2010 National Cyclo-Cross Championships ...
It may have been a cold and grey weekend at Sutton Park in Birmingham for the 2010 National Cyclo-Cross Championships but plenty of exciting racing, with several Welsh riders in action, brightened the gloom.
The Vet 50+s kicked off the weekend’s racing and Abergavenny RC’s Graham Edwards showed that he has made a remarkable recovery from the injury he sustained in the summer, finishing a very creditable 16th and 5th Vet 55.
The U14 Boys and Girls were next up and Dylan Kerfoot-Robson (Rhos on Sea CC) was in a group of four at the head of the field at the end of the first lap. He was unfortunate then to take a tumble and lose touch with the leading trio but, although left in no-man’s land, he battled on to finish 4th @ 1.16. Ben Dunster (Brecon MTB) worked his way up the field to finish 21st, ahead of Sam Beckingsale (Abergavenny RC) in 25th. Ffion James (Abergavenny RC) led off the start but was unable to stay with the older girls as the race progressed. But like Dylan, she too finished an excellent 4th, only 35 seconds down, in her first year as a Youth.
Sporting his Welsh U16 Champion’s jersey, William Worrall (Towy Riders) wrestled his bike in his characteristic style and steadily picked off riders, finally pairing up with Hargroves Cycles rider Jonathan Dibben to contest 5th place. William looked to have the upper hand on the final lap but eventually lost out and finished 6th @1.13 to round off an outstanding season. Matthew Thompson (Cardiff JIF) was 26th. Like Ffion in the U14s, Amy Roberts (Cardiff Ajax) led the field early in the race but gradually slipped back to finish 4th @ 1.06. Fellow Ajax rider Elinor Barker rode a strong and steady race but failed to get the nod after catching Imogen Buick on the line and was 7th, with Newport Velo’s Rebecca Hunt and Amy Hill 8th and 13th respectively.
The final race on the Saturday was the Vet 40+. Welsh Vet 40+ Champion Phil Roach (Coventry RC) had his usual fast start in the company of Nick Craig, Chris Young, Darren Atkins and, much to his own surprise, Welsh League Vet 40+ runner-up Mark James (MI Racing). While Craig, Atkins and Young battled it out for the podium places, Roach and James matched one another in 7th and 8th places. James eventually crossed the line ahead of Roach (who was 2nd Vet 45 behind Young) and was very pleased with his result. Donald Gray (Cardiff JIF) was 42nd and 19th Vet 45.
Welsh U23 silver medallist Ben Roach (Cult Racing) started well in Sunday’s first race but soon looked to be struggling (with a cold) and finally pulled out. With Ruby Miller and Lily Matthews non-starters there was no Welsh representation in the Women’s race. Welsh Junior Champion Ben Roff (Orange Monkey) and Sam Anstice (Cwmcarn Paragon) flew the flag in the Junior race, finishing 15th and 20th respectively.
Having been asked the day before how he thought he would do in Sunday’s Senior Men’s race, Welsh Champion Lee Williams’ tongue-in-cheek reply was that he would win it! This may have been a bit over-ambitious but he certainly came the nearest he has ever done. In 15th place after the first lap he was soon into the top 10 and, except for briefly dropping back mid-race, this is where he stayed, battling with William Bjergfelt (Sportbeans/Wilier) for 7th. After an hour of racing it came down to a sprint finish with Williams the victor. Dan Lewis (RAF CC) was 36th, Mark Davies (Cardiff JIF) 59th and Joe Lally (CC Abergavenny) 61st.
See race reports and full results here >>
National Trophy Series Round 6 (Final) ...
Excellent performances by Welsh riders bode well for the National Championships in two weeks' time.
Vet 40 Phil Roach had a few seconds advantage over his Coventry RC team-mate Darren Atkins and Scott UK's Nick Craig after the first lap but was then caught and dropped by the pair. He held on for 3rd place maintaining his 2nd place overall.
The Women's race saw a battle for 2nd place behind an impressive Annie Last between Welsh ODP riders Lily Matthews and Ruby Miller. Matthews was made to work hard by Miller but found the strength to pull away on the final lap to take 2nd.
U16 Boy William Worrall surpassed expectations and ended an excellent National Trophy Series, in which he finished 9th overall, with 3rd place, just 23 seconds behind the winner; a mere 9 seconds separated the 2nd, 3rd and 4th riders. U16 Girl Amy Roberts showed that her performance at Bradford was not a one-off, only losing out by 11 seconds to series winner Lucy Garner on the last lap and finishing 4th overall. U14 Boy Dylan Kerfoot-Robson rode strongly to 5th and finished 4th overall and Ffion James took 2nd on the day and overall in the U14 Girls.
See race reports and full results here >>
With the weather set to improve by the weekend, this coming Sunday (17 January) should see the final of the National Trophy Series take place on the shores of Rutland Water. Organizer Colin Clews (of East Midlands International CiCLE Classic Road Race fame) will again have used all his expertise to ensure that the second edition of the Rutland County International CiCLE Classic 'Cross provides a fitting finale to the series.
