A technical and physically demanding course saw Thomas Mein and Anna Kay turn the final round of the HSBC UK | National Trophy Series into an exhibition.
The grounds of Broughton Hall had another chapter written into their 1000 year-old history this weekend, when the final round of the HSBC UK | National Trophy Series took to the start line.
Elite Women
Anna Kay (StarCasino Team) came into the race fresh off her disappointment from last week’s National Championships, where she was beaten into third. It was clear from the start that she was ready to make amends.
Alongside Kay was the strong trio of Spectra Wiggle p/b Vitus riders: Josie Nelson, Xan Crees, and Amira Mellor.
In the National Trophy standings, Mellor held a 30-point lead over Abbie Manley (Montezuma’s Race Team). That lead was secure, but not insurmountable; a bad day from Mellor and a good ride from Manley could see her clinching the title by the end of the day.
As the flag dropped, Anna Kay was quickest off the line. A steep climb faced the riders after 100m, but she pushed the pace into the bottom of it and loaded the pressure onto the rest of the field.
Over the top of the climb, Kay continued her early assault and dropped through the switchbacks with a small gap on her rivals. Only Josie Nelson could match her, but that fight-back would be short-lived.
Behind Kay, Abbie Manley had matched Mellor on the first lap, and it looked like there would be a battle for the National Trophy title. However, Mellor had other ideas. She kicked hard and quickly gained a few seconds over Manley.
Going into lap two, Mellor continued to press on the pedals. She drew out a 15-second lead over Manley and that gap would continue to grow.
The three Spectra Wiggle p/b Vitus riders had settled into a rhythm, with Nelson leading Crees and Mellor.
Anna Kay was flying and nothing would stop her as she stretched her winning margin to over two and a half minutes by the end of the race, leaving her plenty of time to sit up and enjoy the victory.
Josie Nelson came in next to take second place, while Xan Crees rounded out the podium a further minute behind. Amira Mellor was next to cross the finish line, doing enough to secure a resounding victory in the HSBC UK | National Trophy Series.
Abbie Manley may have lost out on the senior title, but she would walk away as the overall winner in the under 23 National Trophy.
Elite Men
The elite men’s National Trophy title was already decided going into the race, as Corran Carrick-Anderson (T-Mo Racing) had built an unassailable lead from the previous rounds. With that in mind, he had chosen to skip the weekend’s racing.
Thomas Mein of Tormans Cyclo-Cross Team was resplendent in his new National Champion’s jersey and he was ready to go in one of his final races before the World Championships at the end of January.
Out to stop the new National Champion was a host of strong under 23 riders, including Ben Chilton (Spectra Wiggle p/b Vitus), Toby Barnes (Schamel p/b Kloster Kitchen), and Joe Coukham (Shibden Cycling Club).
The elite men’s race was the last event of the weekend, which meant an already challenging course was made even harder by the muddy and waterlogged surface.
The commissaire’s high-pitched whistle broke the tense silence and launched the riders onto the course. Rory McGuire (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli) was first into the climb, followed closely by the other favourites.
However, Mein wouldn’t be denied for long - an early off-camber running section provided all the opportunity he needed. Mein sprinted into the lead and consolidated the gap as soon as he remounted, a scenario that would play out again and again, with Mein proving stronger than his rivals on every section of the course.
Ben Chilton was the strongest of the chasers, holding Mein to a 60 second lead.
Behind him, Toby Barnes had fought back. He lost time early in the race, but he turned the tables in the second half, closing in on second place but running out of time to make up the lost ground. He eventually rolled home in third place, 30 seconds down on Chilton in second.
Junior Women
The most impressive rider of the junior National Trophy has definitely been Ella Maclean-Howell. When Maclean-Howell is fit, healthy, and on form, she has proven time and time again that she is nearly unstoppable.
The final round of the National Trophy would prove no exception.
In spite of Maclean-Howell’s dominance, the battle for second and third in the Series was undecided. However, Elizabeth McKinnon was missing from the start list, all but guaranteeing Emily Carrick-Anderson (T-Mo Racing) the second step on the podium.
Off the spreadsheet and back on field, only Niamh Murphy (Montezuma’s Race Team) and Carrick-Anderson could match Maclean-Howell in the first minutes of the race.
However, by the first real test of the day, Maclean-Howell was already leading the way. After a few twists and turns, she had established a commanding lead of 20 seconds.
With a comfortable margin, you might expect Maclean-Howell to ease off, but instead she pushed on, increasing her lead by over 30 seconds on some laps.
Behind Maclean-Howell, Emily Carrick-Anderson and Florence Lissaman (Newark Castle CC) were matching each other blow for blow. It was only on the final lap that Carrick-Anderson managed to distance herself from Lissaman and hold a small 10-second advantage to the line.
Unfazed by the battle for second and third, Ella Maclean-Howell had enough time to celebrate her fifth victory of the Series and a dominant win in the overall National Trophy.
Junior Men
In the junior men’s race, Nathan Smith (Garden Shed UK-Ribble-Verge Sport) continued his run of good form in the National Trophy to take his fifth victory of the Series.
