Sunday 20th September – Box Valley Cross
Well what a day and what a venue, Colchester Rovers excelled themselves with this event, thanks to the support they received from the Gillies Family in allowing them to host a race at the remarkable Box Valley. From the moment you drove through the archway on to the estate, to the ample parking, the superb course layout, we just knew it was going to be a great day. As we walked or rode to sign on you were given a taste of things to come as you passed a very difficult off camber turns section, that would test the very best, this was linked to the main field by about 300m of smooth grass on the way out and a field track on the way back, to the main event field. The views across the Lakes to the rest of the course were stupendous, your eyes were led to the twists and turns around the furthest lake, which was also the track for the U10/12 races, what can only be described as a top end fishing hut, provided the space for the results team and adjacent sign on tent, which were just above one of the steepest climbs on the full course, the hurdles which were the maximum 40cm height, had been placed on a steep uphill section, just after a corner, perfect practise for the first National Trophy event at Derby next month. I have no doubt that mouths were watering before the event and then as dry as a bone on the start line, in trepidation of what was to come.
First off for the Wheelers was again Teresa Rush, all the training through the summer paid off, as did the Ladies only training day at the same venue the day before, ‘T’ was competitive from the off, establishing herself in front if the Ladies she normally battles with, in her best race yet she finished 22nd overall from the 26 starters and was the first M60, chapeau.
Next up was the joint M50/60 race, this week the commissaire team gave the M50’s a 1 minute 50 second gap to the M60 race starting, to alleviate any potential problems at the first bottle neck corners. From the M60 standpoint it looked like a clean getaway for all the M50’s, but we were told afterwards that there was plenty of blocking and running through those first turns, Simon Christie got away well, Stephen Brook in his first start of the season was also away well, Karl was mixing it, but was forced to run round the early off-camber turns and Lee Sturman who was the last to start of those M50’s as it was his first race of the year with no ranking points, had to try and scythe his way though.
Once the M50’s had cleared those early turns it was the M60’s start, Paul Watson got a great start, as did Nick Rush from the 2nd row, he was 2nd behind Paul into the first corner. Martin Archer also cut through the field and Tony Whale was battling for a good place early on. Finding the right line around the difficult turns was crucial, but plans had to be amended if someone else close to you had the same idea, which happened often during the races. The only respite was along the grass track to the most difficult off-cambers near to the parking, these corners quickly became known as ‘carnage corners’ from spectators and racers alike. A few came to grief here, especially Pete Golding, when he tried to cut inside a racer, but the door was shut and he went over the bars.
Simon Christie was first across the line for us in a superb 13th overall, next was Stephen Brook in 19th who held off Paul Watson by a single second one place behind having started 110 seconds behind, Paul was 3rd M60, a lap behind the winner but in 29th overall 26th M50 was Lee Sturman, Pete Golding was next in 36th, Karl Hale had his best race this year, passing people on every lap to finish 41st overall 33rd M50.
Martin Archer had yet another great start and held on really well to finish 11th M60, next was Nick Rush who into the first 180° turn was in 3rd place, how he picks his way through the crowd is beyond me ! He maintained his position after the end of the first lap for a 22nd M60 finish, Tony Whale had a good race, he maintained a great rhythm for the duration finishing in 27th, what a day out it was for the 10 Wheelers, a thumbs up from everyone who raced and spectated. Thanks to Sara Hale, Cordelia Cole and Nigel Green for the encouragement.
Thanks to Sara Hale for some superb photos
There were some WULF Members racing who had great results too.
Ladies – Eola Canham 3rd, Caroline Murfitt 4th, Julie Taplin 7th and Sophie Lee 8th
M40’s – Chris Wheatley 27th and Tom Middleton 43rd
M50’s – James Ward 4th
Adrian Hoyle 20th
U12’s – Indi Wheatley 1st Girl
Youths – Kacper Gabka 25th and Freddie Whiles 33rd
Next event is the Welwyn Cross on the 27th September