2009 Welsh Schools Cyclo-Cross Championships ...
REPORT here >>
RESULTS here >>
The 2009 Welsh Schools Cyclo-Cross Championships will again take place at the Penlan Sports Fields, Brecon on Saturday 10th October as part of a weekend of 'cross at this classic venue (Welsh League Round 2 on Sunday). Promotion of the event has passed from stalwart 'cross organizer Rob Lally to Clive Powell from Rhayader, organizer of the Trans Cambrian Sportive, Elan Valley MTB Challenge Rides and the MTB Dirty Weekends.
The race categories are: Yr 3 & below/Yr 4 & Yr 5/ Yr 6 & Yr 7/ Yr 8 & Yr 9/ Yr 10 & Yr 11/ Yr 12 & above. The entry fee is: Yr 7 & below £2/Yr 8 & above £4 (plus £1 surcharge if not a BSCA member). Medals and certificates will be awarded to the first three boys and girls in each race.
For further information and an entry form contact Clive Powell (phone: 01597 811343, e-mail: clive@clivepowell-mtb.co.uk) or download an entry form (bsca_entry_form.doc). Please download a poster too (bsca_poster.doc)and take it into school.
National Trophy Series Round 2 ...
The 2009/10 National Trophy Series moved to a new venue in the Midlands for the Round 2 event, jointly promoted by Derby Mercury RC and Pennine RC at the Moorways Leisure Centre in Derby.
Youth Boys: William Worrall (Towy Riders) 16th, Dylan Kerfoot-Robson (Rhos-on-Sea CC) 32nd (5th U14), Joe Anstice (Newport Velo) 35th, Sam Beckingsale (Abergavenny RC) 39th (7th U14)
Youth Girls: Amy Roberts (Cardiff Ajax) 4th, Ffion James (Abergavenny RC) 11th (4th U14)
Juniors: Sam Anstice (Newport Velo) 21st
Seniors: Anthony O'Boyle (Team Torq/Kona) 13th, Ben Simmons (Team Wiggle) 27th, Sion O'Boyle (Team Torq/Kona) 32nd (8th U23)
See race reports and full results here >>
Welsh riders in the 2009 Three Peaks Cyclo-Cross Race ...
All finished safely with Simon Nurse (Cardiff JIF) first Welsh rider in a very respectable time of 4.07.30, just one minute ahead of Abergavenny RC's Owen Davies. Simon was "... a little disappointed. I thought a sub 4 was on the cards but I had a good battle with Owen. I think we'll all be back next year. Without doubt my favourite event."
See full results here >>
The 47th Annual Three Peaks Cyclo-Cross Race (http://www.3peakscyclocross. org.uk) takes place on 27th September in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The 35 mile route starts at Helwith Bridge near Settle and takes in the three peaks of Ingleborough, Whernside and Pen-y-ghent. With 5000 feet of climbing this is the toughest cyclo-cross event in the UK and a "must do" (at least once in their life-time) for many 'cross riders.
This year sees riders from Abergavenny RC and Cardiff JIF on the start list again (http://www.3peakscyclocross.org.uk/entry_list_2009.pdf). Owen Davies will be joined for the first time by fellow Abergavenny RC rider Hanneke van der Werf and Craig Standage and Paul Millar will have their first outing alongside JIF team-mates Simon Nurse and Donald Gray. Mark Davies, who lives in Cardiff and is a newcomer to the Welsh League, is also taking part. Good luck to you all!
National Trophy Series Round 1 ...
Following in sister Becky's footsteps, Ffion James (Abergavenny RC) made her National cyclo-cross debut at Round 1 of the National Trophy Series on a very dry Bicton Arena course in Devon and came away with an emphatic win in the U14 Girls category. In her first year as a Youth she coped admirably with the 30 minutes plus race duration and finished just 13 seconds behind fellow Welsh rider U16 Amy Roberts (Cardiff Ajax) in 6th place overall. In the Youth Boys Dylan Kerfoot-Robson (Rhos-on-Sea CC) also had an excellent race finishing 3rd U14.
At the other end of the age-range Ian Jeremiah (Cardiff JIF) was in great form and in the running for a podium place in the Vet 40 race, alongside honorary Welsh rider Phil Roach (Coventry RC), but an unfortunate slip on the final lap meant he had to settle for 4th.
