2006 British Cycling Cyclo-Cross National Championships

Saturday, January 7, 2006; Sutton Park, Birmingham

Larry Hickmott reports

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Day 1 Summary:
It was a cold and snowy old day in the Midlands for the first day of the British Cycling National Cyclo-Cross Championships. It was 'blizzard' conditions for most of the day as riders battled for their respective championships in slippery conditions. First winner of the day was Roy Hunt in the Over 50 championship, carrying on from where he left off in the National Trophy. Next it was Alex Paton's turn to take the jersey from Scott Thwaites' grasp in the Youth race, whilst in the final race of the day, Adrian Timmis was in a class of his own as he won the Vets' championship by well over a minute from a legend in 'cross, Chris Young.

Carrying on as he has done in the National Trophy, Roy Hunt (pictured) was the worthy winner of the Over 50 race after leading the race from start to finish. He was however chased hard early on by a group of five or six riders only 10 or 15 seconds back lead by Martin Booth who had to come back from a number of crashes to keep his place in the chase group.

Of the chasers, prominent were Joseph Rowe who was putting in a few digs to try and get clear and midway through the race, snow started to fall making the course even more slippery than it had been. Of the others chasing, one of the favourites Graham Edwards was never far away and Vic Barnett looked to be having the best ride of his season as they and the rest of the chase group battled to get back on terms with Hunt. The SIS rider was never headed however and crossed the line with a quick, almost embarrassed, raising of the arm to acknowledge his win.

The battle for silver though was one of the days best as John Galway in the final section of the last lap attacked hard to go clear of Cliff Featherstone who beat Martin Booth to the line in an all out sprint. Afterwards, as he came off the podium, Roy Hunt said his season has been excellent. "I don't where all this form has come from but I'm really really pleased, its been a great year." Talking about the conditions in the sleet and snow, he said "yes, it was a bit dodgy. I came off on the back of the course and it was really greasy on the corners. It was hard to stay upright."

I put it to Roy that this race had been a lot more competitive than the rest of the trophy series events he had dominated in the latter part of 2005. For much of the championship, there was a chase group breathing down his neck. He agreed adding, "I could see and hear them behind me and was a bit worried about them to be honest." Finally - with such great form, what is the next goal I asked - the Worlds? "Well, you have to give it a go with form like this" he said smiling as he dashed off to get warm.

All season in the National Trophy, the Youth races have been very exciting events and yet more proof that there are some very talented youngsters out there looking to represent their country. Alex Paton for one has been going well all year winning many events but this race, the Youth Championship, was never an easy win for him as Scott Thwaites made him work all the way to the line before finally having to give best to the London rider.

After a series of crashes at the start of both the boys and girls races on the corner at the end of the start finish straight where the snow had made it lethal for the riders, the race quickly settled down with three riders going clear of the rest, Ben Roach, Alex Paton and Scott Thwaites. After halfway, the three became two as Thwaites continued to pile on the pressure whilst Paton bided his time and Roach - winner of the Youth race in Abergavenny -- soon found himself losing ground. At the bell, it was still Paton and Thwaites who lead the race and they continued their tussle all the way round the final lap and it was in the sprint, that Paton finally found the answer to Thwaites and the VC Deal rider was more than just a little happy with his victory.

Once the field had all finished, the Youth winners assembled at the finish area where there was a minute's silence in honour of young hope James Berry who was so cruelly killed by a truck's wayward wheel on the Isle of Man during the Christmas period. Once the minute's silence was finished, the presentation continued and afterwards, we were able to talk to a few of the riders. Alex Paton said his win was great, and the best he could have hoped for. "I tried playing it pretty safe, keeping it realistic and it was good".

Talking about how himself and Scott Thwaites got away, Alex told us "it was Scott that made the move really. He put the pressure on and I managed to respond over the back going up the drag there. It was over the top we got the gap really and after that kept it going - that was the key really."

Alex was also honest enough to admit that although they shared the work a little that Scott did the majority of the work. "At the end, we were both watching each other as you do and I managed to get the kick out of the corner and just kept it going." His final word on winning - "I'm estatic - its great!".

