2003 NATIONAL CYCLO CROSS
CHAMPIONSHIPS

Over two days in Sutton Park, a host of new champions were crowned in the National Cyclo Cross championships.Here on britishcycling.org.uk, we bring you the action from those titles with more than 300 pictures from the seven races. Our thanks to the organiser Gordon Siers and team for their help and a really great event where the crowds flocked to the see some awesome cycling action.

 

 

| ELITE MEN | WOMEN | JUNIORS | UNDER 23 | YOUTH | OVER 50S | OVER 40S |

SATURDAY PODIUM PICTURES: Click for Gallery

FULL RESULTS | REPORT

PREVIEW
The countries top stars including a former world cross champion come out to shine in the 49th National Cyclo-Cross Championships taking place over the weekend of Saturday/Sunday 11th/12th January 2003 in Sutton Park, Birmingham. Over two days are seven races for the various age categories and best of all for those wanting to witness it all, spectator admission is free! For those travelling to the park to witness the action, car parking is via the Hartop Gate entrance to the park, which will be signposted off the A5127 between Sutton Coldfield town centre and Four Oaks.

RACE BY RACE PREVIEW -- SATURDAY

Veterans Over 50s Championship - 10:30 am, Saturday 11th January.
Les Lloyd (Didcot Phoenix CC) proved unbeatable in this category during the 2001-2002 season, and although Lloyd has not contested the National Trophy series this season, he returns to defend his national title. That's bad news for Pete Mooney (Rugby Velo) who took the over 50s Trophy series in Lloyd's absence. Others likely to be challenging for an overall podium position include Vic Barnett (Welland Valley Wheelers), Mick Ives (MI Racing), John Scholes (unattached) and the 2001 winner when the championship was last contested at Sutton Park Chris Gooch (Team Clean).

Apart from the overall winner's jersey, there will be medals contested in the various 5-year age bands: Grand Veteran (50-54), Master Veteran (55-59), Grand Master Veteran (60-64) and Super Veteran (65+). Click for Start List

Youth Championship - 11:45 am, Saturday 11th January.
Alex Atkins (VC Meudon) has emerged as the man to beat in the youth ranks this season, with five wins out of five in the Trophy series, all of them solo style. Ian Stannard (Team Keyne), Jon Mozley (Cratoni Helmets) and David Wood (VC Deal) have had to settle for the minor placings and will have to do so again unless Atkins has an uncharacteristic off-day.

In the integral girls championship Amy Thompson has been consistently the best prospect for the winner's jersey, despite still qualifying in the under-14 category, and looks set to take over the crown vacated by Nikki Harris since her elevation to the senior ranks. Click for Start List

Veterans Championship - 1.00 pm, Saturday 11th January.
With holder Peter Stevenson choosing not to defend his title, the mantle of favourite passes to Mick Rowson (Rutland CC Sheffield), who succeeded Mike Bell (London Fire Brigade CC) as Trophy series winner this season. Bell, who finished second to Stevenson last year, will also have his sights on the top step of the podium, but in one of the most competitive categories of the weekend, neither can afford to be complacent. Andy Reid (De Montfort Rage On) and Steve Barron (VC Lincoln) have both been mixing it with the frontrunners this season, and there are several former winners and medallists in the 95-strong field who also can not be discounted, including Martin Booth (Team Bradgate), Martin Eadon (Ace RT), Paul Gilbert (Universal CC) and Nick Kinsey (Team Noah). Click for Start List

Under-23 Championship - 2:30 pm, Saturday 11th January.
The smallest field of the weekend offers one of the most intriguing prospects, and this title race has always produced an epic battle, giving under-23 riders their one domestic opportunity to race among themselves rather than within the larger senior/elite field. Shaun Snodden (JE James RT) has won the National Trophy series for the last two seasons, but failed to make the podium last year, and will want to improve on his bronze medal in 2001 in his last year in this category. With title holder Phil Dixon no longer eligible, 2003 will be his best chance, but defeat at the hands of last year's Junior Champion Steven Roach (James Hay RT) in round 4 of the Trophy shows that Snodden can be vulnerable.

However both riders will be keeping a wary eye open for Liam Killeen (Subaru/Gary Fisher), making a rare cyclo-cross appearance. Killeen, who concentrates his efforts on cross-country mountain biking where he won the Commonwealth Games bronze medal last summer, won the under-23 cyclo-cross title at his first attempt in 2001, and was narrowly beaten by Dixon last year. Another rider who could come into his own in this separate under-23 contest is Peter Middlehurst (Eastern Region Velo), a fast starter who could benefit if he gets into a leading group and the race becomes tactical.
Click for Start List

RACE BY RACE PREVIEW -- SUNDAY

Women's Championship - 11:00 am, Sunday 12th January
Isla Rowntree (Stourbridge CC) will be looking for a third national title after a season when she has again dominated the women's scene. But defeat at the hands of Victoria Wilkinson (Science In Sport.com) in the final round of the Trophy series last month must have sown a seed of doubt in her mind. Rowntree is the sport's greatest advocate of women's cyclo-cross, and was instrumental in creating the first women's championship back in 1994, where she won a bronze medal. She has contested all but one of the nine championships to date, and failed to reach the podium on only one occasion. A failure to do so again is unthinkable, but Wikinson will not submit without a fight. Sixteen year old Nikki Harris (Pearce Cycles RT), last year's youth champion, represents a new generation of cyclists, and will be aiming for a podium place in her first full year at this level. Click for Start List

Junior Championship - 12:30 pm, Sunday 12th January
The Junior racing season at national level initially produced some tight racing until Ian Bibby (Science In Sport.com) emerged from the pack to stamp his authority on the Trophy series. Adam Gascoigne (Anglia Sport), in his second year at Junior level, has been Bibby's closest challenger, with Ian Field (San Fairy Ann CC) and Matthew Pritchard (MI Racing) also in the picture. Don't discount Richard Kipling (Merlin - Rock Lobster) or Ian Legg (Principia RT), both of whom have had seasons disrupted by illness but are capable of medal positions if fit. Click for Start List

Senior/Elite Championship - 2:15 pm, Sunday 12th January
The final event of the weekend's racing is always the most eagerly anticipated, and is set to be an intriguing affair. Roger Hammond (Palmans/Collstrop) , seeking a fourth successive title and a fifth title overall, will again start as favourite, but after a late start to the season he approaches the championship without a major domestic win. Matt Ellis (Ace RT), like Hammond based in Belgium, was outsprinted in the final few metres in last year's championship, and will be ready to pounce if Hammond falters on a course which has never been one of his favourite circuits.

However the rider in form in the weeks leading up to the Championship race is Nick Craig (Pertex/Planet X). Craig has also won the title twice on the Sutton course, and was last year's bronze medallist at Ipswich. Also not to be discounted is another double winner at Sutton Barrie Clarke (Giant RT) who successfully defended his National Trophy title last month, while Stuart Wearmouth (Science In Sport.com) will be looking to cement his rapid improvement this season with a first podium place. Click for Start List

� British Cycling 2002/2003