Spurred on by missing out on the National Champion’s title last week, Smith knew that mistakes or mechanicals would be severely punished by his rivals. At Broughton Hall, that mantle was taken up by Bjoern Koerdt (Shibden Cycling Club) and Smith’s own teammate, Oliver Akers.
Smith had a quick start and pushed on for the first lap, holding a two second gap over Koerdt and Akers.
Koerdt was undeterred by the presence of the two teammates and attacked hard on the second lap. He quickly gapped Akers and overhauled Smith, posting one of the fastest laps of the race to move into the lead.
Nathan Smith mounted a steady comeback, inching closer to the wheel of Koerdt over the next two laps of racing. Smith was sure to make his next move definitive.
As Smith reached the tiring Koerdt on the penultimate lap, he attacked hard. This time, there was no response.
Smith was careful on the muddy course, but kept on the pressure all the way to the finish. He crossed the line with 17 seconds in hand over Koerdt, and a further 50 seconds over teammate Oliver Akers.
The win also secured Nathan Smith’s victory in the HSBC UK | National Trophy Series.
Men’s U16
Nathaniel Henderson (Hetton Hawks Cycling Club) took the top step of the podium ahead of Sebastian Grindley (Garden Shed UK-SCOTT) and Alfie Amey (DB Racing). He battled with Grindley over the course of the race, eventually taking the win by eight seconds.
Men’s U14
Leon Atkins (Welwyn Wheelers CC) led by 30 seconds after the first lap ahead of Jacob Steed (Sherwood Pines Cycles) and Dillon Preece (Clancy Briggs CA). That was enough of a lead for Atkins to relax and avoid mistakes, but he steadily built his lead until the finish line. Atkins beat Steed by over a minute and Preece was 30 seconds further back in third.
Women’s U16
Cat Ferguson (Hope Factory Racing) made it six from six in the women’s U16 race. She was shadowed by Imogen Wolff and Alice Colling of Shibden Cycling Club once again, but she proved unstoppable. Wolff held Ferguson to a 30-second gap for most of the race, with Colling finishing 40 seconds behind her.
Women’s U14
Zoe Roche of WXC World Racing won the women’s U14 race ahead of the newly crowned National Champion, Aelwen Davies (Velo Myrddin CC p/b Y Beic) and Georgia Mahoney (Origin Race Team). She attacked on the second lap and managed to hold onto her lead despite a spirited fightback by Davies.
Women’s Veterans 40-49
Ceris Styler (Backstedt Bike Performance RC) beat Lucy Siddle (Reifen Racing) by 70 seconds. Styler was slow off the line, but very quickly set about dominating the race, taking the lead and setting the fastest laps all the way to the line. Alison Kinloch (Ph-Mas - Paul Milnes Cycles) took third.
Women’s Veterans 50-59
Helen Pattinson (Montezuma’s Race Team) won the women’s veterans 50-59 category. Catriona Ross (Bridport CC) finished over a minute behind, while Zoe Codd (Laatste Ronde! Coaching) was a further 60 seconds back in third.
Women’s Veterans 60+
Carolyn Speirs (Kendal Cycle Club) and Karen Payton (Cycle Sport Pendle) battled it out for the women’s veterans 60+ title, with Spiers taking the win by a healthy margin.
Men’s Veterans 40-49
Lewis Craven (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli) was unstoppable, proving faster than his rival straight from the gun. Robert Jebb (Hope Factory Racing) and Paul Lloyd (Banjo Cycles/Raceware) came in second and third place respectively.
Men’s Veterans 50-59
Nicholas Craig (SCOTT Racing) was victorious over Nicholas Whitley (Chester RC) in the men’s 50-59 veteran race once again. A late comeback by Whitley wasn’t enough to bring back Craig, but it was enough to distance Steven Henshall (Port Sunlight Wheelers CC), who finished in third.
Men’s Veterans 60+
Robin Delve (Mid Devon CC) proved the strongest of the bunch in the men’s 60+ race. Peter Harris (Pearce Cycles RT) put up a spirited defence but it was in vain. Harris would go on to take second behind Delve, with John Galway (Scarborough Coast CC) rounding out the podium in third.
