2008-09 Cyclo-Cross National Trophy Round 3
Sunday 26th October 2008; Chantry Park, Ipswich
By Larry Hickmott
UPDATED RESULTS AND OVERALL TABLES NOW AVAILABLE: Round 3 Results and Tables.
The stars from cyclo-cross descended on Ipswich (Suffolk) on Sunday for the third round of the National Trophy on a challenging and damp course around the rolling slopes of Chantry Park. The big winners on the day included Paul Oldham in the Elite Mens event and Sue Clarke in the Women's race.
There was a new course for 2008 and that included a set of steep steps for the Elite Men's race.
REPORT
Chantry Park in Ipswich was a wet wet place on Sunday as the best Cyclo-Cross riders from around the country came to the East of the country to do battle for points and prizes in the third round of the British Cycling National Trophy.
With the clocks going back on the day, it gave everyone a lie in and the extra time I had came in useful as I left early and promptly found the A14 blocked between me and the event. With no diversion in place at that time, I took the only road that went vaguely in the direction of the event and with rain falling, I let the dreaded sat nav take me there. Big mistake as the postcode given was obviously not correct as I ended up at the wrong park and learnt never to rely solely on Sat Nav ever again!
Eventually, after much trial and error, I found the place and with well over an hour to go, the wet grass of the park was filling up with riders. After getting waterproofed up, I walked around the course and it was a long one. No-one I asked knew exactly how far the lap was but the riders were taking an age to get round one loop of the testing circuit which included a stylish bridge thanks to building supplies company Jewsons, hurdles as ever, lots of slippery twists and turns and a set of dastardly steps that many agreed in the Elite men field was the hardest part of the course.
So hard, only the men were sent over them as far as I know!
Elite Men (Gallery 5)
Elite Men Podium, Jody Crawforth, Paul Oldham and Ian Field.
The final race of the day and what do you know – it stopped raining! Just as well as one of my lenses had packed up after a soaking all day long and I didn’t want to ruin both cameras and all my lenses in the rain! The line up for the race was as ever really good with all the leading riders in the series present and accounted for.
Whilst the riders could take comfort that the rain had all but gone, they were going to have to do the whole lap and that included the dreaded steps. Not that many, around 8 or 9 at a really rough guess but steep and caked in wet mud! No wonder most of those there to watch started making for the steps after the start.
By the time I got their for their second ascent of the steps, Jody Crawforth was leading and a select group had formed at the front – Jody Crawforth, Paul Oldham, Ian Field, Stuart Wearmouth, Rob Jebb, Dave Collins and Ian Wilkinson. At this point in the race, whilst the riders all had plenty of daylight around them, the favourites for the race were all within around half a minute of the leaders.
Another lap though and a leading of group of three, Oldham, Field and Crawforth, was starting to look like they were going to run away with the race as the gap between them and the rest started to get wider and wider. Even a fall for Oldham and Field failed to stop them going away from the rest and that was the race until the end with all three unable to break the other and get away.
It wasn’t until the final lap that the pressure started to tell and mistakes occurred. Crawforth had a problem getting tape in a wheel and had to pit whilst Field was struggling to breathe after the earlier accident. It meant that Oldham was able to use his mud plugging strength to pull away and win the race from Crawforth by a few seconds with Field a few more behind Crawforth.
After the race, I spoke to the three riders who had dominated the race.
Paul Oldham leads the race ahead of Jody Crawforth and Ian Field at the bell.
Paul Oldham “I wasn’t expecting that – I was expecting it to blow to bits early on. That was a really hard race. Staying up right was hard too. It was a superb course and suited me down to the ground. Ian and Jody were really strong and probably a bit better than me on the corners but there were muddy bits and I got a good line through them and kept getting back on them or opening a gap on them through there. I was able to make it hard for them and stayed away at the end.”
“The steps were massive and it’s just as well I’m a tall lad. The series is going good now. I was expecting to do a bit better at Exeter but I didn’t do as well as I had hoped so I’m really pleased to have won here. I needed that.”
Jody Crawforth (above) “It was a bit slippery out there. I was making a bit of time up through the woods on the technical bit and I was feeling quite confident. I was struggling a bit at the start of the race but as it when on, I felt quite good. The last lap was tight and I made a mistake coming out of the woods. I got caught up in some tape which got wrapped up in my wheel so I had to limp up to the pits and chase back on after that. Paul was gone but I nearly caught him!”
“The course was good, I like it. Its been lashing with rain all day and its still rideable. The most difficult bit were the steps. They don’t look at that big until you’re on them!”
Ian Field: “I felt alright at the start and then Paul crashed and I went straight into the back of him and landed on my chest. It knocked the wind out of me. From then on my ribs really hurt. It took a good few laps before I could breathe again. I kept getting stuck behind Paul through the woods and it meant chasing the rest of the lap to catch up to Jody which was a waste of energy.”
“Then finally on the last lap I did make an effort but there was nothing there. You can’t be on top form for all of them and there are six rounds so I’ll be consistent. This was totally different to all the other rounds and I felt good until the crash.”
