South West Cyclo-X League Round One
Court Fields Community School, Wellington
Sunday 6th September 2009
Report: Mark Deakin; Photos: Karen Wyle Smith
The South West Cyclo-cross league kicked off the 2009 season in the County of Somerset. Somerset Road Club (SRC) put together a taxing course that was subtlety different to that used in 2008. The course used the field between the local sports centre and Court Fields Community School using the old BMX track.. The lumps and bumps proved very challenging for some, although everyone survived the day unscathed, just! Hope you recover quickly Ben!
The days racing was supported by the usual loyal league volunteers and was also supplemented by members of SRC and the Royal Air Force Cycling Club. The finish line was professionally set-up with the kind help of Paul and Andrew from Kalas; the inflatable gantry, flags and easy-up made for an impressive sight to all the riders and spectators. Catering was supplied by Mark with his Snackbase trailer, the bacon butties seemed to be popular both before and after the race! The efforts of the team were rewarded with a large turnout of some 96 riders! So David Hamilton has his work cut-out to beat the numbers when the league host Round 4 in Kingsbridge, Devon, no inter-county rivalry going on at all!
The Under 12s race started the day's proceedings with 15 enthusiastic riders fighting it out in what was becoming a rather warm and dry day! In the end Harry Birchall (EMBC) won the Under 10 category and Nathan Ford Abergavenny CC) taking the Under 12's honours. Following on was the Youth race (8 riders) which was won by Joel Kelly (Mid Devon CC). Joel rode a very astute race to forge a good lead on any of his rivals including his brother. All of the young riders received gifts that were supplied by Paul Kenchington, of Bicycle Chain, many thanks Paul.
As for the main race of the day, and due to the larger numbers of entrants, it led to some interesting incidents in the negotiation of the first few corners. The course marking tape acts as a great brake when wrapped around your cassette! The two lads who suffered this fate soon removed the offending articles and continued with a smile on their faces! Team Hargroves boys were at the front from the start but it was Vin Cox (cyclo-cross.com) who lead the first lap.
Defending Southwest Vets champion Steve Davies (Guerciotti) wanted a slice of the action and tried to make a break at the beginning of the second lap however he was unable to make a decisive gap. Matt McDonald (Hargroves Cycles) bided his time, kept a cool head and half way through the third lap drew away from the field. Andy Hargroves (Hargroves Cycles) followed his team-mate and lifted the Junior honours. Both of these young riders progress will be interesting to follow as the season unfolds. Cox finished third with Davies taking fourth and first Vet. Lisa Parson (Welland Valley CC) smiled her way to first lady and looks set to have a great season.
Post race discussions led to the opinion that the competitors' liked the grassy course around the playing fields of Court Fields Community School in Wellington, although several may not have enjoyed the leg sapping effect of the soft grassy surface! A few riders had travelled some distance to compete which certainly made for an exciting race, which was hard at times for the lap judges to keep track of!
All-in-all a great day was had by everyone, made better by some DRY weather!
So now all eyes in the Southwest League turn to the National Trophy round which they are hosting at the excellent Bicton Arena in Devon on Sunday 20th September. We look forward to welcoming riders from all over the country and offering them a good days racing.
Results
Senior, Veteran, Junior & Women
1 Matt McDonald Hargroves Cycles 59.48
2 Andy Hargroves Hargroves Cycles Jun
3 Steve Davies Guerciotti / JJ Vet
4 Vin Cox cyclo-cross.com
5 Gary Clark Banjo Cycles Vet
6 Pete Dawe Southfork Racing
7 Roy Wyle Smith Shred Racing
8 Luke Eggar Southfork Racing
9 Tim Carpenter Empella cyclo-cross.com Vet
10 James Williams Pendragon Kalas
11 Jules Birks VC Londres
12 Adam Bright JJ Coaching
13 Anthony Green GA Cycles Vet
14 Malcolm Cross Hargroves Cycles Vet
15 Adrian Clode Guerciotti / JJ Vet
16 Chas Thursfield Dream CC
17 Chris Edwards Unattached
18 Andy Roberts Evans Cycles Vet
19 Alan Drury Mid Devon CC
20 Nick Lumb Exeter Wheelers Vet
21 Gary Andrews Certini Vet
22 Mike Warner Hargroves Cycles
23 Myles Gerrard Southfork Racing
24 Stuart Gough Portswood Cycles 1 lap Vet
25 Mark Davies JJ Coaching
26 Steve Toze Shred Racing
27 Peter Haworth Exeter Wheelers
28 James Jackson Sid Valley CC
29 Lee Bradley Guerciotti / JJ Vet
30 Jonathan Dominguez www.cyclelogic.com
31 Jon Yates Shred Racing
32 M. Waterjohns Somerset RC
33 Mark Percival Guerciotti / JJ Jun
34 Dan Sweet Unattached
35 Carl Ward Southfork Racing Vet
36 Nick Percival Guerciotti / JJ Vet
37 Ian McDonald Hargroves Cycles Vet
38 Ro Barker Torq Kona Vet
39 Anthony Cowling Unattached Vet
40 Adrian Bellew Don't Push It Vet
41 Stephen Sinclair Guerciotti / JJ Vet
42 Robert Lillicrap Sid Valley CC Vet
43 Matt Loake Southfork Racing
44 Julian Ridgley Southfork Racing
45 James Birch Shred Racing Jun
46 Richard Taylor Exeter Wheelers Vet
47 Mike Garrett Dirty Jo's Jun
48 Ian Daws Dream CC
49 Brad Manaton Unattached
50 Steve Whitehouse Unattached Vet
51 Simon Morley Salsibury Tri Vet
52 Matt Clinkard Unattached
53 Mark Bomand Weston Wheelers Vet
54 Robin Delve Mid Devon CC Vet
55 Andrew Bowyer Okehampton CC
56 Lisa Parsns Welland Valley CC W
57 Alan Sanders CS South Hams 2 laps
58 Stuart Pickering www.cyclelogic.com Vet
59 Will Hornby CS South Hams
60 Richard Gillingham Somerset RC Vet
61 Andrew Wellings Somerset RC Vet
62 Steven Plater Unattached
63 Fiona Verney Exeter Wheelers W
64 Tim Hill Unattached Vet
65 Liz Tier MI Raciong W
66 Paul Lee Abergavenny CC Vet
67 Justin Chapman Unattached
68 Simon Perrett Okehampton CC 3 laps
69 Viv Cox Empella cyclo-cross.com W
Youth
1 Joel Kelly Mid Devon CC U14
2 William Kelly Mid Devon CC U14
3 Ciaran Barker Small Torq U16
4 Nathan Olsen Penzance Wheelers U14
5 Laura Clode Guerciotti U16 Girl
6 George Clews Somerset RC U16
7 Oliver Souch Mid Devon CC U14
8 Alex Shehan Unattached U14 Girl
Under 12's
1 Nathan Ford Abergavenny CC U12
2 Harry Birchall EMBC U10
3 Jack Hawtin Mid Devon CC U10
4 Joe Barker Small Torq U12
5 Matthew Bryant EMBC U12
6 Jonny Knight Adbrook Aces U10
7 Freddy Birchall EMBC U8
8 Lucy Hawtin Mid Devon CC U12 Girl
9 James Knight Adbrook Aces U10
10 Harry Sheehan Unattached U10
11 Cameron Robinson Unattached U8
12 Dylan Leonard Unattached U8
13 Rosie Andrews Certini U8 Girl
14 Kora Olsen Penzance Wheelers U10
