By Sean Moriarty

Killarney Cycling Club is preparing for its biggest mountain bike event of the year as it hosts a round of the Irish Cross Country National Championship on Sunday.

It is three years since the club hosted a round of the national series when it held an event in Muckross.

A new venue on the grounds of An Óige Youth Hostel in Fossa has since become available.

The club has attracted an entry of over 150 riders across all age groups and categories for Sunday’s day-long event.

Action gets underway at 10am and the event is free for spectators.

“We are very grateful to An Óige for making their grounds available to us, it is not easy to get venues suitable for events this big,” club PRO, Keith Lyne, told the Killarney Advertiser.

One innovation this year is a “just for fun” Under 6 race.

“It is an introduction to off-road racing, all about the achievement of starting and finishing,” added Keith.

Some of the top riders in the country have entered the Fossa event.

Local frontrunners include Billy McSweeney, John Crowley, Patrick Clifford and Mark McGlynn.

Damien McCarthy, fresh from his Downhill Mountain Biking success in Texas earlier this month is also competing at the event.

“Billy and Mark should be at the business end of the Senior 3 race,” Kevin Murphy of the club’s off-road committee said.

“A lot of the top riders would have represented Ireland all over Europe at some stage in the past. We have a large contingent coming from Northern Ireland and they will all be staying local from Saturday night on.”

Fans attending the event are asked to obey marshals on the approach to the event. Additional parking is available in Fossa village in the grounds of the old church. Refreshments will be served at the Golden Nugget throughout the weekend.