Follow britishcycling.org.uk on

Smail and Miller Shine at BUCS Cyclo-Cross Championships

Event: 30th January 2011 | Source: Alex Clayton, Durham University

For the five brave marshals who descended on the Racecourse in sub-zero conditions on Sunday morning to drive in the first of hundreds of stakes in the pitch black of 6am, it was hard to visualise how a 2.5 kilometre course could be set up, tested and then survive an entire day's furious cyclocross racing. Yet the arrival of daylight, some British Cycling flags and the first competitors of the day brought a wave of relief to members of Durham University- Aura Cycles who had helped to organise the event.

The course looked appetising, the racers looked fast, and a hub of activity had descended on the pavilion. First off were the Under 12s, on a shortened course, for a 15 minute race. Their pace and enthusiasm, particularly from children not much older than 5, was truly inspiring as the regional seniors and University competitors began to congregate around the course. With the juniors following, the ground continued to hold off the onset of mud as spectators got a decent taste of what was to follow. Full results from CNXE R11 here.

The Cyclocross North-East senior race certainly put on quite a show, with the top riders zooming round the course and making light work of even the toughest obstacles the course could throw at them. The stoic efforts of the rest of the field were a credit to the riders and to the league itself, especially as the steep slopes became slippier still.

A quick course inspection preceded the day's main event, the BUCS Championships. A strong field of 45 riders had made the journey, often long, from all over the country with strong showings from Cambridge, Manchester and Birmingham in particular. Not intimidated, the Durham squad took to the course with vigour and intent, despite some not procuring the most ideal bike beforehand. The field soon stratified into fast and slow riders, but not one could say that they weren't challenged by the course. The steep bank and steps saw plenty of action, and as the race wore on the muddy sections soundly tested the tired riders as they struggled to keep traction and their race positions.

Won by Robert Smail (Manchester) and Ruby Miller (Cardiff) in the Mens' and Womens' events respectively, Durham-Aura achieved a Mens' team bronze thanks to sterling rides from Andy Miles (8th), Alex Clayton (9th) and Ed Garrett (15th, fresh from a road race win the day before), and Women's team silver with Kat Broadbent (6th) and Kat Henderson (4th) outdoing themselves on very heavy bikes. Kat Henderson also wrapped up yet more points with her 4th place finish, giving Team Durham an impressive haul. This put the icing on the cake of a really great day. Hard work from everyone in the club, both racing and helping on the day, as well as from Team Durham, had created a terrific event and received some extremely positive feedback from beginner student ‘cross riders and seasoned racers alike. The challenge now is to build on this success and look to bring as much of this popular sport to Durham as possible!

Results | Full results with lap splits

1 Robert Smail University of Manchester
2 David Nichols Loughborough University
3 Andy Nichols University of Cambridge
4 Ross Creber Northumbria University
5 Bruce Dalton Harper Adams Uni College
6 Henry Knott University of Birmingham
7 George Bate University of Cambridge
8 Andrew Miles Durham Uni- Aura Cycles
9 Alex Clayton Durham Uni - Aura Cycles
10 Joseph Mason University of Birmingham
11 Michael Jones University of Leeds
12 Tom Bell University of Leeds
13 Jack Peasgood University of Birmingham
14 Martin Young Edinburgh University
15 Ed Garret Durham Uni - Aura Cycles
16 Iain Cook Edinburgh University
17 Mark Holt University of Cambridge
18 Dan Ahearn University of Cambridge
19 Ruby Miller Cardiff University
20 Luke Dabbs University of Manchester
21 Niall Shannon Edinburgh University
22 Ben Stanley University of Manchester
23 Joshua Miers University of Birmingham
24 Anna Buick University of Manchester
25 Matthew Wilson Durham Uni - Aura Cycles
26 Henry Stam University of Leeds
27 Johnny Perry University of Manchester
28 John Guly University of Leeds
29 Nathan Edwards Durham Uni - Aura Cycles
30 James Walker University of Manchester
31 Sam Pictor University of Birmingham
32 John Needham University of Leeds
33 Robert Dunn Leeds Met
34 Ben Wetherhall University of Leeds
35 Emily Dove Leeds Met
36 Kat Henderson Durham Uni - Aura Cycles
37 Matt Gray University of Leeds
38 Louisa Downs Leeds Met
39 Mark Brown University of Birmingham
40 Kat Broadbent Durham Uni - Aura Cycles
41 Peter Hudson Durham Uni - Aura Cycles
42 Kate Mcally Leeds Met
DNF Tom Allen Newcastle University
DNS Rachel Murray University of Manchester
DNS Heather Sellars Leeds Met
DNS David Speight Leeds Met