South West Cyclo-Cross Round 3
4th October West Buckland School, North Devon.
Organiser: Lee Bradley: Guerciotti/JJ Coach
Report: Roy Wyle Smith
Following on from last weekend's Cross in the Dark, the South West League returned to more familiar settings with a Sunday midday start. The weather also took on more of a cross feel with intermittent spots of rain falling on the already damp grassland course.
Lee Bradley and his team from Guerciotti/JJ Coach provided a fast grassland circuit that twisted and turned around the smooth grounds of West Buckland School. A compact course allowed spectators to watch the close racing from one vantage point, and all enjoyed the spectacle.
In the main event, it was Steve Davies (Guerciotti) from the promoting club that took a flyer, setting a very high tempo in the first couple of laps. Behind Vin Cox (Empella/Cyclo-cross.com) was trailing and the deficit grew to a maximum of 20 seconds. Following Vin was a group containing Ben Price (Unattached), Tim Carpenter (Empella/Cyclo-cross.com) and team mates Pete Dawe and Luke Eggar (Southfork Racing), the lead swapped hands on a regular basis.
Adrian Clode (Guerciotti) made a huge effort after a slow start to bridge to this group of four and having made contact went about breaking the group up by immediately upping the pace. Leading junior was James Birch (Shred Racing) who was riding inside the top ten early on. Further back Lisa Parsons (Welland Valley) and Gail Aspden (Penzance Wheelers) were having their own personal battle and you could have thrown a blanket over both of them. Just after half distance, Steve Davies took a fall on one of the greasy corners and his lead was dashed to just 10 seconds.
Vin reacted to Steve's misfortune and with three laps remaining made contact, a game of cat and mouse then ensued as both looked for the advantage. Adrian Clode had split the group behind with his relentless effort and now he was joined by Ben Price in the race for third overall. Pete Dawe took a heavy crash as he was entering the start finish area which meant that Tim and Luke were now locked in battle for 4th and 5th.
At the bell lap, our leaders were still neck and neck, and it was Vin who made the first effort as he sprinted past the pit area. Steve managed to hold his wheel and neutralised the attack. So the game of cat and mouse continued, Ben Price had now dropped Adrian Clode and was profiting as he ate into the two leaders advantage. On the final grassy drag Vin once again upped the pace and this time Steve had no answer, Vin Cox sprinted to the line to take a narrow victory trailed only by a couple of seconds by Steve Davies. Ben Price took third spot only a further 13 seconds down. In the ladies Gail Aspden took the victory after Lisa Parsons suffered a rear wheel puncture, unfortunately cutting their battle prematurely short.
In the earlier youth event, the race was dominated by Fin Clay (Guerciotti), who followed Laura Clode (Guerciotti) for a lap before taking flight on his own. Fin worked hard to build an unassailable lead finishing well clear of Laura at the end. Behind these two, the spectators were treated to a very exciting race for third spot. Jack Hewlett (Guerciotti) started slowly and was last man early on, but as the race entered its last two laps Jack firstly overhauled Nathanial Olson (Penzance Wheelers) and set about catching Silas Clay (Guerciotti). Jack caught Silas and they then battled over the last lap until the elastic finally snapped and Jack put distance between himself and Silas. Jack finished a very well deserved third spot. Silas took 4th and Nathanial completed the top five.
In the under 12's competition Jack Hawtin (Mid Devon) took the overall win, and his first of the season, closely followed by Harry Birchall (EMBC). Third place finisher, Matthew Bryant (EMBC) took top honours in the U12 category, as both Jack and Harry are U10's, underlining what a great performance they both put in. In fourth place, Karla Hodson (Guerciotti) led Lucy Hawtin (Mid Devon) in the U12 girls.
Next week, racing moves to the South Hams, with the popular Plympton Farm venue staging Round 4 of the South West Cyclo-Cross League. Expect to see plenty of Belgian flair, including the famous up and over scaffold bridge.
Results
1 Vin Cox Empella/Cyclo-cross.com 1hr 06.07 Sen
2 Steve Davis Guerciotti/JJ Coach +2sec Vet
3 Ben Price Unattached +15sec Sen
4 Adrian Clode Guerciotti/JJ Coach +39sec Vet
5 Luke Eggar Southfork Racing +45sec Sen
6 Tim Carpenter Empella/Cyclo-cross.com +52sec Vet
7 Pete Dawe Southfork Racing +2mins Sen
8 Garry Pike Alltrax +2min 57 Sen
9 Blake Pond Southfork Racing +3min 13 Sen
10 Jason Pascoe Cycle Logic Sen
11 Stuart Pickering Vet
12 Myles Gerrard Southfork Racing +1 lap Sen
13 James Birch Shred Racing Jun
14 Matt Loake Southfork Racing Sen
15 Adam Bright Guerciotti/JJ Coach Sen
16 Robert Lillicrap Sid Valley Vet
17 Brad Manaton Sen
18 Harry Smith Shred Racing Jun
19 Adrian Bellew Don't Push it CC Bude Vet
20 Andrew Retter Okehampton CC Sen
21 Anthony Cowling Vet
22 Mark Deakin RAF CC Vet
23 Andrew Bowyer Okehampton CC Sen
24 Steve Whitehouse Vet
25 Tim Heal Vet
26 J. Worbes Sen
27 Mike Mulroy Velocake PVC Sen
28 Tim Bridgman Okehampton CC Sen
29 Gail Aspden Penzance Wheelers Lady
30 Nick Rutler Southfork Racing +2 laps Vet
31 John Morse Velocake PVC Vet
32 Richard Coleman Taylor Trail Snail Racing Sen
33 Simon Perrett Okehampton CC Sen
34 Paul Williams Vet
35 Lisa Parsons Welland Valley CC DNF Lady
36 James Williams Pendragon Kalas DNF Sen
Youth
1 Finlay Clay Guerciotti/ JJ Coach U14
2 Laura Clode Guerciotti/ JJ Coach U16 Girl
3 Jack Hewlett Guerciotti/ JJ Coach U14
4 Silas Clay Guerciotti/ JJ Coach U16
5 Nathaniel Olson Penzance Wheelers U14
Under 12's
1 Jack Hawtin MDCC U10
2 Harry Birchall EMBC U10
3 Matthew Bryant EMBC U12
4 Karla Hodson Guerciotti/JJ Coach U12 Girl
5 Lucy Hawtin MDCC U12 Girl
6 Edward Sharp Unattached U12
7 Carlos Silva Guerciotti/JJ Coach U12
8 Evan Rouse North Devon Wheelers U10
9 Kyan Gerrard Southfork Racing U12
10 Kora Olson Penzance Wheelers U10 Girl
