Sunday, 18 December 2011 17:23 | Written by Roddy G
It was a great year for the Club’s young CX riders.
In the U10s, Skip Snelson swept all before him to finish 1st in the Boys League. A great first season for the youngster.
In the U12s, Alasdair Grant finished 3rd Boy in the most competitive section of the younger riders’ leagues. Given that this was Alasdair’s first season in this age group, this was a great result that he should improve on as his relative age within the age category grows.
In the U14s, Rhona Grant won the Girls League – her second league win in two seasons. Well done Rhona.
In the U16’s, Elizabeth Ruffley also won the Girls League. Like Skip, this was her first full season, so well done Elizabeth.
In the Senior League, Roddy Grant shared 34th Vet’s position with league organiser, & our British Cycling Regional Rep, Graham MacNamee. Well done to Roddy & Mac who finished one place out of the top half of the field.
Final round of the Central Cyclo-cross League
Sunday, 18 December 2011 17:18 | Written by Roddy G
The final race of the 2011 League took place on a technically demanding course at a rather blustery Hillingdon Cycle Circuit. The course was technically demanding with lots of off camber riding on muddy, slippy banks.
First off was Skip in the U10s. Skip led the field from the start (again), opening up a substantial lead over the second rider. Well done to Skip who has won every one of his races!
Next up was Alasdair in the U12s. Disaster struck early on in the first lap as Alasdair was knocked off & then ridden over! Emerging last from under a pile of bodies & bikes, he bravely got back on & gave pursuit to those who had avoided the pile up. However, the gap was just too great and Alasdair finished 7th – the first time that he has been absent from the podium since his first race of the season.
Rhona and Elizabeth came next in the U14s & U16s respectively. Remembering the lead that Rhona had opened up over her before puncturing last race, Elizabeth powered through the half hour race, leaving Rhona in her wake. Elizabeth came 2nd in the U16s, while Rhona won the U14s.
In the Senior race, Roddy limited his crashes to one slide down a bank & finished 33rd Vet. He had a comical tussle with the eventual winner which involved the latter’s saddle & seat post emerging between Roddy’s bars & brake cables during an overtake that went badly out of control on the slippy surface. Much to the enjoyment of the onlookers, the more the two tried to disentangle themselves, the worse they became entwined!
CX racing Sonning Common
Saturday, 26 November 2011 00:00 | Written by Roddy
Last Sunday’s CX racing was at Sonning Common in the Chilterns on a clear but blustery day.
In the U10s, Skip Snelson failed to get a place in the front line at the start, but this didn’t stop him from running away with the race yet again. In spite of a hard tumble on treacherous uphill bank, Skip’s grim determination saw him win through – a clear first once again. Skip should win the U10 Boys’ league.
In the U12s Alasdair Grant was again playing David to Tom Durkin’s Goliath. The Welwyn Wheeler led from the start, with Alasdair battling it out with old rivals Sam Skeggs (Team MK) and Alexi Edwards (Welwyn Wheelers). Alasdair soon left them behind however, as he gave chase to Tom. Tom managed to keep ahead until the finish line – another 2nd place for Alasdair who should finish the U12 Boys’ league on the podium.
In the U12s, Rhona Grant set off determined to beat her team mate Elizabeth Ruffley who was riding U16s. Elizabeth started in fine form but Rhona overtook her 10 minutes in to the half hour race. By the final lap, Rhona had opened up a substantial lead but then disaster struck – a puncture in the woods! Rhona had to run for home pushing her bike as fast as she could, but Catherine caught her & cycled past with a mere 10 meters to go. Well done to both of them. Rhona won the U14 Girls with ease, while Catherine took 4th in the U16 Girls. Again, both should finish the league on the podium.
In the Senior race Roddy Grant had a strong start, building on the previous week’s success. However, fate was to play a hand with yet another A5 Ranger that day. In the blustery conditions, some lose marker tape got wrapped around Roddy’s bike, finally bringing him to a standstill as it entwined his cassette. Roddy had to flip the bike over & set to work clearing it as some twenty riders passed him. Another 30 minutes in to the race, he had just about caught up with the wheel he was trailing, when a clumsy faster rider clipped him, bringing him down, & the two behind him like dominos. Another group passed the ill fated rider who accepted his fate and finished well down the field. Roddy will need a high powered telescope to see the podium, never mind finish the league on it!