Ffion James of Abergavenny RC leads the U14 Girls by just 1 point from Leicestershire RC's Grace Garner and only 2 points separate 4th placed James Shaw (Heanor Clarion CC) and 5th placed Dylan Kerfoot-Robson (Rhos on Sea CC) in the U14 Boys. Welsh V40 Champion Phil Roach (Coventry RC) is in 2nd place in the Veteran 40s, 3 points ahead of Geoff Giddings.
U14 Girls: Ffion James (Abergavenny RC)
U14 Boys: Dylan Kerfoot-Robson (Rhos on Sea CC), Sam Beckingsale (Abergavenny RC)
U16 Girls: Amy Roberts (Cardiff Ajax)
U16 Boys: William Worrall (Towy Riders)
Juniors: Sam Anstice (Newport Velo)
Women: Lily Matthews (100% ME), Ruby Miller (Forza Cycles)
Veteran 40s: Ian Jeremiah (Cardiff JIF), Phil Roach (Coventry RC)
Seniors: Daniel Lewis (RAF CC), Anthony O'Boyle (Torq/Kona), Lee Williams (Team Wiggle), Ben Simmons (Team Wiggle)
U23: Ben Roach (Cult Racing)
See the current series standings here >> and the race preview and start list here >>
Welsh League Final …
The Welsh ‘Cross League season draws to a close on Sunday (20 December) with the final at Blackweir Park, Cardiff hosted by Maindy Flyers – all riders are welcome. The course will be the reverse of the Cardiff JIF one in November. Eighty riders are eligible for an overall League position, having completed at least six rounds of the series, but they must enter the final. In the event of riders finishing with equal overall totals the best-placed rider in the final will be given the higher position.
Over the season four different riders have topped the Senior/Junior/Veteran/Women’s table but the final sort out of rider’s best six results (see here >>) shows Veteran Ian Jeremiah (Cardiff JIF) with a ten point lead going into the final. However, only one point separates second-placed Veteran Mark James (MI Racing) and first Senior Mark Davies (Cardiff JIF) with many other personal battles still to be decided further down the table. In the Youth category only one point separates the top three riders, Adam King (Maindy Flyers), Geraint Manley (Cardiff JIF) and Matthew Thompson (Maindy Flyers), and U12 Girls Elizabeth Bennett (Cardiff JIF), Lowri Thomas (Abergavenny RC) and Bethan Manley (Maindy Flyers) have it all to race for behind leader Jessica Roberts (Towy Riders). And if it is down to a sprint finish between Joe Beckingsale and Megan James (both Abergavenny RC) again, whoever wins will top the U10s table.
We are very fortunate this year to have 2009 World Junior Track Champion (and ex-cross rider!) Becky James presenting the League awards. This will take place in Maindy Stadium after the event presentations. Chris Hearn, Technical Manager for Bohle UK, has very kindly donated Schwalbe tyres and tubes as prizes and Welsh Cyclo-Cross League plaques will be given to the first three riders overall in all categories (including Vet 50 and U8 Boys). There will also be awards for the “Best Newcomer”, “Most Improved Rider” and “Most Aggressive Rider”!
Bradford National Trophy success for Welsh riders ...
... 1st for Amy Roberts (U16) and Ffion James (U14) and 3rd for Dylan Kerfoot-Robson (U14) with William Worrall (U16) 9th. ODP riders Lily Matthews and Ruby Miller were 2nd and 5th respectively in the Women's race. Well done to all! Ffion's win puts her in the lead by one point from Grace Garner (Leicestershire RC) in the U14 Girls series standings.
See race reports and full results here >>
2009 Welsh Cyclo-Cross Championships
Report here >>
Results here >>
Read the Team Wiggle blogs here >>
The event is set to be a cracking one with the promise of an exciting day’s racing plus additional activities for kids of all ages kindly arranged by Captain Sion James (ART 32). Our thanks go to him for allowing us to use the facilities at the Cwrt y Gollen Training Camp and to Abergavenny RC for promoting the event. Lynn Lines and John Ford have designed some suitably testing and interesting courses (download the map here >>) and Claire Bowen is juggling the demands of a newborn son with organizing the event. Commissaires Mark Ayling and Norman Harris will be keeping a watchful eye on the racing and Alan Haycox will be providing an informative and entertaining commentary!
The U10s will now be having their own 10 minute race before the U12s so racing will start at 10.30am. All other race times will be as previously advertised. The start sheet is available here >>. Please note that entries for the Welsh Championships have now closed but you can still pre-enter if you would like to race – there is no entry on the day in any category. Or just come along to enjoy the action and see the Welsh Cyclo-Cross Champions for 2009 receive their Welsh jerseys!
Cwrt y Gollen is off the A40 between Abergavenny and Crickhowell (NP8 1TP).