Cyclocross update – West Stow Cross 2024

The sunset on Sunday was spectacular and so was the event at West Stow Country Park which our Club hosted so magnificently. Now that the dust, quite literally has settled, it’s time to put pen to paper and write some thoughts on the day.
What a day it was, the weather helped of course, but it wouldn’t have been so successful without the help of so many of our wonderful Club members. A small band of dedicated Cyclocrossers had maintained the course in the Park since last winter, ensuring that the tracks were kept cut with the Clubs ride-on mower and enhancing the course by cutting in some new trails for this years event. During the week leading up to the event, a group of Wheelers came together, to place the wooden stakes which we would attach the netting and banners that would enhance the look of the course and give it a very professional look, in fact we had one compliment that said “this looks like a UCI event”, I wouldn’t go that far, but the sand pits, arena, pits and steps all looked absolutely marvellous, all down to the help of the big team on Saturday.
One of the best things about the event at West Stow is the Under/8/10/12 course which has received so many accolades from parents and racers alike, I wanted to share with you an email we received from a parent prior to the event.
“Ahead of your race on Sunday I just wanted to send an email and say a huge THANK YOU to the WSW team. I have loved watching your course updates on Facebook and really appreciate how much effort you have put into the course for the U12s and under. It always frustrates me that at a lot of races this age group either get forgotten about or their course feels like it is a bit of an after thought; you and your team have done an awesome job of making sure that is not the case. Love the sandpit, love the hurdles, love the switchbacks. I have got a very excited son, who can’t wait to ride on Sunday”.

And then to watch 61 children across both races race on Sunday made it all worth while. And of course it would be remiss of me to not mention the commentary, Barry Denny in the Maglia Rosso Comms Caravan was brilliant all day, always finding the right things to say during every race, keeping the spectators informed about who was where and when with his insightfull knowledge of the sport and the competitors in the Eastern Region and beyond, thank you so much Barry.
But the racing would not have been the success that it was without an even greater number of ‘Wheelers’ on the day, who came along to help in anyway they could, making the event safe, directing competitors and racers, but above all cheering everyone, all day long, the compliments we have received about our Marshall team have been outstanding, so thank you to all of you who helped in anyway for however long, it was a truly amazing day made possible by ‘The Wheelers’.
Of course there were ‘Wheelers’ racing too, a big shout out to Sara Hale who gathered together Cath Chapman and Janet Hardiker to race in the combined Ladies race, which meant for once Megan Free was not alone. And I do believe that as Sara and Cath crossed the line they received the biggest cheer of the day. Megan was 16th, Janet 26th, Cath 27th and Sara 28th of the 29 ladies in the race, absolutely brilliant.

Sam Brook was once again the fastest ‘Wheeler’ across all age groups lapping consistently for over an hour, he had probably his best race of the season, finishing 14th over and 2nd Junior and he’s only just 16 ! I. His race was also the Club Championships of Rockingham Wheelers the Corby, Northamptonshire based Club, that’s the second year they’ve chosen our race for that, it’s an honour.

In the V50 race Jason Fowler was the first Wheeler for a long time until his tyre burped whilst jumping the logs bd he crashed. He rejoined after sorting it, finishing a lap down in 54th, so Ashton Dyson (2nd Claim’) was first home in 15th, Simon Christie was 16th only one second behind, Lee Sturman making a welcome return was 24th, next was Stephen Brook in 26th and finally Iain Milligan crossed the line 37th from the field of 60 riders.
The V60’s as always were set of behind the V40’s, I particularly enjoyed watching them race, Paul Watson as always was our first rider home in 4th, next was Nick Rush in 17th, Will Tate came next crossing the line in 19th and finally but by no means last in his reindeer suit and Christmas decoration festooned bike was Tony Read in 21st of the 27 starters.

But the day was all about the event as a whole, thank you to the ‘Wheelers’ community who made it such a memorable one.
One final quote from the day “If Carlsberg did Cyclocross Races………”