Podiums
A full list of podium placings is below:
Elite women
Anna Kay (StarCasino Team)
Josie Nelson (Spectra Wiggle p/b Vitus)
Xan Crees (Spectra Wiggle p/b Vitus)
Elite men
Thomas Mein (Tormans Cyclo-Cross Team)
Ben Chilton (Spectra Wiggle p/b Vitus)
Toby Barnes (Schamel p/b Kloster Kitchen)
Under-23 men
Ben Chilton (Spectra Wiggle p/b Vitus)
Toby Barnes (Schamel p/b Kloster Kitchen)
Joe Coukham (Shibden Cycling Club)
Under-23 women
Josie Nelson (Spectra Wiggle p/b Vitus)
Xan Crees (Spectra Wiggle p/b Vitus)
Abbie Manley (Montezuma's Race Team)
Junior women
Ella Maclean-Howell (Tofauti Everyone Active)
Emily Carrick-Anderson (T-Mo Racing)
Florence Lissaman (Newark Castle CC)
Junior men
Nathan Smith (Garden Shed UK-Ribble-Verge Sport)
Bjoern Koerdt (Shibden Cycling Club)
Oliver Akers (Garden Shed UK-Ribble-Verge Sport)
Men’s U16
Nathaniel Henderson (Hetton Hawks Cycling Club)
Sebastian Grindley (Garden Shed UK-Ribble-Verge Sport)
Alfie Amey (DB Racing)
Men’s U14
Leon Atkins (Welwyn Wheelers CC)
Jacob Steed (Sherwood Pine Cycles)
Dillon Preece (Clancy Briggs CA)
Women’s U16
Cat Ferguson (Hope Factory Racing)
Imogen Wolff (Shibden Cycling Club)
Alice Colling (Shibden Cycling Club)
Women’s U14
Zoe Roche (WXC World Racing)
Aelwen Davies (Velo Myrddin CC p/b Y Beic)
Georgia Mahoney (Origin Race Team)
Women’s Veterans 40-49
Ceris Styler (Backstedt Bike Performance RC)
Lucy Siddle (Reifen Racing)
Alison Kinloch (PH-MAS - Paul Milnes Cycles)
Women’s Veterans 50-59
Helen Pattinson (Montezuma's Race Team)
Catriona Ross (Bridport CC)
Zoe Codd (Laatste Ronde! Coaching)
Women’s Veterans 60+
Nicola Davies (www.cyclocrossrider.com)
Carolyn Speirs (Kendal Cycle Club)
Karen Payton (Cycle Sport Pendle)
Men’s Veterans 40-49
Lewis Craven (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli)
Robert Jebb (Hope Factory Racing)
Paul Lloyd (Banjo Cycles/Raceware)
Men’s Veterans 50-59
Nicholas Craig (SCOTT Racing)
Nicholas Whitley (Chester RC)
Steven Henshall (Port Sunlight Whls CC)
Men’s Veterans 60+
Robin Delve (Mid Devon CC)
Peter Harris (Pearce Cycles RT)
John Galway (Richardsons Cycle Club)
HSBC UK | National Trophy Series Standings
A full list of the National Trophy overall placings is below:
Elite women
Amira Mellor (Spectra Wiggle p/b Vitus)
Abbie Manley (Montezuma's Race Team)
Anna Flynn (Edinburgh RC)
Elite men
Corran Carrick-Anderson (T-Mo Racing)
Joe Coukham (Prologue Racing Team)
Rory McGuire (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli)
Under-23 men
Corran Carrick-Anderson (T-Mo Racing)
Joe Coukham (Prologue Racing Team)
Rory McGuire (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli)
Under-23 women
Abbie Manley (Montezuma's Race Team)
Anna Flynn (Edinburgh RC)
Xan Crees (Spectra Wiggle p/b Vitus)
Junior women
Ella Maclean-Howell (Tofauti Everyone Active)
Emily Carrick-Anderson (T-Mo Racing)
Elizabeth McKinnon (Derwentside CC)
Junior men
Nathan Smith (Garden Shed UK-Ribble-Verge Sport)
Oliver Akers (Garden Shed UK-Ribble-Verge Sport)
Max Greensill (Hope Factory Racing)
Men’s U16
Sebastian Grindley (Garden Shed UK-Ribble-Verge Sport)
Alfie Amey (DB Racing)
Oscar Amey (DB Racing)
Men’s U14
Leon Atkins (Welwyn Wheelers CC)
George Cooper (Sherwood Pine Cycles)
Jacob Steed (Sherwood Pine Cycles)
Women’s U16
Cat Ferguson (Hope Factory Racing)
Alice Colling (Shibden Cycling Club)
Florence Greenhalgh (Paul Milnes Bradford Olympic RT)
Women’s U14
Aelwen Davies (Velo Myrddin CC p/b Y Beic)
Zoe Roche (WXC World Racing)
Rose Lewis (Halesowen A & CC)
Women’s Veterans 40-49
Ceris Styler (Backstedt Bike Performance RC)
Caroline Reuter (Dulwich Paragon CC)
Lucy Siddle (Reifen Racing)
Women’s Veterans 50-59
Catriona Ross (Bridport CC)
Helen Pattinson (Montezuma's Race Team)
Clare Hoskins (Cardiff JIF)
Women’s Veterans 60+
Nicola Davies (www.cyclocrossrider.com)
Carolyn Speirs (Kendal Cycle Club)
Karen Payton (Cycle Sport Pendle)
Men’s Veterans 40-49
Paul Oldham (Hope Factory Racing)
Adrian Lansley (Pedalon.co.uk)
Paul Lloyd (Banjo Cycles/Raceware)
Men’s Veterans 50-59
Nicholas Craig (SCOTT Racing)
Mike Simpson (Beeline Bicycles RT)
Nicholas Whitley (Chester RC)
Men’s Veterans 60+
Robin Delve (Mid Devon CC)
Michael Davies (Pedal Power Loughborough)
John Galway (Richardsons Cycle Club)
