful conditions on Sunday.

O’Tuathail isn’t the only man to have gotten the better of Seymour in recent weeks and his win perhaps proves that the latter’s reign as the undisputed champion is coming under increasing threat.

Paul O'Reilly (Fixx Rouleurs) got the better of Seymour last month in Kilruddery but today was O’Tuathail's day.

However, Seymour has been beaten in recent years only to bounce back in great style and if he rides the national championships in the New Year he will one among a very small group of favourites to taken the crown.

It was a nip and tuck affair all through Sunday’s contest, with O’Tuathail leading for the opening four laps only for Seymour to charge ahead for the next two.

But the winner got in front on the penultimate lap and had just one second to spare on the line, with promising junior David Conroy (Scott-Donnybrook Landscape) taking third a further minute and a half back.

Beth McCluskey (Unattached Leinster) was victorious in the women’s race which had a field of around 20 riders.

Emily Birchall (NRPT-Magnet.ie) was second but the winner was in a class of her own, storming ahead early on and extending her lead around the four-lap contest.

She eventually crossed the line with three minutes to spare.

That’s still a massive result for young Birchall, it must be said, as in such testing conditions a rider of her diminutive stature – and inexperience at ‘cross - would always be at a disadvantage.

McCluskey’s teammate Michelle Geoghegan was third.

Patrick Santini of IMBRC won the B race over seven laps from Liam Dunne (Belpark Tri Club) and David Vavasour (Fixx Rouleurs).

Peter Rimmer (Mullingar Lakeside Wheelers) and Robert Keogh (Fixx Rouleurs) were the winners of the B vets' and B super vets' contests, respectively.

Fixx Supercross Cup, Round 4

Sunday, December 13th

Kiltiernan, south Co Dublin

A Race, 8 laps

1 Sean O’Tuathail (Bray Wheelers)
2 Robin Seymour (Team Worc)
3 David Conroy (Scott-Donnybrook Landscape Co.)
4 Evan Ryan (Team Worc)
5 Anthony Doyle (Strata3-VeloRevolution)
6 Ronan O’Flynn (Galway Bay CC)
7 Niall Davis (Biking.ie)
8 Sean Feeney (Scott-Donnybrook Landscape Co.)
9 Gavin O’Connell (Team Worc)
10 Eric Downey (Orwell Wheelers)

Women’s Race – 4 laps

1 Beth McCluskey (Unattached Leinster)
2 Emily Birchall (NRPT-Magnet.ie)
3 Michelle Geoghegan (Unattached Leinster)
4 Breda Horan (Orwell Wheelers)
5 Fiona Meade (Fearless)
6 Hannah Ormesher (DID Electrical)
7 Mary Dawson (Bray Wheelers)
8 Natalie Grieve (Sundrive Track Team)
9 Rose Griffin (IMBRC)
10 Sandra Telford (Orwell Wheelers)