Twelve months ago two first-year juniors stormed onto the cyclocross scene to take gold and silver in the elite women's race at the National Cyclocross Championships in Limerick.
There will be no repeat of that result at the 2025 championships in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, this weekend as the reigning champion, Aliyah Rafferty (Tofauti Everyone Active Majoco), is absent.
She has not focused on cyclocross this winter and is also competing in Holland with the Irish team on the track this weekend, meaning a new Irish elite champion will definitely be crowned in the west.
Last year Rafferty and Greta Lawless (Team WORC), though both still aged 16 years, were well ahead of the opposition in the senior title race, in which Caoimhe May (Orwell Wheelers) claimed the bronze.
Lawless has since finished 10th in the junior race at the UCI Cyclocross World in Dublin, last month. She goes into this weekend's title race a year stronger and more experienced and with firm designs on taking the senior title.
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This time there is some new opposition in the shape of Esther Wong (Hess Cycling Team); the former Great Britain junior international who has recently declared for Ireland.
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Wong, now a first-year U23 rider, has already represented Ireland, making her debut in green in the elite race at the Dublin World Cup. She was the sole Irish rider to finish on the same lap as winner, Lucinda Brand (Baloise Glowi Lions).
Wong and Lawless should prove a handful for the others in the field this weekend, but there are several more who can also count themselves into the mix.
Former multiple national elite champion Maria Larkin (Cuttin Crew/Donkey Label), who is based in the US, is also down to start and given her record in the championships she is definitely a contender.
Doireann Killeen (Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospacial), Elena Wallace (Harps CC) and junior Aoife O’Donovan (Dungarvan CC) have all had a very strong season this winter and will be looking to impress.
Stephanie Roche (Scott Racing IRL) comes into the championships having just won the National Cyclocross Series while Hannah McClorey (Doltcini-Cycle Division) is another who can do well.
In the Masters category, among the contenders are Aishling O’Connor (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club), Jean Wilson (EPIC MTB Expert Cycles), Hazel Murphy (Yellow Furze Road Club) and Helen White (Stamullen RC).
Sally Drennan (Midleton CTC), Sinead Rock (South-East Road Club) and Caroline Martinez (First Tracks) will also be in the fight for the medals.
