Dry, fast and very technical was the way everyone described the new Cloon track which played host to the first round of the Irish NPS. Some were even heard to be complaining about the track being too hard, wise up!

The Real Cycles / Commencal team were out in force barring one rider who has now "officially" retired from DH racing (more on that down below), and in every contested category our riders were contenders.

The course itself was very flowing with little or no need to pedal: Working the track features and pumping the course were the order of the day, demonstrated no better than by top Irish rider Ben Reid who astounded everyone by appearing to float the trail and win Elite with an impressive 6 sec lead.

However Team Real Cycles / Commencals Elite Stevo Beattie was not to be out done by attacking the course in his usual style to pull in third spot behind Ger Wolfe who took second. Stevo was carrying a hand injury on the day. Shortly after the race Stevo, who is already no stranger to the world circuit, got selected to ride for the Irish squad. Great news for Stevo and great news for the Team. Well done big lad.

In Vets Stevie Davidson took the win, by 6 seconds, and he says he was taking it easy! Stevie is becoming accustomed to winning, how long will it last?

Karl O'Sullivan our junior rider had a blistering day putting in a fast first run, then even faster second run to take 3rd. This was Karls first race on his new Team edition Commencal Supreme DH bike only having gotten it 2 days previous, so the result is all the more impressive. Karl also got selected to race on the Irish squad, well done.

Peter McDonagh marked his return to competitive racing with a fantastic 4th position in Senior, Pete has more or less been off the bike for 18 months due to an injury and has scared everyone with his imediate return to form. The podium awaits Pete for sure.

And finally, SteveB has anounced with immediate effect his retirement from DH racing. To date this year he's suffered a broken rib and bust knee and has decided, in his own words "I'm too old for this shit". He was last seen training on a local XC course and has started weighting his bike, lots.