National Trophy Series Round 5 ...
The National Trophy Series returns to Peel Park, Bradford (BD2 4LR) on 13 December for Round 5, promoted by the Yorkshire Cyclo-Cross Association. The number of entries is testament to the popularity of this venue which, last season, hosted the National Championships. Event organizer is John Rawnsley of Three Peaks fame. See the full start list here >>. Welsh riders include
U14 Boys: Sam Beckingsale and Dylan Kerfoot-Robson
U14 Girls: Ffion James
U16 Boys: William Worrall
U16 Girls: Amy Roberts
Veteran 40s: Ian Jeremiah
Women: Lily Matthews and Ruby Miller
Seniors: Lee Williams and Anthony O'Boyle
National Trophy Series Round 4 ...
Having started at the back of the Women's field ODP rider Ruby Miller had passed all but race (and series) leader Hannah Barnes by the end of the second lap. She had fellow Junior Barnes in her sights on the finishing straight but eventually slipped to third. Youth rider William Worrall continued his rise up the placings, breaking into the top 10 with an excellent 9th place and for U16 Girl Amy Roberts it was another consistent performance to finish 4th. Ffion James finished an excellent 7th and 1st U14 Girl beating series leader Grace Garner and Sam Beckingsale returned to the National scene after injuring his hand.
Youth Boys: William Worrall (Towy Riders) 9th, Sam Beckingsale (Abergavenny RC) 46th (15th U14)
Youth Girls: Amy Roberts (Cardiff Ajax) 4th, Ffion James (Abergavenny RC) 7th (1st U14)
Veterans 40: Ian Jeremiah (Cardiff JIF) 15th
Women: Ruby Miller (Forza Cycles) 3rd
Seniors: Ben Simmons (Team Wiggle) 15th
See the race reports and full results here >>
Read Senior Lee Williams' blog on his race here >>
The National Trophy Series makes its annual visit to the Mallory Park Motor Racing Circuit in Leicestershire on Sunday (15th Nov). A tunnel and some short, sharp climbs and descents have been added to the course to compliment the adverse camber corners that Mallory is noted for. Good luck to all the Welsh riders!
Youth U14 Boys: Sam Beckingsale (Abergavenny RC), Dylan Kerfoot-Robson (Rhos-on-Sea CC)
Youth U14 Girls: Ffion James (Abergavenny RC)
Youth U16 Boys: William Worrall (Towy Riders)
Youth U16 Girls: Amy Roberts (Cardiff Ajax)
Veteran 40s: Ian Jeremiah (Cardiff JIF)
Junior Women: Ruby Miller (unattached)
Seniors: Anthony O'Boyle (Team Torq/Kona), Ben Simmons (Team Wiggle), Lee Williams (Team Wiggle)
See the full start sheet here >>
BC Inter-Area Team Championships ...
Despite flooded roads and strong winds all the Welsh riders made it to Leicester giving us full Youth and Senior teams. An excellent course had been devised for the event with numerous off-camber switchbacks utilizing the contours of the venue; many a rider came to grief on the tight, slippery bends.
Unfortunately the Wales A Youth Team were well down the gridding order on the start line, with the Commissaire even failing to call up the B Team! But William Worrall worked his way up the field with his usual determination to finish 15th and Amy Roberts and Joe Anstice rode strongly to 39th (3rd Girl behind National Trophy rivals Lucy Garner and Hannah Payton) and 43rd respectively. Fellow A Team member Owen James started well but suffered a puncture and the effects of illness earlier in the week. Dylan Kerfoot-Robson headed the B team early in the race but was one of the many victims of the off-camber bends and it was Matthew Thompson in 46th place who led home the B Team ahead of Dylan, first year U14 Ffion James and Geraint Manley. For Matthew and Geraint this was their first taste of National ‘cross racing.
The Seniors faced a well cut up and sticky course and a strong wind for their race. With a front row gridding the Welsh riders had a flying start with Lee Williams in the lead on the first lap, ahead of National Trophy Series leader Paul Oldham, and Anthony O’Boyle and Ian Jeremiah well up the field. However, Williams was unable to stay with Oldham and dropped back to do battle with Dave Collins and Rob Jebb; he was pleased with his 4th place, in such company, having only just started back after a post-MTB season rest. O’Boyle’s progress was hampered when his pedal came off and Jeremiah was eventually overhauled by a slower-starting Andy Baum. O’Boyle finished 15th with Baum 29th and Jeremiah 30th giving Wales 5th place just a few points behind the London Team.
Youth A: 15th William Worrall, 39th Amy Roberts, 43rd Joe Anstice, 57th Owen James
Youth B: 46th Matthew Thompson, 48th Dylan Kerfoot-Robson, 61st Ffion James, 63rd Geraint Manley
Seniors: 4th Lee Williams, 15th Anthony O'Boyle, 29th Andrew Baum, 30th Ian Jeremiah, 50th Ben Simmons, 58th George Rose
See the full results here >>
The 2009 Inter-Area Cyclo-Cross Championships are being held this Sunday (1 Nov) at the Leicester Leys Leisure Centre in Leicester (LE4 1DS). Wales will hopefully field two Youth teams and one Senior team though with two Youth and one Senior already side-lined with injury and another Youth ill it is a case of keeping everything crossed.
The present Youth line-up is Joe Anstice (Newport Velo), Ffion James (Abergavenny RC), Owen James (Towy Riders), Dylan Kerfoot-Robson (Rhos on Sea CC), Geraint Manley (Cardiff JIF), Amy Roberts (Cardiff Ajax), Matthew Thompson (Maindy Flyers) and William Worrall (Towy Riders) and the Seniors are Andrew Baum (unattached), Mark Davies (Cardiff JIF), Ian Jeremiah (Cardiff JIF), Anthony O'Boyle (Torq/Kona), George Rose (Abergavenny RC), Ben Simmons (Team Wiggle) and Lee Williams (Team Wiggle). The unenviable task of declaring the A and B Youth teams will be made on the day
Any support will be welcomed by the riders so get out your flags and cow-bells and come on over to Leicester - racing starts at 11.00 am
See the event programme here >>
National Trophy Series Round 3 ...
Several Welsh riders made the long journey east for Round 3 of the 2009/10 National Trophy Series at a sunny Chantry Park in Ipswich. In the Youth race William Worrall's 12th place was his best result so far and Amy Roberts and Ffion James rode well to finish 5th and 2nd U14 respectively.
Youth Boys: William Worrall (Towy Riders) 12th, Dylan Kerfoot-Robson (Rhos-on-Sea CC) 30th (5th U14)
Youth Girls: Amy Roberts (Cardiff Ajax) 5th, Ffion James (Abergavenny RC) 12th (2nd U14)
Seniors: Lee Williams (Team Wiggle) 16th, Anthony O'Boyle (Team Torq/Kona) 19th, Ben Simmons (Team Wiggle) 28th, Sion O'Boyle (Team Torq/Kona) 36th (5th U23)
See race reports and full results here >>