Youth Boys: William Worrall (Towy Riders) 17th, Dylan Kerfoot-Robson (Rhos-on-Sea CC) 24th (3rd U14), Sam Beckingsale (Abergavenny RC) 30th (6th U14)
Youth Girls: Amy Roberts (Cardiff Ajax) 5th, Ffion James (Abergavenny RC) 6th (1st U14)
Vets 40: Phil Roach (Coventry RC) 3rd, Ian Jeremiah (Cardiff JIF) 4th
Vets 50: Phil Harries (Cardiff Ajax) 20th
Seniors: Ben Roach (Cult Racing) 14th (2nd U23), Anthony O'Boyle (Team Torq/Kona) 15th, Ben Simmons (Team Wiggle) 27th, Sion O'Boyle (Team Torq/Kona) 31 (6th U23)
See race reports and full results here >>
National Trophy and National Championship entries ...
Entries have now opened for the 2009/10 National Trophy series. A downloadable entry form is available at http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/cyx/cyclo_cross_entry_forms.asp. Online entry is available at https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/cyx/cyclo_cross_central_entries.asp.
Good start to the season for Welsh youngsters ...
Continuing their cross-border raids Abergavenny RC youngsters travelled to Round 3 of the Notts & Derby League at Heanor in Derbyshire and to the Swindon 'Cross (Western League 2/Wessex League 1) last weekend (26/27 Sept).
At Heanor on the Saturday Joe Beckingsale finished an excellent 2nd in a field of 54 in the U10s race, only 11 seconds behind the winner, with Megan James impressively recovering to 3rd and 1st Girl; a wrong turn at the end of the first lap while in the lead saw her drop to about 20th. Ben Beckingsale just lost the fight for a podium place, finishing 4th in the U12s and Ffion James added to her tally of wins in the Youth Girls race and was in 11th place overall.
In the Swindon 'Cross on the Sunday Teifion Best took 4th spot in the U12s with team-mate Nathan Ford in 5th.
Megan and Ffion James continued their winning ways last weekend (12/13 Sept). Megan led home a field of 44 U10s in Round 2 of the Notts & Derby League at Bakewell in Derbyshire with Joe, youngest of the Beckingsale brothers, 3rd; Ben B. was 2nd and Nathan Ford 5th in the U12s; and in the Youths Sam B. was 17th and Ffion 18th (2nd Girl and 1st U14 Girl)
And it was more of the same on Sunday at Round 1 of the West Midlands League at Redditch in Worcestershire. In the U10s it was another win for Megan, in an equally large field, with team-mate Huw Higgins-Worrall 8th and Solomon Kerfoot-Robson 21st. Nathan F. was 3rd in the U12s race; Dylan Kerfoot-Robson was 6th and Ffion 13th (3rd Girl and 1st U14 Girl) in the Youth race.
Next Sunday sees Sam and Ffion in action in Round 1 of the National Trophy Series in Devon.
Abergavenny RC's Sam Beckingsale and Ffion and Megan James got their respective 2009 'cross campaigns off to a good start at Round 1 of the SRAM Notts & Derby League in Allestree Park, Derby on Saturday (5 Sept). Despite making the start with only a minute to spare Megan won the U10s race in a sprint finish. In the Youth race Sam finished 14th and 4th U14 Boy and Ffion was 1st U14 Girl ... and just one place behind the 1st U16 Girl!
On Sunday the girls joined Dylan and Solomon Kerfoot-Robson from Rhos-on-Sea CC at the Weaver Valley CC 'Cross (North West League Round 1) in Northwich, Cheshire. In the U12s race Solomon was 3rd and Megan 1st Girl and 1st U10 in 5th place. In the Youth race Dylan was 5th and 1st U14 Boy and Ffion was 1st Girl in 10th place. And in Somerset, Nathan Ford (also of Abergavenny RC) won the U12s race at the Taunton Vale 'Cross (South West League Round 1) in Wellington.
Bohle UK continues to support the Welsh 'Cross League ...
Chris Hearn, Technical Manager for Bohle UK, has confirmed that the company will continue its long association with Welsh cyclo-cross and will again be providing the popular Schwalbe CX Pro tyres and tubes as overall League prizes for the 2009 season. For more information on Schwalbe tyres visit the website www.schwalbe.co.uk.
A website for and about 'cross riders in Wales ...
In keeping with the other UK 'cross leagues, the Welsh Cyclo-Cross League now has its own website. It will feature anything and everything to do with 'cross in Wales from event information to results plus all the latest news for and about Welsh 'cross riders. And if you have any news or comments that you would like to share just e-mail info@cyclocrosswales.co.uk.