Exciting action at Blackwater Park

People looking to take a stroll in Blackwater Park, Navan on Sunday morning were greeted at the entrance to the wonderful amenity by a steward and a sign: 'Cyclocross racing in progress.' That was an indication that this was no ordinary Sunday. That something extraordinary was happening in the beautiful Park. 

No doubt there were those who looked at the person next to them and said: “Cyclocross, what's that?” If they had it would have been understandable. Cyclocross racing is a relatively new sport, but if Sunday morning is anything to go by it's catching on. Fast. 
Cyclists taking part are required to travel over a course that contains plenty of obstacles. Included is the dreaded 'Wall,' a part of the course that contains a series of bumps before the cyclists make a steep, sudden, stomach-churning descent. It's not for the faint-hearted particularly if you are travelling at a breakneck pace which, of course, the cyclists were. 
That's the whole point of the sport. It's about travelling at high speed over terrain many people might find difficult to run or walk on.

 

Marie Gorman taking part in the cyclocross event on Sunday. 

It's rough, bumpy and, in places, muddy. It's the same reason normally sane people try to conquer Everest. The challenge is there and they know that if they face up to the test they will have achieved something very significant. It's not all about cups, medals or prestige. It's the challenge. 
A man walking through the park with his two youngsters stopped to see what was going on.
When the dad said he wasn't sure what was happening one of the youngsters said: “Maybe it's the martians against the earthlings?” 
The youngster wasn't right, but he wasn't far off the mark either in that cyclocross cyclists are earthlings willing to push themselves to the limit on a Mars-like landscape; a landscape especially chosen precisely because it's testing, difficult - and yes, very challenging.
Cyclocross is, explained Navan RC's John Nolan, very popular in countries such as Belgium and Holland. The previous week he was at a cyclocross event in Switzerland which attracted thousands of spectators.
There weren't thousands at Blackwater Park on Sunday for Navan RC's annual event, but there might well be a time when there will be.
Among the top riders in the senior race was Sean Nolan, John's son, who is one of the most talented cyclocross riders in the country at u-18 level.

 

 

Navan RC's Sean Nolan does a wheelie at the cyclocross racing on Sunday. 

The St Patrick's CS, Navan student also takes part in the senior races and he did well on Sunday setting an early pace in the main event - the Senior A race - which took the cyclists around eight gruelling laps of the 2.5km course. 
Sean Nolan set an early pace before finishing third behind the winner David Conroy (Scott Orwell Wheelers), who is the best in the country, and Paul O'Reilly (UCD). 
Members of Navan Road Club such as Lian Smith, Philly Fox, Michael Mills, John and PJ Nolan - and others- had worked hard to get the course ready with one of the most difficult jobs was putting tape along the course around Blackwater Park as the rules dictated. 
The volunteers had to be out early because the first juvenile race was scheduled to start at 10am. 
The first event did get started and from then on races took place in various age groups. Among those taking part in the underage events was Ellen Murray from TC Racing Oldcastle and her cousin Aoibhe Murray in the colours of Moynalty CC. The girls did very well too. 
Ellen said she liked the competitive aspect of cyclocross racing. “It's also great fun racing with your friends,” she said. Her cousin agreed. 
Aoife Mooney from Navan also took part in an underage race. “It's different to road racing and fun,” she added and her dad Eamonn outlined how her bike cost €600. That figure goes into the thousands for the adults, particularly those at the top end of the scale. Mountain bikes are the kind that are required: tough, durable. 
In the women's race one of the leading finishers was Marie Gorman, from Dunmoe, Navan who finished in seventh place.
She has taken part in ironmen events throughout Europe, but cyclocross is another dimension.
“It's different, it's certainly challenging, there's hills, forests, muck and wet but it's fun,” she said. 
Cyclists from all over Leinster and beyond travelled to Blackwater Park with familiar names such as 'Bray Wheelers', 'UCD CC' and 'Orwell Wheelers' on the singlets worn by the participants.
Mervyn Heffernan had cycled all the way from Clonard to watch the event.
A member of the famed Clonard Cycling Club - that went out of existence for a while before reforming - he had a nephew Bob Maye taking part in the u-10 event on Sunday. 
One cyclist from Scott Orwell Wheelers, Luke Potter, took part in the final event of the day and that was the Senior B race.
He described that event “as a race for cyclists who like pizzas.”
He too was there for some fun, but also to face and overcome the challenges posed by the circuit. In the end that was what it was all about. 
What sport and life is about - overcoming the challenges.