Cyclo Cross - Castle Park Bangor 1978

After the Cyclo Cross event yesterday while Anthony Mitchell and Brendan were taking down the course markers they started chatting about their first cyclo cross event.

This lead to Brendan bringing out the scrap books and a walk down memory lane.

North Down CC (then Toyota North Down) formed in 1977. In 1978 they ran a North Down Schools Cyclo Cross Championship held on exactly the same spot as you started and finished the races yesterday.

As you can see from the photos no specialist bikes shoes or kit were a neccesity not even a helmet, infact anything that didn't get caught in the chain and a sock usually prevented that. 

Thiry five years on Anthony has just been elected on to the Board of Cycling Ireland and the ever green Brendan is still taking part.

If you read the Newspaper article you will recognise many names and hopefully be able to match them up in the photos.It wont be difficult to pick out Brendan

If anyone would like to add their memories of this event email me and I will put it here.

COMMENT FROM ANTHONY MITCHELL ON PHOTO 002

Brilliant pic. You should post it on the NDCC Facebook page. I think the guy bending down is Robert Orr, and to his left is his brother Alwyn Orr - brothers of current NDCC secretary Alison McMullan. Great days. Just like some of yesterdays Cross riders Glenn Kinning and Matty Blayney were remarking that Castle Park is where it all started for them, it was the same for Brendan and I - a generation earlier !!!

COMMENT FROM ALISON MC MULLAN (NEE ORR)

Yes, Anthony is right thats my 2 brothers Alwyn and Robert. I'm sure my other brother John is with them on the start line in one of the other pictures taken from a distance - the 3 of them were always together at these!!
Really great to see this Bronagh, I will have to let the boys see these