Talk about consistency over the past decade and one Irish cyclist stands out above all others. Robin Seymour's unbeaten run of 16 national titles is a record unlikely to be surpassed.

Road riders may generally enjoy higher profiles than those of other disciplines, but Seymour's achievements in national mountain-bike and cyclo-cross racing have secured him widespread respect.

This weekend, he has a chance to add to that formidable tally. At midday tomorrow, the national cyclo-cross championships will get under way at Lurgan Park, a sprinting, sliding slog of a race on a muddy off-road course. While Seymour starts as hot favourite, riders such as Alastair Martin, Don Travers, Aidan McDonald and Robert Lamont will each do their utmost to put an end to his golden run.

Seymour's fellow Olympian Tarja Owens is also aiming for a mountainbike/cyclo-cross double this season. She won her first title on a similar course last year and will be trying to make it two in a row in the women's race tomorrow.