Shivering as many were in the freezing conditions, Scott Thwaites was the next rider we spoke to and he said of his race "I felt good in Belgium recently and felt good today as well and put in an attack. Alex though was really strong and he stayed with me and was just too good for me in the sprint. I would like to have won but the silver was good as I was right up there with the winner and on a different day, it might have been different. So I'm pleased with the silver."

Next we grabbed a few words with the winner in Abergavenny and one of the key riders in the race, Bronze medal winner Ben Roach. "I was bit annoyed they got away from me. They made a move round the back and I was Skubala's wheel when he punctured and I just couldn't close the gap. It stayed the same for a long while and then started to grow when I didn't have anything left."

Talking about the course, Ben who comes from a well known Cyclo-Cross family successful at all levels, he said the course was very slippery and getting worse adding that for other races, tyre choices were going to be critical."

The final rider we managed to grab a few words with was Rebecca Thompson who won the Girls youth race. She said her race was really hard on a course she found very bumpy and muddy. "I'm really pleased to have won here today and hopefully my sponsors will be pleased." Her final words to us were that this year she wants to win the Mountain Bike title and then come back and win the Girls youth title again adding that her favourite races are off road."

Late last year Adrian Timmis (right), winner of professional races in Europe as a senior and a Tour de France finisher in the late eighties, had a bad crash last year where he had whiplash and coming into the championship, was an unknown quantity. It didn't take long for the rest of the big field however to see just how well he had recovered from his crash despite not having raced since. Within half a lap of the race starting today, Timmis was already well clear with Martin Eadon and Mick Rowson leading the ever diminishing chase group 10 seconds or so back.

Whilst Timmis continued to make the race look ever so easy, the chase group behind slowly got smaller and into the second lap there was a solitary pursuer - Ian Wright of the nearby Lichfield City CC. He continued to open a gap on the chase group of about ten riders lead by Mick Bell, Martin Eadon, Phil Roach. One rider expected to be in that chase group after a season of top placings in the National trophy, Andy Barnard, was however seen carrying his bike after a puncture and it was to cost him dear in the race.

As another lap went by, the snow which had been falling off and on all day, started to get heavier and it was pretty soon a near blizzard of white stuff through which the riders would emerge as they got close to us. Also emerging, but this time from the chase group, was Chris Young, a legend in cyclo-cross after many a victory as a senior and he was now the sole chaser of Wright.

As each lap went by, Young would take a few seconds off Wrights lead until the final lap when he caught and passed the Midlands rider, getting away from him to take the silver behind Timmis who won by well over a minute. Wright had no problem hanging on for bronze well clear off the rest lead by Andy Key who is starting to get back some of his form from last season before a back problem curtailed his racing.

After the race, once the riders had received there rewards on the podium, I said to Adrian he made that race victory look ever so easy. "Umm, I was comfortable although it was hard as well. I was attacking the hard bits to put time into them and then taking it easy on the technical sections because I have not raced since the middle of October so technically I was crap. There was a drag around the back so I was putting the hammer down there and then taking it easy in the technical bits."

Asked if he had recovered from his injuries at Chorley, he replied "it's still ongoing although it is getting better. Its taking a long time but I have been able to go training, I just haven't raced."

On the conditions, he said "it didn't bother me. I had the right gear on and didn't feel cold in the race. The surface is funny here because its hard underneath and slippery on top. In the technical sections there are roots everywhere and you had to be wary of them." And the win-pleased? "Yeah, it's what I came for and trained for so I'm happy."

Next we talked to Chris Young (right) who came from behind to win the Silver medal. His first words were "it was my usual slow start" and then added "I have been starting well all year and I came here and got a slow one. There were little crashes in front of me and once it gets lined out, it can be hard to pass because its like one long line going around the course. You try to over take and you're into roots and stuff like that."

"I eventually got past a few and got going and managed to get up to second. It was touch and go whether I would get second but it was alright in the end. Adrian was absolutely flying and there is no way I was going to get near him unless I up my training a lot and I don't want to do that!"

