The hounds waiting for the hunt to begin

Loic the crowd pleaser

Gee the puppy pleaser

Loic hot on Greg's heels

Greg's and Gee's bikes ready for battle

Not your normal race

Smokebombs adding another obstacle

Leaning in for the final turn

Top three hounds

Top 20 racers

Dark grey clouds hung over Rostrevor Forest Park, only interrupted by even darker and more threatening ones. The tree’s green leaves were dying and fading to yellow and brown before falling to the forest floor. Rostrevor Forest Park, in Northern Ireland, was the location again for the Red Bull Foxhunt this Sunday. The event involves five hundred and fifty mountain bikers (the hounds) simultaneously racing down the mountain, being chased by the foxes; two time Downhill World Champion Gee Atherton; current Downhill World Cup winner Loic Bruni; and the fan’s favorite Greg Callaghan who currently sits in sixth place in the World Enduro Series.Cycling is one of those sports where the fans can get within touching distance of the best in the world. Mountain biking is no different. The pros were casually strolling around posing for selfies and chatting with spectators and fellow racers. The people of Ireland, both North and South, are passionate fans, and the large turnout, despite the weather, proves that. The strong Northern Irish accents were the only noticeable contrast to most Red Bull videos seen online.Creeping up the slope and through the forest to get the best view possible, there was a noticeable difference between the mucky path to the forest and the dry trail under the thick and dense tree cover. If the sun ever does return, I’m not sure it will be able to find it’s way through to the forest floor.As the wind whurred through the trees and the leading riders emerged, the usual tweeting of birds and rustling of footsteps was replaced with the crowd erupting in an explosion of noise with cowbells, chainsaws, and cheers. As the smoke bombs cleared and the neon bikes disappeared through the trees, the sheer variety of the riders could be seen. Young men plowing downhill on carbon steeds, women sleekly slashing berms and older men on eye-wateringly expensive and beautiful bikes. At one point, even a rigid fat-bike rolled by.Once all the smoke disappeared and the cowbells put away, it emerged that local man Colin ‘Rosco’ Ross was the fastest hound on show for the fourth time. Kilian Bron and Glyn O’Brien managed to evade the pros and finish second and third respectively. Gee was the fastest of the pros while Greg wrestled second place from Loic.Photos - https://www.facebook.com/LaveryPhotography/ Words - http://www.cianwrites.com