Joe Blackmore and Anna Flynn secured elite wins in Tong, Bradford in the fifth and final round of the Lloyds Bank National Cross-country Series, with Thomas Mein and Eilish Gilbert taking the overall crowns.
Short track
Max Greensill (Hope Factory Racing) took another open short track victory, storming to the win after a close finish with teammate Thomas Mein. An early breakaway saw the Hope riders ahead, alongside Innes McDonald (Scotia Offroad Race Team), Max Standen (Southfork Racing) and Rhys Hidrio (Caesarean), before Mein and Greensill powered away. McDonald took third in a valiant effort, giving him the overall series title after a consistent season, while Standen and Dec Oldham (Hope Factory Racing) came in third.
In the women’s race, Maddie Moorhouse-Smith (Hope Factory Racing) started fiercely with Eilish Gilbert (Saint Piran) on her wheel. Gilbert attacked around the halfway point – a decisive move that saw her take the victory and overall series win. Moorhouse-Smith held on for second, while Ellie Mitchinson (Montezuma’s) brought home the rest of the pack. Grace Inglis’ strong performances this season saw her take second in the series standings ahead of Bethany-Ann Jackson (Pinesport).
Oliver Carter (Deeside Thistle) was the quickest off the start line in the youth and juvenile race, staying ahead solo for most of the race before Jacob Mauger (Jersey Youth Cycling) broke away to take the win. Carter came second and Alarik Knox (Verulam) led home the group behind. The third place was enough to give Knox the series title ahead of Zachary Hutchinson (Clifton CC) in second and Jacob Mauger took third.
It was a repeat of the close battle at Woody’s between Olivia Poole (Deeside Thistle) and Daisy Wilkinson (Scotia Offroad Race Team) in the female equivalent, with Poole seizing the win, but Wilkinson’s second place was enough for her to take the series title. Jess Duffield (Cwmcarn Paragon) came in third, and second in the standings ahead of Elsie Hughes (Shibden) third.
In the open veteran race, the ever-dominant Paul Oldham (Hope Tech Factory Racing) made it five wins out of five races to take the series title. Behind him, Tom Colley (Chase Racing) hung on as long as he could but was overtaken a couple of laps before the end by Ian Taylor (Shibden) for second. Colley still secured second in the series standings ahead of Ross Duffield (Cwmcarn Paragon).
Rowena Duffield (Cwmcarn Paragon) and Natalie Smith (Rotor) battled to the line, with Duffield taking the win and overall title ahead of Smith. Karen Heppenstall (Grity) finished in third.
Olympic
Elite
The open elite race saw Cam Orr (Wilier Triestina Vittoria) quickest off the line, leading for a couple of fast laps before a slight mechanical issue slowed him. Joe Blackmore (Israel - Premier Tech) seized the opportunity and overtook with gusto, growing the gap every lap. Orr recovered and was beginning to reel back the gap, but it was too little too late, with Blackmore taking the win. Greensill took a comfortable third place ahead of teammate Mein, with Ben Askey (Groupama-FDJ La Conti) leading home the rest of the pack. Mein’s fourth place added to his early season wins to give him the overall series title, with Greensill second, and the consistent Jason Boutell (Destination Bike RT) third.
In the women’s elite race, Anna Flynn (Spectra Racing) took the win with ease, leading solo from the start and crossing the line with her arms aloft. A very happy Caoimhe May had the race of her season to take second, managing to get the gap on Eilish Gilbert (Saint Piran) about halfway through the race, with Gilbert’s third place enough to secure the overall series title. Behind them, it was a battle for the remaining podium spots between Nicky Healy (Grity) and Amy Henchoz (Torq). A fast last lap from Henchoz took her into fourth with Healy holding onto fifth place. May’s second place also gave her second in the series, with Healy taking third.
Junior
The open race was dominated by McDonald led from the start, building up a substantial lead on the first lap to take the win. Behind him, Standen broke away from the rest of the pack to spend his race riding mostly with elite rider Steve James, and crossed the line in second and took the overall series crown. Oldham had been with Standen at the start of the race before losing ground but clung on to take third place. A fast Freddie Dixon (Hope Factory Racing) came fourth, with Logan Stander completing the podium. Behind Standen in the series standings was McDonald in second and Oldham in third.
In the women’s race, Moorhouse-Smith had a flying start and kept up the pace for the whole race, finishing over a minute in front of Evie Strachan (RR23 - runandride.co.uk). Tulsi Bakrania (Montezuma's Race Team) led home teammate Mitchinson, with Harriette Taylor (Xcomtb.com Race Team) grabbing the final podium spot. Strachan took the overall series lead with Moorhouse-Smith second and Bakrania in third place.