Chris was pretty happy with the conditions as well, saying "It was pretty slippery but that's cyclo-cross isn't it. Bring it on that's what I say! You're only racing for 40 minutes so you don't have time to get cold."

Finally, was he pleased with a Silver medal after a long career winning? "Bronze last year and Silver this year, hopefully it might be gold next year."

A rider who looked like a sure bet for Silver until Young made his charge was Ian Wright. Asked did Chris catch him out, Ian replied "No, he didn't catch me out. Chris is a wily old character and I knew he would be chasing me down. He caught me on the slow climb at the back there and was stronger than me. That was it. I was just hanging on after that and really pleased with third. Brilliant" ..

Veterans 50 + National Cyclo Cross Championship

Team Championship

Rugby Velo: Phil Roach, David Garrett, Mark Humphries

 Individual

1. Roy Hunt, SIS
2. John Galway, Keswick MTB
3. Cliff Featherstone, ATS

55-59
1. Jeff Standley, Lakes RC
2. Peter Mooney, Rugby Velo
3. Barrie Mitchell, MI racing

60-64
1. Vic Barnett, Welland Valley
2. John Ginley, Condor RC
3. Terry Taylor, Matlock CC
 
65+
1. Mick Ives, MI Raving
2. Graham Clements, Coventry
3. John Dowell, Gainsborough Aegir CC

Veterans National Cyclo Cross Championship

1 Adrian Timmis Pinarello RT
2 Chris Young Team Marie Curie
3 Ian Wright Lichfield City CC
4 Andy Key MI Racing/EAS/Fuji/Thule/Sports
5 Duncan Walmsley VC Lincoln/Mr Mortgage/SPS/Lister
6 Mick Rowson Rutland CC
7 Antony Green GA Cycles
8 David Stevens Triangle RT/Bianchi
9 Martin Eadon Evans Cycles RT
10 Mick Bell London Fire Brigade CC
11 Philip Roach Rugby Velo
12 Geoff Giddings Ashfield RC
13 Peter Harris Pearce Cycles RT
14 Peter Rice Science in Sport.com
15 Shaun Hammond Wolverhampton Wheelers CC
16 Nigel Hay De Montfort Rage On
17 Lester Young Individual Member
18 Stephen Cadwaladr Lichfield City CC
19 Steve Jones AW Cycles.co.uk
20 Mark Garrett Coventry RC/Ridecov.co.uk
21 Steve Taylor Sherwood Pines/Newark Castle CC
22 Daren Williams CC Abergavenny/Owen Const./Doleq
23 Graham Clark VC Lincoln/Mr Mortgage/SPS/Lister
24 Darrell Bradbury Norton Wheelers
25 Dave Copland Ipswich BC
26 Geoffrey Brightmore Ace RT/Impsport
27 Duncan Stuart Keswick MTB
28 Gary Allan GA Cycles
29 David Garrett Rugby Velo
30 Dave Headon Horwich CC
31 Robin Delve Mid Devon CC/Colin Lewis
32 Adrian Elson Coventry RC/Ridecov.co.uk
33 Adrian Clode Sid Valley CC
34 Jack Peterson Rockingham Forest Wheelers
35 Chris Trevallion GA Cycles
36 Paul Warner Team Darenth
37 Kevin Bodley Individual Member
38 Ray Pugh Liverpool Mercury
39 Robert Burns Wolverhampton Wheelers CC
40 Andy Barnard MI Racing/EAS/Fuji/Thule/Sports
41 Russell Wakefield Derwent Valley ATC
42 Mark Meacock Individual Member
43 Paul Sleaford Norton Wheelers
44 Tim Stowe Individual Member
45 Paul Dalton Matlock CC/Wards/Impsport/Farm.
46 Peter Bromwich West Midlands Cyclo-X League
47 Martyn Dymond Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/Scott
48 Richard Tyler Coventry RC/Ridecov.co.uk
49 Jon Clarke Lincoln Wheelers
50 Peter Varian Red Kite Cycles
51 Robert Tutt GS Europa
52 Robert Smith Ipswich BC
53 Paul Davis St Ives CC
54 Mark Humphreys Rugby Velo
55 Gary Fountain Sheffield Phoenix
56 Nick Barnett Welland Valley Whs.
57 Andrew Shaw MI Racing/EAS/Fuji/Thule/Sports
58 Richard Fenn Calder Clarion CC
59 David Tinker Clayton Velo

