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| 2009 NPS1 Cahir Race Report |
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NPS1 in Cahir Co. Tipperary was held in glorious sunshine this weekend. The adventure started on Friday evening with Damo's camper pulling into Scarragh woods only to be joined by Tom Sheridans monster size race van which is a bigger version used by the A-Team. With awnings pulled out and parked side by side the new Flow Racing banner was erected to create a fairly seriously Pimped pit area! Campers and vans pulled in well after dark arousing a great carnival type atmosphere. Tom's maiden voyage was celebrated with a perfectly cooked curry and copious amounts of wine. People came and went and plenty of banter was had before finally going to bed! On Saturday we awoke to amazing sunshine to which we had a tinkers breakfast (a piss and a look around) before getting onto Denis Corkerys amazing uplift trailer to start practice. The course was wet and slippy with most of the serious riders opting for spikes. It was a glorious day which meant by Sunday it was back to high rollers. Saturday evening was to hold the inaugural prize giving for last years National Champs and was well attended in Cahir town but most people opting for a early night to charge the batteries for what was to be a gripping days racing! Sunday - Race Day The track had dried up and was fast. The jumps (I was told) were riding brilliant which meant that the spectators got some awesome photos and a great days entertainment. It was all down to how you coped with the beeps with which the lads didn't disappoint U14 1st Cameron Comforth 021 2nd Adam Tarbett Flow 3rd Colin O'Donoghue I was on the uplift with the young guns and all the talk was about Tarbo and Cameron (021). Indeed it was the 2 lads who were fighting for no1 but after the 1st run tarbo had 17 seconds to find and unfortunately crashed on his second run. As this was Camerons turf hopefully Tarbo will be closer in the coming rounds. U16 1st Dan Sheridan Flow 2nd Christopher Mcglinchey CRC 3rd Robert Duggan Kcc Dan "the man" loved his new A-Team accommodation and woke up like BA Borocus. Once fed by Tom "Hanibal" he put in 2 savage runs 2.078 and then the 15th fastest run of the day 2.045. Remember - he is only 14. This gave us win number one for the day. Super Vets 1st Tom Sheridan Flow 2nd Karl Thomas Epic 3rd Peter Popham Flow Whether it was old age or something else, the super boys arrived up late for their 1st run and of course then had to have a rest before kicking off. Tom "Hanibal" Sheridan offered to go first (proper sporting gesture) in order to give Tom Clogher a rest as he was later than the others. He never left this spot and proved it wasn't old age but getting a late uplift. Scuttling down the mountain without hitting any jumps because of a dodgy shoulder he still managed a 2.395. I personally think it was the sausages he cooked between runs. Peter seemed to be flying from the start but went head over b......x on the rooty section after the step up. After dusting himself off he rolled down for a 3.08 with this in mind he got through this section cautiously for the next run and then proceeded to take 3 seconds off for his 2nd run. Sport After going ok for the 1st run on a time of 3.01 I was delighted just to be involved as I'm not supposed to be racing untill the end of may. I was going to leave it at that but decided to go again for which I crashed before the 1st set of doubles ending with a 3.03. Great to be back. Masters 1st DaleMcmullen CRC 2nd Michael Cowan CRC 3rd Mark Tiernan Epic 4th Damo Duggan Flow 3 seconds covered the first four, this was an exciting Class. With 19 entries Damo was 3rd after the first run on 2.071 but knew that he had to give it everything for the second as Mark T had crashed and everyone said they had made mistakes. Up he went with race face in tact only to realize his pedal was fooked! Damo being Damo ran all the way down the mountain like a lunatic released from an asylum where Michael Cowan gave him a pedal and off up the fire rd with Peter at the wheel of the Pajero. The jeep was sideways all the way up which scared the shit out of Damo and then had to get up the last bit by foot - on with the pedal - beeps - gone. I'm wrecked thinking about it not to mind having to ride after such an ordeal. He got a 2.091. Brilliant performance. Elite 1st Dan Wolfe Flow 2nd Gerald Wolfe Flow 3rd Ewan Doherty OC Tuning 10th Karl O'Sullivan Flow Amazing Class and amazing riding. The lads were absolutely pinning it. The crowds were all gathered at the finish at the timing screen. The first run saw 1 second dividing the first 3. Dan leading with a 1.564 and not 100% happy with his run. Ger had a near off on the first double and just about got enough speed to get over the step up and didn't look to be pushing his limits towards the last berm and had a 1.577 just reiterating the point of never stop pushing on a race run. Karl was down on 2.029 and wasn't happy as he had a few scary moments. It was going to be a cracking finale. With the second runs seeded Ewan coming 4th went into the lead with 1.5528. Ger was next and he took the lead with a 1.5524 which received a massive roar. Gareth Mcgee starting second last couldn't better these which only left one man (except Damo) on the mountain - he duly obliged with the fastest time of the day 1.539 - AMAZING. It seems all the lads have to worry about at the moment is getting to the podium on time!!!!!!!!!!!!
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