A great win from Micko ...I can't think of a more worthy champion ! and all the other finishers on what was a great course .
I'm very disappointed with how my race turned out due to lack of marshalling and clear marking. Here is complaint I sent to off road commission:
Hi Max,
I ve been racing xc over15 yrs and have never made a complaint againt a rider or a course organisers. I would like to lodge an official complaint against todays Nationals XCM race in Rostrevor.
The issue that I would like to flag is insufficient and/or unclear marking and lack of marshal at important position(s).
I was a few km from half way, racing hard, going well and thourghly enjoying the course when I came to a barrier on the right but there seemed a number of options and no marshal and no tape blocking the direction ahead- I continued straight and decended the fireroad. I soon became aware that I had been here earlier in the race but I continued...when I reached the bottom Oisin Boydell from MAD was there and a marshal, a few moments later a 3rd person again had come down the fireroad and then a fourth rider Mark Kidd. We talked to the marshal and started the climb back up. A group of about 5 were now riding down toward us and they turned and started the climb as we explained the situation..no one was happy! Then a girl was coming down and as she slowed up, to also turn and join us on the climb another racer coming down the same fireroad hit her from behind....I heard the loud bang and looked behind....while the group were attended the girl Mark and I contined the climb and alerted the next marshal of the accident....I say accident but this was a very avoidable incident...there needed to be a marshal at that point in the race. Speaking with yourself and Ciara after it was said that there was to have been a marshal at that point where we all went wrong. There was no marshal and nothing to stop riders continuing down the fireroad. I d like to emphasis that we did not follow each other down the fireroad but all made the same decicion based on the markings in front of us ! We turned and I climbed back up for 8 mins to get back on course but went wrong again nearer the start finish along with 2 others at which point I decided to call it a day as too much time was lost. The marking and marshaling of this course was not of a stardard suitable for a national championship race. To make matters worse I understand riders went wrong at the very same part last year. I have spoken to a number of riders after who were also unsure at the same point but either stopped to access the situation as done in orientiering races or remembered it from last year. Its Inexcusable in my option and I would like to complaint. I would ask for my sign on fee to be donated to a charity of the organisers choice.
Regards Dave
IMBRC