45-49 Medals/Positions

1  Ian Wright Lichfield City CC

2  Mick Rowson Rutland CC

3  Martin Eadon Evans Cycles RT

4  Peter Harris Pearce Cycles RT

5  Nigel Hay De Montfort Rage On

6  Steve Taylor Sherwood Pines/Newark Castle CC

7  Geoffrey Brightmore Ace RT/Impsport

8  Duncan Stuart Keswick MTB

9  Robin Delve Mid Devon CC/Colin Lewis

10  Paul Warner Team Darenth

11  Kevin Bodley Individual Member

12  Ray Pugh Liverpool Mercury

13  Russell Wakefield Derwent Valley ATC

14  Mark Meacock Individual Member

15  Tim Stowe Individual Member

16  Paul Dalton Matlock CC/Wards/Impsport/Farm.

17  Richard Tyler Coventry RC/Ridecov.co.uk

18  Robert Smith Ipswich BC

19  Gary Fountain Sheffield Phoenix

20  David Tinker Clayton Velo

Youth Championship (provisional)

1. Alex Paton, VC Deal
2. Scott Thwaites, Merlin Dev
3. Ben Roach, Rugby Velo
4. Michael Butler, VC Deal (U15)
5. William Verney, Shokwave (U15)
6. Jordon Hook, South Pennine
7. Luke Gray, Dorset Rough Riders (U14)
8. Daniel McLay, Leicestershire RC (U14)
9. Gareth James, Abergavenny RC
10. Erik Rowsell, Sutton CC
11. Thomas Payton, Stourbridge CC
12. Lawrence Frost, Ashfield RC
13. Thomas Skubala, Interbike RT
14. Hamish Creber, Sandy Wallace Cycles
15. George Atkins, Welland Valley
16. Thomas Lowe, Merlin Development
17. Steven Proud, Solihull CC
18. Timothy Rowson, Sheffield Phoenix
19. Samuel Fry, Welwyn Wheelers
20. Carl Harris, Eastern Region

Youth Girls (provisional)

1. Rebecca Thompson, GB Cycles (U15)
2. Annie Last, Matlock CC
3. Danielle King, i-Team.co.uk
4. Katie Colcough, Sleaford Wh
5. Corrinne Hall, VC Londres (U15)
6. Amy Gallagher, Welwyn Wheelers
7. Samatha Bryant, Marin UK (U14)
8. Penny Rowson, Shffield Phoenix, (U14)
9. Hannah Robinson, Ipswich (U14)
10. Hannah Manley, Maindy Flyers (U14)
11. Genevieve Billington, Bromsgrove Olympique

Under 15 (provisional)

1. Michael Butler, VC Deal
2. William Verney, Shockwave
3. Jordon Hook, South Pennine
4. Luke Gray, Dorset Roughe riders
5. Daniel McLay, Leicestershire RC
6. George Atkins, Welland Valley
7. Thomas Lowe, Merlin Dev
8. Samuel Fry, Welwyn Wh
9. Joshuah Papworth, Halesowen
10. Rebecca Thompson, GB Cycles

Under 14 (provisional)

1. Luke Gray, Dorset Rough Riders
2. Daniel McLay, Leicestershire RC
3. Samuel Fry, Welwyn Wheelers
4. Joshuah Papworth, Halesowen CC
5. Max Skyes, VC Deal
6. Paul Young, Team Marie Curie
7. Perry Bowater, Walsall RCC
8. Oliver Webster, Triangle RT
9. William Meadows, Ipswich BC
10. Thomas Robbins, Didcot Phoenix