Youth
In the open youth race, Luke Trafford (Shibden) led from start to finish to take the win, while Noah White (Shibden Apex RT) and Ryan Daly (Scott Bright Motor) battled for the podium spots. After trading places each lap, White pinched the win ahead of Daly. Overall, Arthur Limb (Matlock) took the series title, with Trafford second and Jacob Steed (Sherwood Pines) in third.
Wilkinson also took a solo victory in the women’s equivalent, with a delighted Charlotte Lissaman (Grity) took second and Orla White (Dartmoor Velo) in third. Overall, the title went to Maizie Harper (Pine Sport), with Wilkinson second and Freya Mowbray (Scotia Offroad Race Team) third.
Juvenile
This is usually a hotly contested race and Parkwood was no exception, especially with the overall results coming down to the results of this final round. Zach Buchan (Pentland Racers) had a blinding first lap to build up a lead he never lost. Guy Rorke (Peebles) then managed to escape from the bunch to take second while Ben Whitehouse (RR23 – runandride.co.uk), Isaac Vickery (Rotor) and Zach Smith (Guernsey Velo Club (LBG) fought it out for the final podium spot. It was Smith who claimed third after a very exciting race. Overall, Ben Whitehouse’s fourth place gave him the series title, with Zachary Hutchinson (Clifton) second and Buchan’s win taking him to third overall.
In the female race, Poole made it four wins out of five with Aoife Scawn (Dartmoor Velo) in second and Harriet Butcher (Lee Valley Youth CC) third to also reflect the overall series standings.
Veterans
The open veteran race saw Paul Oldham (Hope Factory Racing) lead from start to finish, while Chris Lever’s (Cookson Cycles) season has been getting better the more it goes on. He finished with a season’s best second, while Lewis Craven (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli) came in third. Oldham took the overall win, while Phil Holwell’s (www.Zepnat.com RT) fourth in the race meant he finished second in the series. Lever pipped Alan Gunner (Verulam) to third overall.
In the female veterans, Helen Jackson (Kendal) disappeared off the front of the race to take the win, while Verity Appleyard (Velofixers) was happy with her second and Nicole Read was delighted to take her new bike to third place. Overall, Rowena Duffield (Cwmcarn Paragon) took the series win to go with her XCC title, Karen Heppenstall (Grity) was second and Helen Jackson third.
In the grand veterans, Nick Craig (SCOTT Pioneer DJ) left nothing to chance, blasting off from the start line and making his way through all of the vets in front of him, bar Oldham, to take a dominant win. Marc Chamberlain (TY Cycles Race Team) was a good way ahead the rest of the pack for second, with Ian Taylor (Shibden) bringing home the rest of the bunch. Craig took the series overall, with Chamberlain second and Andrew Turner (Element Cycling Team) third after a crash had taken Dougie Cameron out of the day’s race.
In the women’s race, it was the lioness herself Julie de Leeuw (Salus Group) who hung on for the win ahead of a fast-approaching Sarah Craig (Ride for Charlie). Local lass Gail Dillon (Shibden) took third. De Leeuw won the overall series, with Helen Pattinson (Montezuma’s) in second, and Sarah Grimshaw (Grity) third.
Grant Johnson looked as smooth and fast as he has all season with his fifth win in the super vet open class. Stewart Coates (All Terrain) came in second ahead of Andy Weaving (TY Cycles Race Team). Grant won the series, with Weaving second and Mick Pilcher in third overall. Carolyn Speirs also made it five wins out of five, taking the series title as well.
Expert
It was another good battle in the expert open race, Adam Potter staying out of trouble for the win. Ollie Mant got stronger throughout the race to come in second, while Al Griffin (Addform - Vive le Velo) managed to stay ahead of the fast-finishing Liam Cadoret (Caesarean). Overall, Potter took the series crown, with Griffin in second and Jim Vernon (Ride Revolution Coaching) holding on to third spot.
In the female category, Megan Bettles (Numplumz) had a dominant win. Rachel Bennet was second and Melissa Baker (Team Empella) came home third. The win confirmed Baker’s overall victory, with Bennet in second and Lucy Dalgleish coming third.
Sport and fun
In the open sport category, James Elves (Reifen Racing) had a cracking race to take the win with a delighted Chris Capp (Sleaford Wheelers) taking the second spot. Thomas Hocking (Mud Dock Racing) took a well-deserved third place. Corben Haynes came in fourth which was enough to secure him the overall series, Dominic Clarke held onto his second place with a very happy Hocking third overall.
Steve Pugh (One Life Racing Hexham) took the open fun win, but it came down to a sprint finish between Sam Pooler and Ross Duffield (Cwmcarn Paragon) for the second and third spots.
