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Chesworth Wins Women's National Series
Story posted August 18, 2010 | by Larry Hickmott
Winner of an exciting 2010 Women’s National Road Series was Welsh rider, Kara Chesworth of the Dysynni CC. Kara finished the series 41 points ahead of Natalie Creswick (Twickenham CC) with German rider, Anna Fischer (Maxgear RT) in third.
L-R: Winner of the Women's Road Series, Kara Chesworth, Natalie Creswick (2nd) and Anna Fischer (3rd).
“It has been hugely challenging but massively rewarding if you stick with it” Kara explained to British Cycling after winning the series following the Essex Giro Two Day. The series, where the winner receives the prestigious Jo Bruton Trophy in memory of a talented young rider, kicked off with a long running event, the Cheshire Classic which was won by another talented youngster, Jessica Booth.
Kara finished that race in 7th place and the theme of young winners carried through to the CNDW Women’s race in May where Hannah Walker was the victor. Despite an attacking race, a podium place eluded Kara who finished in sixth. In round three, the then Circuit Race champion, Dani King, beat double World Junior Sprint Champion Becky James at Hillingdon with Kara in 16th.
Hillingdon and Dani King beats ace track sprinter Becky James.
A double header in Dumfries (Scotland) followed and in the circuit race, while Hannah Barnes became the fourth winner of a Women’s National Series race in 2010, Kara scored well in the points with 4th place. It was to get better for Kara a few days later when in one of the closest finishes you will see, Kara won the Bikefest Women’s road race by millimetres from the next rider, her series rival, Natalie Creswick with international Catherine Williamson third, also only a tyre away from the win.
Creswick hit back though in the next race, the Capenwray Women’s Road Race when on June 13, Natalie was in superb form as she won that race solo ahead of Kara. So far, every round had been won by a different rider showing just what a fantastic series it was turning out to be. That trend continued in the next race at Blackpool where former World Champion and record holder Joanna Rowsell won that race with Kara in fifth and Natalie in sixth.
The battle for the overall between Natalie and Kara was going to go right down to the wire, the final race in Essex where Anna Fischer was the winner. Kara however had a good race to defend her overall lead, winning the opening stage of the event and then after a forgetful second stage, hit back with second place on stage 3 to finish the race in second overall, just ahead of Natalie who was in fourth.
The Welsh rider had done it and said of the series win, “it’s fantastic and I’m really really pleased.”
Asked about her highlights, Kara (pictured right) explained “definitely Capenwray because I was dreading that race because it’s really hard and so to come second was fantastic. Dumfries too was a highlight because I won, the one big win of the year!”
Kara’s series win came after the announcement where she was named in the Welsh team for the Commonwealth Games. “It has been an amazing year for me” Kara says. “I could only dream of this and all the hard work has paid off."
Kara is, before anyone assumes she must be a full time athlete, actually a full time housewife with three children who are all of school age. When they go to school, Kara tries to get her training in straight away. “It becomes more difficult during school holidays” Kara adds “but my husband has been very supportive, especially this year when the big goal has been the Commonwealth Games. Now I’ve been selected, I really have to keep the training going now.”
This year was Kara’s third season racing bikes. Asked how her cycling career began, Kara says “when my youngest started school, I wanted to get fit so I borrowed a road bike off somebody and it went from there. I mainly train by myself but there is an elderly gentleman I ride with who is slightly on my level and we push each other so that works really well. I have also been out on a chain gang a few times which has been good too."
Finally, one thing Kara has noticed about women’s racing nowadays is the teamwork that goes on. This has been the first year that she has done the Team Series as well, and says “as an individual, I have guested for a few teams this year which has been quite nice but it would be nice to get into a team now. I think the last race, the two day down in Essex, proved why you need to be in a team!”
With or without a team, Kara has shown how important it is to be consistent when targeting a series like this and she follows in the footsteps of some famous names on the series winners list including Lizzie Armitstead and Joanna Rowsell to name but two. British Cycling would like to congratulate all the women who raced the series this year. Click here for the full series standings.
Related Link
Women's 2010 National Road Series
Former Winners
Our thanks to Jim Hendry MBE, Honorary Archivist for British Cycling. Information copyright (C) Jim Hendry.
JO BRUTON TROPHY – Memory of Jo Bruton who died in 1980.
1981 1. Margaret Swinnerton, 2. Mandy Jones, 3. Pauline Strong 7 (events in series)
1982 1. Margaret Swinnerton 9
1983 1. Cath Swinnerton, 2. Margaret Swinnerton, 3. Mandy Jones 8
1984 1. Linda Payne 8
1985 1. Lisa Brambani 8
1986 1. Lisa Brambani, 2. Maria Blower, 3. Judith Painter 8
1987 1. Sally Hodge, 2. Lisa Brambani, 3. Maria Blower 8
1988 1. Maria Blower, 2. Sally Hodge, 3. Lisa Brambani 8
1989 1. Linda Gornall, 2. Clare Greenwood, 3. Marie Purvis 6
1990 1. Marie Purvis, 2. Linda Gornall, 3. Clare Greenwood 9
1991 1. Louise Jones, 2. Corinne Stevens, 3. Marie Purvis 7
1992 1. Marie Purvis, 2. Sally Hodge, 3. Rachelle Jones 6
1993 1. Marie Purvis, 2. Sally Timmis, 3. Maria Lawrence 5
1994 1. Julia Freeman, 2. Sally Boyden, 3. Maxine Johnson 6
1995 1. Maria Lawrence, 2. Marie Purvis, 3. Sally Boyden 8
1996 1. Angela Hunter, 2. Sally Boyden, 3. Maria Purvis & Maria Lawrence = 7
1997 1. Sally Boyden, 2. Julia Mann, 3. Maria Lawrence 6
1998 1. Angela Hunter, 2. Jenny Derham, 3. Sally Boyden 11
1999 1. Louise Jones, 2. Susan Carter, 3. Joanne Kembery 7
2000 1. Rachel Heal, 2. Melanie Szubrycht, 3. Nicole Cooke 6
2001 1. Sara Dean, 2. Charlotte Hopkinson, 3. Joanne Cavill 6
2002 1. Diane Moss, 2. Charlotte Goldsmith, 3. Julie Mann 5
2003 1. Angela Hunter, 2. Lorna Webb, 3. Diane Moss 4
2004 1. Michelle Ward, 2. Nikki Harris, 3. Diane Moss 5
2005 1. Helen Wyman, 2. Nina Davies, 3. Emma Silversides 6
2006 1. Joanna Rowsell, 2. Lorna Webb, 3. Charlotte Colclough 5
2007 1. Alice Monger-Godfrey, 2. Lizzie Armitstead, 3. Jessica Allen 5
2008 1. Jessica Allen, 2. Leanne Thompson, 3. Joanna Rowsell 8
2009 1. Claire Thomas, 2. Leanne Thompson, 3. Kara Chesworth 8
2010 1. Kara Chesworth, 2. Natalie Creswick, 3. Anna Fischer, 8
