Cyclocross Report 28th September – Stanborough Park, Welwyn

Round 4 of the Eastern Cyclocross League was hosted by Welwyn Wheelers in the undulating Stanborough Park, just of the A1, from Bury its about an hour and 10 minute drive. The park is undulating and the grass is manicured which makes for very fast racing, especially in the dry, Sunday however was a ‘Game of Two Halves’, despite the forecast saying the showers would pass through overnight on Saturday, the rain started during the lunch break and became more persistent as the afternoon wore on, which meant for the later races the complexion of the course changed.

The course itself had a very fast start, into a long open 180 turn then straight into the first climb, which is like our own at West Stow, but much smoother, straight into a descent to another long 180, before climbing back to the top of the first hill, a fast flowing, twisting descent led to 3 more tight turns before the longest climb took the racers to the high point of the course, awkward off camber turns followed, around some trees, then a respite across the ridge, before another downhill led to a tight turn and up again for the first pass of the ‘Pits’, then 4 tight 180 turns in quick succession up and down the hill, before plummeting to a series of switchbacks maybe 10 in total, which were very entertaining, before a fast section just above the finish line another sweeping turn led to a sharp uphill before the second pass of ‘The Pits’, then 3 fast off cambers took the racers back across the finish line to do it all again.

The Wheelers had 4 riders on the Master 50’s starting Grid, Stephen Brook, Simon Christie, Karl Hale and Iain Milligan, the race conditions were perfect and it was certainly a very fast race from the off. After a seemingly unassailable lead, the leader was caught by James Ward (Cambridge CC) who trains at West Stow, so our own hills paid dividends for him. Simon had another great race maintaining his usual placing in the mid-teens, crossing the line in 14th, next came Stephen who had got over the ‘lurgy’ and he too maintained his average scores in 22nd, Iain who hoped would find his race pace this week certainly did, finishing in 29th, 9 positions better than his previous finish, finally came Karl who has also improved every week, he was 4 places behind Iain in 33rd. After this first block of 4 races Simon sits in 10th place overall, Karl 23rd Stephen 25th Matt Shingleton 29th and Iain 43rd at the end of the season it’s your best 6 races to count for your final league position.

As previously mentioned the rain started during the lunch break, it wasn’t so bad at the start of the M40/60 race, but it would certainly become persistent and alter the way in which the riders could take the numerous corners. The ‘Wheelers Crossers’ were the most numerous on the 60’s grid, 7 in total. They were, Martin Archer (2nd Claim), Pete Golding, Tony Read, Nick Rush, Will Tate, Paul Watson and Tony Whale, which was almost 25% of the field of 23. Paul got a great start as is usual this season, Pete was next then Nick and Martin, the gaps started to appear on the very first climb, by the top, Paul was clear with the eventual winner Dave Copland, with Pete in 5th, behind Martin, Tony, Nick, Will, and Tony Whale gave chase. Paul was away and gone, always in the top 3 and would end up 2nd, Pete 4th, Martin 11th, Tony Read whose eyes and therefore vision this week was much better and so was his race, despite sliding out on the last corner he was 13th, next to finish was Nick who loved the course and its twists and turns in 16th, next was Will Tate in his first race this season and as always he finished with a huge smile, really pleased he made the journey, finally Tony Whale crossed the line in 22nd and without the mechanical issues that beset him during the last race. What a team performance on the day, when Paul Chapman is fit again there’ll be 8 Wheelers on the start, who said you can’t compete in your 60’s !!

Megan Free was our sole representative this week in the Ladies race, Teresa Rush decided that she would rest, wise in her first season. The track had become very wet and increasingly more slippy on the corners, so had to be ridden with more care, despite this Megan gave her all throughout the 40+ minute race, stayed upright and crossed the line 7th Senior and 17th overall.

The Senior/Junior Men’s race got off to an amazing start, despite the rain that had now made the course really tricky, Sam Brook had a superb start, getting to the front before the first climb and sprinted to the top to crest it in the lead, wow. Behind there was a crash at the very bottom of the climb, leaving 3 riders on the ground, one of those was Callum Laborde, who was dead last, but by the end of a momentous first lap, had caught the leaders and would go on to win, with style and panache. Also with that same effort was Sam, who consolidated his fantastic start, crossing the line for the first time in 6th, we must bare in mind he is still only 16 racing against much older and stronger riders, he rode with poise and determination, never giving up. By the finish he had completed 8 laps, was 5th Junior (there were 2 Juniors in front of him from the London League), so on another day would have been 3rd and he was 10th overall, one of only 14 who finished on the same lap as the winner, Chapeau young Man. And incidentally, over 6 lap’s he was the fastest of all the Wheelers in worsening conditions.
As always the Wheelers support was the best out there, a massive thanks to Sara Hale, Tersesa Rush and Gill Read, who kept us all going and not forgetting Hugo.

Next week there are no league races as it is the First Round of the National Trophy at Derby, the now traditional start to the series.