BIKING BLITZ

Finn Lundy from Kilcoole, who took part in the under-12 section at the Biking Blitz at Ballinastoe Woods on Sunday.

THE ninth edition of the exciting Biking Blitz Series kicked off in Ballinastoe Woods on Sunday with further events due to take place Limerick, Galway and Dublin.

The Biking Blitz is a mass start cross country mountain bike event, aimed primarily at beginners but with something for everyone. There are two categories, ‘Baggy Shorts’ for beginners or ‘Super Pro’ for more experienced riders, plus youth categories from U6 to U18.

Ballinastoe made for the ideal location for the Biking Blitz as it features a network of purpose-built single track trails and forest roads that are designated for use by mountain bikes.

David McCarty was the ‘Baggy Shorts’ winner with a time of 0:49:00. Paul Kane was second and Marc Burnet Cabre was third.

The ‘Baggy Shorts’ women’s winner was Orsolva Csikesz with at time of 0:58:13. Niamh Stephens was second and Rebecca Bradford finished third.

The ‘Super Pro’ winner was Paul Caldwell, with Garreth Davis finishing a close second.

Joanna Bula was the winner of the ‘Super Pro Women’ event.

Siobhan Marshall was the fastest ‘Strider’ and Alex Tracey was the victor in the U6 race. Cian Walsh won the U8s, Kevin Randle the U10s, Oisin May the U12s, Conor Murphy the U14 and Aaron Finnerty the U16s.

PHOTOS BY BARBARA FLYNN Medal winners Alex Tracey, Eli Davis, Lauren Tracey and Art Davis at the Biking Blitz at Ballinastoe.

Harry Smith competing in the under 10s.

Marie McGeown in the under 8s.

Eliza Mae Feeney, medal winner in the under 6s.

Cian Walsh, winner of the under 8s.