Sand, wind, and rain proved a challenge for riders at the Cyclo-cross National Trophy Series in South Shields where Thomas Mein and Anna Kay battled to solo victories.

Elite Women

Anna Kay (777 CX Team) rode to a dominant solo victory ahead of Alderney Baker (Team Empella Cyclo-Cross.Com) under testing conditions to take Round 3 of the National Trophy Series.

The course in South Shields featured a loose, sandy surface that offered a change from the deep mud of Falkirk the week before, meaning margins were tight and a battle raged between Baker, Christina Wiejak (Saint Piran WRT), and Elena Day (Ignite) for the remaining podium spots.

Kay has made a habit of starting fast and taking control of the race early on, and this race was no exception. By the end of the first lap, she had a 15 second lead - taking the sand trap and loose climbs in her stride and looking at ease on the tough course.

Behind, Baker was defending her Series lead while trying to hold onto the pace set by Kay. She held a slim gap over Wiejak and Day, but the chasers never let the gap stretch to much more than 15 seconds.

It soon became clear that no-one would match Kay and the elastic snapped on lap two when she accelerated through the steep banks of the old velodrome that made up the course. Kay demonstrated her technical skills as well, proving one of the only riders in the field capable of consistently bunnyhopping the double barriers.

By the end of the second lap, Kay had a 30-second lead which she continued to extend throughout the second half of the race.

Meanwhile, Baker rode strongly, measuring her effort and holding off Wiejak and Day’s best efforts. The strong coastal wind began to take its toll and Baker faded towards the end, but the difference was too little, too late for the chasers.

Kay cruised in to take the win two minutes ahead of Baker. Behind, Wiejak narrowly pipped Day to the line, taking the final step on the podium.

Second place on the day means that Baker retains her lead in both the elite and the under 23 women’s National Trophy Series.

Elite Men

Thomas Mein (Hope Factory Racing) took another win in the national champion’s jersey, riding away from his rivals early on to win at South Shields.

The reigning national champion has spent the weeks since his win at Round 1 in Derby racing abroad, gaining a string of top 20’s including at the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup in Tábor. His form was clear for everyone to see and he was a marked man coming into the race.

A fast start meant there were few opportunities to make a difference in the opening lap, and Mein followed the early pace set by an in-form Toby Barnes (Garden Shed UK-Ribble-Verge Sport) and his teammate Jenson Young.

By the end of the first lap, Mein was poised at the front of the race ready to attack the course. He quickly accelerated and only Dean Harvey (Spellman Dublin Port) was able to hold his wheel. Joseph Beckingsale (Montezuma’s Race Team) was moving up quickly through the bunch as well after a slower start.

Mein dropped Harvey and set about riding his own race. Behind, disaster struck for Barnes as his freehub broke. Forced to run a whole lap, he lost over a minute to Mein, Beckingsale, and Young. 

While Mein ploughed on ahead, Barnes put in one of the most impressive rides of the day, lapping with times equal to Mein, leaving many to specualte how the race would have played out if Barnes had a clear run.

Young had ridden strongly, distancing Beckingsale and securing second place on the podium. Ahead of them, Mein powered to the finish line, taking a well-deserved second win in the National Trophy Series.

Barnes finished the race in fifth, losing the National Trophy Series lead to his teammate, Young, who also takes the under 23 lead.

Junior Women

Niamh Murphy (Montezuma's Race Team) bounced back from last week’s disappointment to take a well-earned victory.

Murphy had crashed out of Round 2 of the National Trophy Series in Falkirk and she was ready to make up for that in South Shields.

Emily Carrick-Anderson (T-Mo Racing) was the fastest off the line and she put Murphy under pressure early on. Eventual second-placed rider, Hope Inglis (Brother UK‐Orientation Marketing), had a slow start and was forced to fight back to limit her losses.

By the halfway mark, Murphy was alone at the front, attacking the technical course and consistently gaining time. After three laps, she had an almost unassailable lead.

Meanwhile, Inglis had wiped out her earlier deficit and had moved into second place ahead of Daisy Taylor (Royal Albert CC). Carrick-Anderson had slipped out of contention for the final podium slot and was back in fifth.

Murphy led by 45 seconds as she came onto the last lap, with plenty of time to enjoy her victory and put the crash in Falkirk behind her. Inglis rode strongly to finish in second while Daisy Taylor had to settle for third. Carrick-Anderson leads the National Trophy Series into Round 4.