Aaron Westgarth was also out, finishing 3rd Junior – well done Aaron.
The final round of this year’s league will be on Sunday 11th December at Hillingdon in west London.
CX Box End Park
Sunday, 20 November 2011 00:00 | Written by Roddy G
Sunday 20th November saw the Club’s CX racers in action at Box End Park near Bedford. The riders rode beside a lake in thick fog, making it very difficult to see what was going on in any of the races.
In the U10s Skip Snelson again led from the start to cruise home for an easy win. Well done Skip.
In the U12s Alasdair Grant put up a plucky fight against Tom Durkin of Welwyn Wheelers. Coach, Dean Barnett of Welland Valley, was at the sideline to give Alasdair advice throughout the race. Alasdair passed Tom on the uphill, the first rider to do so in the League so far, but Tom was able to come back at him on the downhill, using his weight & power to retake Alasdair & push him in to second place. The young A5 Ranger put up a very plucky fight however, that earned him general acclaim as he passed the finish line.
In the U14s & U 16s, Rhona Grant and Elizabeth Ruffley cruised around the full course to each win, unchallenged, in their categories. Rhona now has her eye firmly set on Elizabeth & beating the U16 winner, even though Rhona is riding U14. Watch out Elizabeth! Well done to them both.
In the Senior race, Roddy Grant showed signs of finding his form, finishing 28th Vet after losing a three way sprint to the finish line. Roddy lost his chain as he crossed one of the hurdles and then slid off down a bank in the wet conditions. He still managed to sprint to the finish line however.
Other friends of the Club were Aaron Westgarth who failed to finish after snapping the gear hanger off his bike. Keira McVitty who didn’t have her best race due to illness. She did complete the race however, finishing 4th in the Women’s race. Dean Barnett of Welwyn Valley finished 6th Vet, while Dad Vic was 10th & daughter Holly won the Girls U 12.
Well done to all. The next race will be at Sonning Common, next week, Sunday 27th
Victory again for the Club’s young CX riders.
Sunday, 13 November 2011 00:00 | Written by Roddy
Sunday 13th November was Round 7 of the Central Cyclo-cross League hosted by the Icknield RC near Luton.
Five of the A5 riders raced on a technically demanding, but fairly dry course. In this round, four of the Club’s junior riders finished the day on the podium.
In the U10s, Skip Snelson again led from start to finish for another great win. Skip is now firmly placed as U10 League leader.
In the U12s, Alasdair Grant battled his way to 3rd position in a very competitive race. This race was again won by Tom Durkin of Welwyn Wheelers who must be at least one and a half times the size of the rest of the field. Alasdair had another good race, beating Alexi Edwards of Welwyn into 4th place, but losing out to Sam Skeggs of Team MK for the first time since last winter.
Rhona Grant again won the U 14s. This was a good effort considering she had to replace her chain after it came off at a combined hurdle and sand trap.
In the U16s Elizabeth Ruffley again powered home to yet another uncontested win. Like skip, she remains at the top of her league.
Meanwhile in the Senior race, the Club’s lone rider, Roddy Grant, finished an exhausted 74th. Managing to stay on, in spite of the technical course, Roddy’s low point was neatly carving up our British Cycling Regional Rep, Graham MacNamee, on the first 180 degree bend (oops – sorry Mac!). Roddy still hangs on to 36th place in the Vets category however.
Ex Club member Aaron Westgarth also competed in the Senior race, sporting his new Kings Cliffe Flyers shirt. In spite of winding himself while crossing the hurdles, he finished a creditable 26th.
Full details, including a gallery, can be found at http://centralcxl.org.uk/
Round 8 of the League will be held at Bedford on Sunday 20th November, while Round 9 will be at Reading on the 27th. Several more members of the Club have an expressed an interest in taking part, so it would be good to see them compete ... perhaps they could give Roddy a push around the course!
