Super racing at Day 1 of the National CX Championships 2026

The 2026 National Cyclo-cross Championships got underway at Castle Saunderson, County Cavan on Saturday 10 January hosted by Breffni Wheelers. There were races for the non-championship youth support races (Under 6s to Under 12) then championship races for Under 14s, Under 16s, M50s and M60s. The morning had started cold with temperatures below freezing. There were patches of freezing fog on the way to the venue. The grass on the lawn in front of the ruined castle was covered in a frost. The sun appeared on a blue sky as the riders started to appear. The finish line was on the first of the lower sections of the lawn just in front of the scaffold bridge that had been constructed for the event. The youth races (Under 6s to Under 12s) started on the grass area in front of the finish line. The championship category races started on the tarmac road which had been widened by the local council just for this event. For these riders it was a 200 metre climb up the tarmac before turning left onto the grass. The course did wind its way around the main tiers of the garden before dropped down into the wooded section, through the trees and then the big climb back up to the finish area. Paul Joyce was back on the microphone providing commentary for both days. The spectators were in place and the photographers were awaiting the action.

The first race of the day was for the Under 6s. They did 2 laps of their course. There were 9 young riders lined up including one who hadn’t turned 2 yet!! Well done to all. They received their goodie bag at the finish.

The next group to race were the Under 8s. The boys started on the first whistle, the girls on the second whistle. They had 6 laps to complete. The boys’ race was being led by Charlie McCarter (Caldwell Powerhouse Racing) for most of the race but he slowed down before the finish line which allowed the visiting rider, Fionn Lamont (Ilkeston Cycle Club), to nip past Charlie and take the win. Noah Finnegan (Square Wheels) was third in that race. In the girls’ race Sol Lally (Ballinasloe Cycling Club) had no such issues as she led the race from start to finish. Elisa Tyszecka (MBCC) was second with Alice Bell (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) just keeping ahead of Mara Reihill (Un-Attached Ulster) to take third place.

The Under 10s then lined up next. They had a longer course and 5 laps to complete which included going over the scaffold bridge. In the boys’ race Oliver O’Sullivan (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) continued his great season with another win. Naoise Cunningham (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) was second with Harvey Hume (Dunloy CC) third. Éanna Dolan (Un-Attached Connacht) was fourth with Evan McTavish (Western Lakes CC) dropping back to fifth on the last lap, having been third for most of the race. In the girls’ race Ríonach Campbell (Square Wheels) took the chequered flag ahead of Marian Mulvaney (Sliabh Luachra Cycling Club) with Emily O’Mahony (Sliabh Luachra Cycling Club) third and Elianna Logan (Omagh Wheelers Cycling Club) fourth.

The Under 12s course took the riders down into a section of the woods, up past the pit area and back to the finish. They had 4 laps to complete. In the boys’ race Benjamin Cunningham (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) was well out in front and went on to cross the finish unchallenged. Behind him though was a great battle between Tadhg Connolly (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) and Lewis Bell (Shelbourne/Orchard CC). Tadhg had been holding the second place position for laps 2 and 3 but a last ditch sprint from Lewis JUST managed to pip Tadhg on the line. Jaxon Jennings (Bear Group Racing) was fourth with visitor Lorcan Lamont (Ilkeston Cycle Club) fifth. In the girls’ race Molly Turner (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) took the win, last week’s crash not affecting her performance. Caroline Collins (Sliabh Luachra Cycling Club) was second with Eabha Connolly (Square Wheels) third, Pippa Ruddell (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) fourth and Kate Horohoe (Lakeside Wheelers Mullingar CC) fifth.

After a break for the podium presentations it was time for the first of the national championship races. This was for the Under 14 girls and the Under 16 girls who had 3 full laps and one in-lap to complete. They were lined up on the tarmac road. In the Under 16 girls’ race favourite Katie Turner (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) was leading at the end of the in-lap but a mechanical issue with her chain in the trees dropped her back which allowed Ava Baker from the host club Breffni Wheelers, to take the lead. Ava was over a minute ahead of Katie at the end of the first big lap and Ava managed to maintain that gap over Katie to the finish. A great cheer from the crowd. Behind Katie, who finished second, was Naoise Byrne (Carlow RCC) who was third and Aoife Kellett (Dromara Cycling Club) who was fourth. In the Under 14 girls’ race Lilly McDermott (TC Racing) continued her great season with another win. Aoife Campbell (Square Wheels) was second with Aoife Killeen (Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospacial) third.

Next to race were the Under 14 boys and Under 16 boys who had 4 full laps and the in-lap to race over. In the Under 16 boys’ race it was the same top 3 as per last week with James Cunningham (Team WORC) on the top step of the podium, Eoin Davis (Bohermeen CC) second and James Geary (Fermoy Cycling Club) third. James had won the Under 14 boys’ championships in 2024 and 2025 and is now the champion again in 2026. Just missing out on the podium were Kieran Mulvaney (Sliabh Luachra Cycling Club) who was fourth and Darragh Murphy (Rostrevor Mountain Bike Club) who was fifth. In the Under 14 boys’ race the favourite Daragh Quigley (Foyle CC) did not disappoint with another great win. Fabian Drwal (Lynx Cycling Club) was second with Nuadha Walsh (Greenmount CA) third, Max McGrath (Fermoy Cycling Club) fourth and Jake Govan (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) fifth.

The final race of the day was for the M50s and M60s. This was the biggest field of the day with 39 M50s and 15 M60s on the course at the same time. Both had 5 full laps as well as the in-lap to compete over. Race favourite in the M50s race Robin Seymour (Team WORC) has over 20 national titles in cyclo-cross and this was his 4th as M50, another superb performance. Declan McEntee (Emyvale CC) finished second with PJ Hynes (Bellurgan Wheelers) third, Fearghal Regan (Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospacial) fourth and Trevor Woods (Velo Revolution / Speed Queen) fifth.

In the M60s race it was expected that five time M60 champion Johnny McCabe (Cuchulainn CC) would be out to get his 6th title. Johnny was leading at the end of the first full lap but it was Des Woods (Inspired Cycling), who has only this year joined the M60 category, who took the lead at the end of lap 3 and held this to the line. Johnny held onto second place until lap 4 when Michael Jordan (CSS Tallaght Wheelers) came through to take second. Johnny had to settle for third. Michael O’Reilly (EPIC MTB) was fourth with Paul Birchall (Greenmount CA) fifth.

Well done to all the riders and a huge thanks to all at Breffni Wheelers for putting in so much effort to set up a great course and run a great event. We look forward to Day 2.

Commissaires: Gary McIlroy, Jim Adams, Liz Roche, Ronan Fox, Martin Grimley

Results here

Report by Martin Grimley

Photos
CYCLE RACE Photos Ireland (Facebook)
U6, U8, U10
More youth photos
U12
U14 and U16 girls race

Sportsphoto Ireland (Facebook)
Youth races
U12
U14/U16 girls
U14/U16 boys
M50/M60

Toby Watson (Facebook)
Day 1

Dany Blondeel (Facebook)
Day 1 (Part 1)
Day 1 (Part 2)