Junior Men

In the junior men’s race, current series leader, Oli Akers, was away racing in Europe, which meant the Series lead was up for grabs.

Reuben Oakley took his maiden win of the National Trophy Series, riding away to take a fine solo victory. The rider from ROTOR Race Team was part of a three-man move that shaped the race, with Oakley, Sebastian Grindley (Garden Shed UK‐Ribble‐Verge Sport) and Mark Lightfoot (Tofauti Everyone Active) proving a formidable trio.

The three riders worked well together but the pace proved too high for Grindley, who slowly lost ground to his companions.

By the final lap, it was clear the winner would come from the pairing of Oakley and Lightfoot. In a dramatic finale, the barriers would prove decisive, with Oakley opting to bunnyhop them while Lightfoot chose to dismount and run. In the end, Oakley’s method was marginally quicker and he managed to gain a slender advantage that he held all the way to the line.

Lightfoot crossed the line three seconds back, while Grindley was a further 20 seconds. With the win, Oakley also took the Series lead from the absent Akers.

Photos here

Podiums

A full list of podium placings can be found below:

Elite women

1. Anna Kay (777 CX Team)
2. Alderney Baker (Team Empella Cyclo-Cross)
3. Christina Wiejak (Saint Piran WRT)

Elite men

1. Thomas Mein (Hope Factory Racing)
2. Jenson Young (Garden Shed UK-Ribble-Verge Sport)
3. Joseph Beckingsale (Montezuma’s Race Team)

Under-23 men

1. Jenson Young (Garden Shed UK-Ribble-Verge Sport)
2. Dean Harvey (Spellman Dublin Port)
3. Benjamin Bright (Marsh Tracks Racing - Trek)

Under-23 women

1. Alderney Baker (Team Empella Cyclo-Cross)
2. Elena Day (Ignite)
3. Lotta Mansfield (Montezuma's Race Team)

Junior women

1. Niamh Murphy (Montezuma's Race Team)
2. Hope Inglis (Brother UK‐Orientation Marketing)
3. Daisy Taylor (Royal Albert CC)

Junior men

1. Reuben Oakley (ROTOR Race Team)
2. Mark Lightfoot (Tofauti Everyone Active)
3. Sebastian Grindley (Garden Shed UK‐Ribble‐Verge Sport)

Under 16 men

1. Oscar Amey (GKR Racing)
2. Luca Bednarek (Kirklees Cycling Academy)
3. Noah Ellison (Shibden Cycling Club)

Under 14 men

1. Gus Lawson (Pentland Racers)
2. Noah White (Mid Shropshire Wheelers)
3. Daniel Davies (Maindy Flyers CC)

Under 16 women

1. Madeline Moorhouse Smith (Shibden Cycling Club)
2. Arabella Blackburn (Deeside Thistle CC)
3. Ellie Mitchinson (Welwyn Wheelers CC)

Under 14 women

1. Olivia Poole (Deeside Thistle CC)
2. Rose Lewis (Halesowen A & CC)
3. Charlotte Lissaman (Newark Castle CC)

Women’s Veterans 40-49

1. Ceris Styler (Backstedt Bike Performance)
2. Lucy Siddle (Reifen Racing)
3. Alison Kinloch (Shibden Cycling Club)

Women’s Veterans 50-59

1. Helen Pattinson (Montezuma's Race Team)
2. Miriam Whitehurst (Reflex Racing)
3. Clare Hoskins (Cardiff JIF)

Women’s Veterans 60+

1. Nicola Davies (www.cyclocrossrider.com)
2. Sally Reid (Morvelo Magspeed Racing)
3. Carolyn Speirs (Kendal Cycle Club)

Men’s Veterans 40-49

1. Adrian Lansley (Pedalon.co.uk)
2. Paul Oldham (Hope Factory Racing)
3. Tony Fawcett (SCOTT Racing)

Men’s Veterans 50-59

1. Nicholas Craig (SCOTT Racing)
2. James Bryan (www.Zepnat.com RT - Lazer helmets)
3. Nicholas Whitley (Chester RC)

Men’s Veterans 60+

1. Grant Johnson
2. Michael Davies (Pedal Power Loughborough)
3. John Galway (Scarborough Coast Cycle Club)