Eastern League Round 1 – Springfield Cross (Chelmer CC) – 6 September 2026
Report from Barry Denny. Good day’s racing for WSW riders at the Chelmer Club’s Cyclo Cross today. Whilst we had no representatives in the youngsters or open races we had loads in the older categories. The course was very dry and fast and this seemed to suit Paul Watson who scored a victory in the 60+ race, with Peter Golding 5th (2nd best 70+), Martin Archer was 10th and Nick Rush rode strongly into 17th, Anthony Whale 26th. In the 50+ race Simon Christie went well coming home 20th with Iain Milligan 34th. Teresa Rush was 20th in the combined age group women’s race, and best 60+
Eastern League Round 2 – CC Hackney Cross at Lambourne End – 13 September 2026
Report from Peter Golding. The second round of the Eastern Cross League was hosted by Cycling Club Hackney at the Centre for Outdoor Learning, Lambourne End. It’s a superb venue with ample onsite parking, a vast marquee and field shelters for spectators and a great cafe which sells superb sausages made on site.
First up to tackle the tough course created by CC Hackney for the Wheelers CX Collective this week, was Teresa Rush. It was a varied but very tough course, the uphill start in the bottom field led to a 180° turn, back downhill to another 180°, upto another 180°, down to another and then up into the narrow wooded section which led through twists and turns back downhill, out onto the bottom field, into a small gulley and then a tough gravel climb, which led to a long very bumpy descent through a cow pasture to a very challenging fast corner, then a rough climb almost to the top, before descending again and climbing over the rough ground back to the top, through the farmyard and onto the field past the Cafe past the spectators, before disappearing, back into the woods over a slippery bridge and even slippier corner over plastic matting, before re-emerging into the cafe field and the final circuitous route before descending back and the 180° turn for the 50m dash past the finish line. Yes it was a tough as it sounds, Teresa has started her season really well and it continued here, riding strongly to finish 22nd on a course which didn’t really suit her.
Next up in the new timetable was the M50/M60 race which is the one in which the majority of Wheelers Crossers will be racing this season, it’s also the last race of the day. The M50’s were started first followed 1m 40 seconds later by the M60’s, the longer gap after last weeks 1 minute was to afford the last of the M50’s to clear the first 180’s and get into the woods, before the fast M60 racers chased after them, it wasn’t long before the M60 leaders were in amongst the tail end of the M50 field.
Paul Watson was our first finisher, he got through to 20th overall in the race and finished 3rd M60 this week. Iain Milligan was next in probably his best race ever finishing 22nd, next was Peter Golding 32nd overall 7th M60, Karl Hale riding his first race this season, was 39th and chuffed with it, Nick Rush was almost 30 seconds a lap faster than he was at last years race, so whilst disappointed with 24th M60 and 59th overall, on reflection he knows he had a great ride.
Before I close, I should mention some other results, those of our WULF Members who train at the West Stow track
U10’s – Henry Roberts Velouse Flyers was 22nd
U12,s – Indi Wheatley Velouse Flyers was 2nd Girl
Youths – James Clarke VC Revolution 2nd
Women
Caroline Murfitt Velouse Flyers 7th
Sophie Lee Ely & District 9th
Eola Canham Rapha CC 11th
M40
Chris Wheatley Velouse Flyers 15th
Trevor Child Colchester Rovers 19th
Tom Middleton Velouse Flyers 21st 2nd Claim Wheeler
Steve Clarke VC Revolution 26th
M50
Ian Day Rotor Race Team 3rd
M60
Karl Wardell Chelmer CC 12th
Rob Smith SDCC 25th
The WULF Membership really does work and demonstrates time and time again that it is a superb initiative, a great training venue and of course a fantastic Cyclocross venue.
A huge thank you to Sara Hale for all her support and great photos