Seymour eyes 15th Irish title

CYCLING:Robin Seymour will tomorrow attempt to take what would be a remarkable 15th Irish national cyclo-cross title in 16 years and, on the evidence of recent races, has the form to achieve the feat. Seymour has also claimed 13 consecutive mountainbike cross-country crowns in that time.

The 2007 cyclo-cross championships take place tomorrow on the grounds of Banbridge Academy in Co Down. The contest will feature a mixture of tarmac roads, single track, downhill descents, a testing off-camber corner and a tough run up which will be made even more difficult by plank barriers.

Seymour has been almost unbeatable during the season, losing out only to Team BHB-rider Lewis Ferguson at Castle Park, Bangor. He was leading the race on that occasion but was delayed by a front wheel puncture. Ferguson has won several Northern cross events including the Ulster title in December.

He will be one of Seymour's chief rivals tomorrow, with 2005 Irish champion Roger Aiken, Niall Davis, Niall Delahaye, Glen Kinning and Ray Brownfield also in line for a strong showing. Because of their collective strength Seymour's WORC squad are tipped for the team award, with riders such as James McCluskey, Dave Gill and Keith Meghen all showing well in the recent Leinster nationals.

Multiple cross and MTB champion Tarja Owens is favourite for the women's title, while Banbridge CC's Seán Downey will be challenging for junior gold. Peter McConville (Newry Wheelers) and Robert Lamont (XMTB) are likely to lead the charge in the veterans' race.

The efforts of Seymour, Niall Davis and Ferguson in international MTB events this year mean Ireland is in line to secure one place in the cross-country mountainbike race at the 2008 Olympics. The points gained by the trio mean they ended the year 75th, 93rd and 156th respectively in the world rankings, resulting in a 23rd place for Ireland. James McCluskey is in 178th place. As the top 24 teams will be granted a place in Beijing, retaining this position through 2007 will be a big goal for the quartet.

Owens ended the season ranked 54th. It was hoped the efforts of Owens and Jenny McAuley would secure a place. Although McAuley dropped out of the squad last spring, Ciara McManus' sixth-place debut in the Alanya race in Turkey last October has improved the country's prospects. She and Owens will try to improve on Ireland's ranking of 27th.

FIXTURES: Tomorrow: Irish cyclo-cross championships, Banbridge Academy. Underage races start at 11.30, main event at 1.15. Separate MTB race also featured. Sunday: Round 5 Connacht MTB League, Monivea Wood, Co Galway. Sign-on rugby pitch car park, first race at noon.