The fourth and final round of the 2025/26 National Cyclo-cross Series took place on Sunday 4 January 2026 in Ballinasloe, County Galway. Hosts Ballinasloe Cycling Club had pulled out all the stops, laying out a great course, with lots of shiny new yellow netting improving on the course design they used for last year’s national championships. The course start/finish was again on the closed tarmac road, the riders then headed up the embankment near the church, back down into the main field, past the pits, up the small hill in the back corner of the event field. The pit area had been widened from last year, the spiral was back and the riders had to race through the sand pit the local council had built just for the event. Local businesses were chipping into the running of the event and there was great help from the local Civil Defence.
Church hill
After some discussions from last year the club decided to host a relay race this year on the Saturday night. There were 8 teams of 3 riders taking part, from Under 14s to seniors. The teams were randomly selected from those who were entered. The race started at 6 pm with each rider having 2 laps to complete before handing over the timing chip to the next rider in the transition area. Although it was freezing cold there was some great, exciting racing helped by commentary from Paul Joyce. Night race results here
Sunday morning was cold but with blue skies and bright sunshine all day. Thankfully the start/finish road had not frozen.
Sunshine looking across to the pits
Racing got underway around 9:50 am with the Under 6s who had one lap of the Under 8s course to complete. Well done to all the 9 young riders.
The Under 8s were next and they had 4 laps to complete of their course. Storming around the course was Charlie McCarter (Caldwell Powerhouse Racing) who took the win in the boys’ race. Hugh Dolan (Ballinasloe Cycling Club) was second with Noah Finnegan (Square Wheels) third. In the girls’ race Sol Lally (Ballinasloe Cycling Club) completed a clean sweep of 4 wins from 4 rounds. Alice Bell (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) was second with Caoimhe Dunne (Western Lakes CC) third and Elisa Tyszecka (MBCC) fourth.
Next up were the Under 10s who had 7 laps of their course to complete. Oliver O’Sullivan (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) completed his clean sweep of wins across all 4 rounds. Evan McTavish (Western Lakes CC) was second with Rowan Walker (Ballinasloe Cycling Club) third. Marian Mulvaney (Sliabh Luachra Cycling Club) got her third win of the series in the girls’ race. Emily O’Mahony (Sliabh Luachra Cycling Club) was second with Lara Moloney (Ballinasloe Cycling Club) third and Étaín Usher (Western Lakes CC) fourth.
The Under 12s had their own course which included the sand pit and spiral. They had 5 laps to complete. Benjamin Cunningham (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) lead from the start to the finish in the boys’ race, his third win of the series. Behind him was some close racing in laps 1 and 2 but by lap 3 Lewis Bell (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) had pulled away to finish comfortably in second place. Tadhg Connolly (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) and George Cleverley (Sliabh Luachra Cycling Club) battled it out for third with Tadhg getting the final slot on the podium, leaving George in fourth place. In the girls’ race Molly Turner (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) was well clear of the rest of the field. A crash on the final turn onto the finish straight only held her up briefly and she bravely crossed the finish line to take the win. Caroline Collins (Sliabh Luachra Cycling Club) was second with Pippa Ruddell (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) third.
After the podium presentations and course practice, it was time for the Under 14s, Under 16s and Women to race. The Women had 5 laps to complete of the full course with the others having 4 laps.
The Under 16 boys started on the first whistle and were the first to appear at the end of lap 1. James Cunningham (Team WORC) was a rider on form and managed to pick up his first win of the series. Eoin Davis (Bohermeen CC) was second with James Geary (Fermoy Cycling Club) third, Kealan Doherty (Foyle CC) fourth and Craig Ennis (Bohermeen CC) fifth. Eoin took the overall series win with James Cunningham second and James Geary third.
The Under 14 boys had started on the second whistle. Daragh Quigley (Foyle CC) powered round the course to complete his full sweep of 4 wins from 4 rounds. Max McGrath (Fermoy Cycling Club) was second with Nuadha Walsh (Greenmount CA) third and Billy Lord (Breffni Wheelers) fourth. For the overall series it was Daragh first, Billy second and Max third.
