ROSES CHALLENGE CYCLO-CROSS 2003
Sunday 16th November 2003

A record 92 riders in the main race at Queens Park, Bolton, competed for the annual Roses Challenge Shield. The North West v Yorkshire race was to be dominated by home riders, despite a large number of visitors from over the Pennines. Such were the performances of north west riders, that the points score was 234 to North West against 74 to Yorkshire.

National Junior Champion, Ian Bibby (SiS) lead the field away from the uphill start onto the course proper, followed by veteran Roy Hunt (Merlin/Rock Lobster) and current North West League Champion Mark Leyland of the promoting Horwich CC. Three Peaks winner, Rob Jebb (Wheelbase/Ron Hill), a previous winner at the venue, was in close attendance, and took over the lead at the end of the first of 10 laps. From here Jebb never looked backed and had a comfortable margin at the finish over Bibby and Jebb’s Wheelbase team mates Lewis Craven and Stuart Reid.

Jonathon McEvoy (Liverpool Century) continued his run of good form, after breaking away from Scott Thwaites (SiS) to take the youth race. Thwaites had the consolation of taking the Under 14s award. Simon Winston, another regular winner this season took the Under 12s race from team mate Martin Woffinden, closely followed by first girl Laura Allen (New Brighton CC).

The day gave riders a chance to test out a version of the course to be used at the Inter Area Team Championships in January 2004. It was also the first time the race has benefited from the use of the superb £5M Lottery Funded Bolton Lads & Girls Club, which all competitors agreed was quite something.

RESULTS -- SEN/JUN/VET/WOM

 1. Rob Jebb -Wheelbase/Ron Hill 
 2. Ian Bibby -SiS  -1st Junior 
 3. Lewis Craven -Wheelbase/Ron Hill 
 4. S. Reid -Wheelbase/Ron Hill 
 5. I. Taylor -Bradford Olympic 
 6. D. Connolly -Foxes Cycles RT 
 7. M. Leyland -Horwich CC 
 8. D. Bedford -Huddersfield Star Whls 
 9. H. Hocknell -St Ives CC 
10. M. Harper -Moonglu 
11. D. Ebbrell -Blackburn CTC 
12. A. Morris -Biketreks 
13. S. Green -Oldham Century 
14. R. Barrett -Ride On 
15. R. Hunt -Merlin/Rock Lobster  -1st SV
16. S Jolley - Warrington RC -SV
17. J Dalton - VCP Lorient
18. M Thwaites - SiS -Jun
19. J Markham - Preston CC
20. R Sale - Horwich CC -Jun
21. D Stuart - Keswick MTB - 1st V
22. M Laithwaite - Merseyside Whls
23. D Keaskin - Horwich CC
24. D Headon - Horwich CC
25. J Standley - Lakes RC -1st MV
26. K Embleton - Macclesfield Whls
27. T Baldwin - Team Marie Curie -Jun
28. S Easter - The Edge
29. A Hunt - Giant RT -1st Woman
30. D Kelly - unattached
31. M Townsend - Seacroft Wheelers
32. R Owen - Horwich CC -SV
33. C Smith - Huddersfield Star Whls -SV
34. J Giwley - Condor RC -1st GV
35. S Blackburn - Red Rose Olympic
36. D Clark - Brighton Mitre -V
37. G Rowson - Macclesfield Whls -GV
38. S Beswick - Buxton CC -V
39. M Bethell - Macclesfield Whls -V
40. P Warrener - Ride On
41. A Hunt - Yorkshire RC
42. D Leyland - Horwich CC -GV
43. L Worthy - Horwich CC -Jun
44. J Credland - Aire Valley RT -Jun
45. J Gilmore - East Liverpool Whls -SV
46. R Heal - Trek UK -Wom
47. J Wright - Army CU
48. J Peacock - unattached
49. A Allan - Macclesfield Whls
50. D Drake - Horwich CC
51. C Fenwick - Macclesfield Whls -V
52. T Brown - Clayton Velo -V
53. M Style - Manchester Whls -V
54. D Todd - Drighlington RC -SV
55. I Small - Zodiac CRC -MV
56. R Pye - Rose Rose -V
57. R Kipping - ABC Centreville
58. S Hemmings - Central Lancs RC
59. P Milson Senior - Calder Clarion -SV 
60. S Alderson - Stretford Whls
61. S Bradbrook - Deeside Olympic
62. J Stanistreet - Liverpool Mercury -SV
63. A Whitworth - Huddersfield RC
64. P Milsom - Calder Clarion
65. N Harrison - unattached -Jun
66. S Skidmore - Drighlington -SV
67. G Wilson - Bespokeblue
68. J Redmond - Paul Milnes RT -SV
69. D Mellor - Mid Shropshire Whls -V
70. J Thomas - Prescot Eagle RC -MV
71. K Taylor - Bradford Olympic -Wom
72. J Robinson - Ride On-Wom
73. T Kelly - unattached -V
74. S Johnson - Zodiac CRC -MV
75. F Rothwell - Bradford Olympic -GV
76. D Halman - Altrincham RC -MV
77. R Lebeter - Leeds RRC -SV
78. M Speirs - Preston CC -V
79. G Cuddy - Liverpool Century
80. J Stanistreet - Liverpool Mercury -GMV
81. L Woffinden - unattached -V
82. P Leigh - Manchester Whls
92 STARTERS, 10 DNF 

YOUTH
 1. Jonathon McEvoy - Liverpool Century -U16
 2. Scott Thwaites - SiS -U14
 3. Paul Lown - Red Rose -U16
 4. S Webster - Triangle RT -U16
 5. R Connolly - Holy Family -U16
 6. M Jones - Horwich CC -U14
 7. P Todd - Drighlington BC -U16
 8. M Gilmore - East Liverpool Whls -U16
 9. S Williams - Janus RC -U14
10. J Allen - New Brighton CC -U14
11. W Pascoe - Red Rose -U14
12. S Bately - Leisure Lakes -U16
13. R Pye - Red Rose - U14
14. C Wood - Red Rose -U16 1st Girl
15. J Stuart - Keswick MTB -U14
16. S Morgan - Leisure Lakes -U16
17. A Davies - Horwich CC -U14
18. J Ramsay - Red Rose -U16G
19. K Wardle - Leisure Lakes - U16G
20. P Morgan - Leisure Lakes -U16

UNDER 12s
 1. Simon Winston - Eastlands Velo
 2. Martin Woffinden - Eastlands Velo
 3. Laura Allen - New Brighton CC 1st Girl
 4. A Clark - Brighton Mitre
 5. C Morgan - Leisure Lakes
 6. R Baldwin - Team Marie Curie 
 7. J Anderson - Eastlands Velo
 8. C Gore - Horwich CC
 9. A Leigh - unattached
10. E Hartley - Team Marie Curie
11. E Martindale - unattached
12. S Duckworth - Bury Clarion
13. J Duckworth - Bury Clarion
14. J Anderson - Eastlands Velo