Chalmers Wraps Up Western Cross Title

 

Western Cyclocross League

Sunday 13 Jan 2007, Gloucester

 

The final round of the Western Cyclocross League was contested on a flooded park on the banks of the River Severn in Gloucester on Sunday. Early finishes to leagues in the Midlands and Wales saw riders from afar joining the normal field to produce a fast race with strength in depth. There was however one notable exception. After being taken ill last weekend with breathing problems, and under strict doctors' orders not to race, defending champion and current series leader, Craig Denning (Dream Mechanics/Smith), was forced to watch disconsolately from behind the tape as Scott Chalmers (John's Bikes) produced yet another strong win, to take the Series.

 

Denning, who has won the league four times, and Chalmers, a twenty-one year old, full time cyclist, based in France, have duelled at the top throughout the season, with the league being decided by whoever could win the last race. Chalmers went from the gun, and quickly broke away from a leading group of eight, to solo to the finish, after lapping the whole field, chasing a promised bonus from the organisers. Ed Silverton (Sri Chinmoy RT) put in his strongest performance of the season to come home in second place, despite being dogged by the normal Christmas illnesses which had curtailed his training.

 

The Vets competition was won convincingly by David Collyer (Dream Mechanics/Smith) - pictured right - who raced cyclocross for the first time this season, finishing sixth overall, and having had a break from serious competition for seventeen years following a post viral condition, which prematurely ended his road racing career. Despite suffering from sleep deprivation caused by a new baby, he vows to do some training, lose a stone in weight, and come back with a vengeance next season.

 

Joe Page (Worcester St Johns) won the youth race, and Ashley Hutchinson (Cheltenham and County) won the under twelves race, with a special mention going to the six year old Ned Collyer (Dream Mechanics/Smith) finishing in third, and hoping to give his father a run for his money in the near future.

 

Results

1 Scott Chalmers Johns Bikes 16 laps 55.36
2 Ed Silverton Sri Chinmoy CT @ 1 lap
3 Vince Page M J S Racing
4 Richard Barn Gateway RT
5 Andy Webb Solihull CC
6 Pete Giddings Johns Bikes RT
7 Simon Burgess Somer Valley C C
8 Neil Burridge Cc-cc/ Whyte @ 2 laps
9 Mark Hardie U/A
10 Chas Thurfield Somer Valley C C
11 Dave Collyer Dream Mechanics/Smith
12 Andy Smith Swindon R C @ 3 laps
13 Lyne Lines Gateway RT
14 Donald Gray Cardiff Jif
15 Ian Daws Dream Mechanics/Smith
16 Steve Prous WMCCL
17 Rob Hall Swindon R C
18 Phil Carpenter Tri Team Glos
19 Tony Chapman U/A
20 I Broadley U/A @: 4 laps
21 J Roux U/A
22 Terry Tuckley WMCCL
23 Goardon Smillie U/A
24 J Wood Tri Team Glos
25 Peter Ward Red Kite Solihull @ 5 laps
26 R James Redditch RPCC
27 Richard Hayward U/A
28 Sid Yule Gloucester City CC/ Rudy Project @ 6 laps
1st Vet Vince Page M J S Racing

 

Youth
1 Joe Page Worcester St Johns 6 laps 24.21
2 Jacob James Halesowen ACC @ 38 sec?s
3 Holly Page Worcester St Johns @ 3.11
4 Adam King Maindy Flyers @ 3.35

 

Under 12
1 Ashley Hutchison Cheltenham & County
2 Jordan Sharples Halesowen ACC
3 Ned Collyer Dream Mechanics/Smith
4 Lance Hutchison Cheltenham & County
5 Faye Yule Gloucester City CC/ Rudy Project