XC NPS Number 2 !

Well after much talk and  fist shaking and noses being out out of joint , NPS number 2 appeared !! The day dawned really nice and I hooked up with Team EPIC Alfie and Damo replacements ( Max and Smithers ) and off we went to Cork. On the road Smithers told me about his idea for some of our members who are not getting the results.
Here it is
http://www.lorryspotting.com/
Apparently people spot Eddie Stobart trucks as a hobby..so the next time any of you DNF in a race or whinge about your carbon bike getting dinged..this is what you could be doing instead !!
Arriving at our destination I was impressed by the size of the forest and the location..apart from my few comments to the lads that aren't The Nagles some sort of thing you get wrong with your man plumbing , I was actually looking forward to riding around. I always think there are hidden gems all over Ireland that people never get to see.
Bad juju number though when I got there..we were parked miles away from the rest of team EPIC and surrounded by MADsers..now the MADsers are nice people and all but when you have to look at the King of the leprechauns all day, it kind of becomes freaky.

It became apparent to me that something was awry when people were wandering around looking for duct tape and bits of foam. I thought there was some sort of insulation war going on between plumbers !
 In all my years as a MTB God I have never seen such disrespect shown to a track !!

Jesus the sport is being played out by people who in another reality would be golfers, or serious badminton jockeys or whatever they call it !
So off I went on a practice lap with Max and Skids and met all sorts of shapes and sizes coming back in blustering on about the Course. Too many pointy rocks..not enough roots !
Ah the course..what a pity.
The Cork kids gave us their interpretation of an XC course, which was retro. Up  fireroad and down a ferocious firebreak, across some heathery mountain singletrack and down another gnarly firebreak.
A lots been said about the course, but as most of us know a trail that is often fantastic to ride for fun never races well.
Take Kilruddery for instance or Lady Dixon..no way would you ride those places for fun, but racing on them, fantastic.
So everybody lined up for the start of the Senior 1/2/3 and ladies and off they went..I packed up my camera and raced after the senior 3s.
Got to the top of the climb and waited for the leaders..first up was Niall Afro Davis..grunting and puffing in his ridiculous Ballinastoe Weekend outfit ! Luckily for Niall hes fast enough to wear baggies !

 Alie followed not long after giving it socks and then the rest of the pack came in to view all redfaced and blinded by tears.

There were fierce battles all over the place with Senior 1 being a fierce combat for 2nd between Tomahawk ( XMTB), Luke Manning ( Not KTM)  and Dave O Neill( Team-Worc)
Oscar ( EPICmtb God) was running away with Senior 2 ahead of old Man Coyner in 2nd !

So after loads more huffing and puffing it was all over and the sun was shining and the sambos were out...
For some bizarre reason the Coffee man would only give me tea or Coffee with my free voucher..no Latte for Alfie or Cappucino for Smithers !!
But the old Byrne " you're having a laugh !!" Look put an end to that.
Post race is always a good time to see a few ugly moments in the mtb World ,bad hair, slobbery faces..blew eyed boys ( eyes blown apart with effort ) but nothing will ever prepare you for this

Them old KTM boys..whoevers idea it was to give them white gear was nuts..its funny though how it draws you in though !! Horrible fascination I think its called !!