In the Under 16 girls’ race Katie Turner (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) took the chequered flag with Ava Baker (Breffni Wheelers) second, Aoife Kellett (Dromara Cycling Club) third and Ciara Flavin (Dungarvan CC) fourth. The overall series went to Ava with Aoife second and Ciara third. In the Under 14 girls’ race Lilly McDermott (TC Racing) took her third win of the series which gave her the overall series win. Alice Moloney (Ballinasloe Cycling Club) finished second at her home venue.
In the Women’s race Greta Lawless made her first appearance in the National Series this year and took the win, setting her up nicely for the national championships next week. Elena Wallace (Harps CC) was second with Jean Wilson (EPIC MTB) third and first Master. Rachel Newell (McConvey Cycles) was fourth, but third Senior rider. Aishling O’Connor (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) and Helen White (Stamullen RC) were fifth and sixth respectively but were second and third Master joining Jean on the podium. For the overall series the top 3 Senior women were: Rachel Newell, Darcey Harkness and Leah McCarthy. The top 3 Masters were Aisling O’Connor, Sinead Parsons and Jean Wilson.
There was another break for podium presentations, which included, as this was the final round of the series, the overall series trophies being handed out. Lining up next on the start line were the M50s, M60s and non-cyclo-cross bike support race riders.
Barry Convery (Newry Wheelers CC) was leading at the end of lap 1 in the M50s race but series leader Fearghal Regan (Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospacial) got to the front and powered on to the finish taking his third win of the series. Declan McEntee (Emyvale CC) was second with Barry Convery third, Peter O’Farrell (Team WORC) fourth and Chris Byrne (Bear Cycling) fifth. In the overall series it was Fearghal, Barry and Chris, first, second and third respectively.
In the M60s race Johnny McCabe (Cuchulainn CC) picked up his second win of the series. Michael Jordan (CSS Tallaght Wheelers) was second with Des Woods (Inspired Cycling) making his debut in this category taking third with Paul Birchall (Greenmount CA) fourth. For the overall series it was Fred MacSorley (Apollo Cycling Team) who took the overall win with Johnny second and Colm Bracken third.
In the non-cyclo-cross bike support race David Kenny finished ahead of Hugh O’Donnell (Corrib MTB).
The final race of the day was for the Senior, Junior and M40s. The Seniors and M40s had 6 laps with the Juniors having 5 laps.
In the Senior race Dean Harvey was out in his new colours for McConvey Cycles and took his second win from two appearances in the series. Legend of the sport Robin Seymour (Team WORC) was second with Richard Barry (St. Finbarrs CC) third. Travis Harkness (Lyon Sprint Evolution) was in second place until a mechanical issue dropped him back to fourth. Ruairi Byrne was fifth. In the overall series it was Robin Seymour first, Richard Barry second and Gavin O’Connell (Team WORC) third.
In the M40s race Frank McDermott (Oldcastle CC) was leading at the end of lap 1. Ronan O’Flynn (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) led the race at the end of laps 2 and 3. Darragh McCarter (Caldwell Powerhouse Racing) came through to the head of the race at the end of lap 4 and held onto this lead to the chequered flag. Current national champion Glenn Kinning (Un-Attached Ulster) had to settle for second with Ronan O’Flynn finishing third, Marcus Flavin (Dungarvan CC) fourth and Frank McDermott fifth. The overall series prizes went to Glenn Kinning (1st), Ronan O’Flynn (2nd) and Barry Kellett (Dromara Cycling Club) (3rd).
In the Junior race Ryan Daly (Scott Racing IRL) put on an impressive performance to take the win. James Armstrong (VC Glendale) was out on his own in second. Conor Regan (Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospacial) won the battle for third place between him and Shane O’Brien (Fermoy Cycling Club). Shane had the consolation of winning the overall series with Conor Regan second and Darragh O’Keeffe (EPIC MTB) third.
A huge thanks to Ronan Lally and all the team from Ballinasloe Cycling Club for putting on a great event. A high bar has been set. Thanks to all the sponsors and the local council. This concludes the series but we can look forward to the national cyclo-cross championships next weekend, hosted by Breffni Wheelers at Castle Saunderson in County Cavan.
Commissaires: Jim Adams, Liz Roche and Martin Grimley
Report by Martin Grimley
Photos
Toby Watson (Facebook) – Set 1, Set 2
Eamon Bracken (Facebook) – (Women, U14, U16), (Junior, Senior, M40)