Ian Field climbs the nice looking bridge built by Jewsons.
L-R: Ben Roach, Tomas Vernackt and Tim Baldwin
Paul Oldham wins ahead of Jody Crawforth and Ian Field just coming into view.
The leading riders after two laps, Crawforth, Oldham, Field, Wearmouth, Jebb and the rest all with plenty of space between them except the leading the three who dominated the race.
Oldham looks around to see what the other two are doing as they get the bell.
Crawforth leads the trio up the bridge ahead of Oldham and Field.
Good ride by Ben Roach to get second in the Under 23 competition.
Stuart Wearmouth
Rob Jebb
The two Science in Sport/Trek riders Ian Wilkinson and Dave Collins had their own battle out on the course
Elite/Under 23
1. Paul Oldham, Hope Racing
2. Jody Crawforth, Arctic Premier @ 5 secs
3. Ian Field, Hargroves Cycles @ 9 secs
4. Ian Wilkinson, Science in Sport Trek @1.31
5. Dave Collins, Science in Sport Trek 1.57
6. Rob Jebb, Wheelbase @2.24
7. Stuart Wearmouth, Picarsso Pulman
8. Stuart Bowers, Hargroves Cycles
9. Oscar Vazquez, Spain
10. Tomas Vernackt, Asfra Flanders (U23)
Under 23
1. Tomas Vernackt, Asfra Flanders
2. Ben Roach, Wyre Forest
3. Tim Baldwin, Paul Milnes Cycles
Juniors (photos in gallery 3)
A delighted Sam Harrison won the Junior race whilst (left) Oliver Webster's second place netted him the Yellow jersey. Paul Young was third. On the right is third placed Paul Young.
Stars of the future were present on the start line for the Junior race including the winners of the first two rounds, Dan McLay and Oliver Webster. Also there was Sam Harrison returning to racing after a break and a close race was assured with such talented riders taking to the start line.
Getting the best start was DISS rider Luke Newby who led the field around the first bend with the favourites close behind. The first lap completed and it was Dan McLay who was leading by several lengths from Sam Harrison with Oliver Webster and Paul Young together a few seconds behind Harrison. This group was soon joined by David Nichols who was second in round two of the trophy in Devon.
A lap more under their wheels, and McLay was still leading but Young, Harrison, Nichols and Webster were all still in there on his heels as they went over the hurdles. Through the finish, 500 metres further on, McLay and Harrison went down one side of the finish straight whilst Webster went down the other and it was a drag race as they each tried to get an advantage over the other.
Sam Harrison on the attack
Webster was looking stronger at this point and the others moved across the grass to grab his wheel before he opened up a gap. Behind them a few seconds back, Young and Nichols continued to battle on to remain on terms with the leaders. The race was really starting to cook now and another lap and Harrison was really starting to apply the pressure and the gaps behind him were opening up. Webster was a length or two off his back wheel into the hurdles whilst McLay was really giving it everything to stop the gap from opening up.
Out of the hurdles and it was Webster attacking Harrison, McLay chasing them both and Nichols trying to put some distance between himself and Young. There was no let up in the attacking from these leading riders and the pressure soon paid off for Harrison who after another lap, led under the bridge by a handful of seconds from Webster with McLay still in third and chasing hard but making no impression on the leaders.
Sam Harrison lone win
Harrison’s endurance helped him make sure there was no way back for Webster who remained in second until the finish, just under a minute behind the Cwmcarn rider. Behind these two, Paul Young did his teammate Webster a favour by catching a now struggling McLay and riding away from him to take third. This gave Webster the Yellow leader’s jersey for the Junior series. McLay held on to take fourth.
After the race, I spoke to Sam who explained how he had two weeks off a while ago and since then has been doing a lot of base work. “I didn’t even think I’d get anywhere in this race” he told me. “I just did it to get some points for the National Championships but I’m feeling fresh and feeling good after that.”
“Dan did quite a bit early on and me and Oli just sat on him. Then Oli put in a big attack and I rode up to him while Dan drifted back a bit. Coming through the forest, I think Oli made a mistake and I piled the pressure on through the muddy bit and it worked and I stayed away. I think I’ll do all the National Series races from now on and hopefully I’ll be on form for the nationals.”
Start of the Junior event
Luke Newby leads the pack away.
Left: Dan McLay who was very strong in the opening few laps.
Dan McLay, Sam Harrison and Oliver Webster pick their lines down the start/finish straight.
1. Sam Harrison, Cwmcarn Paragon
2. Oliver Webster, JD Cycles
3. Paul Young, JD Cycles
4. Daniel Mclay, Univega.co.uk
5. David Nichols, Glendene CC
6. William Verney, Felt Racing
7. Thomas Lowe, Go Sports Spex
8. Thomas Moses, SSC Cyclesport
9. Luke Newby, Diss
10. Matthew Cook, Mildenhall CC
Women (photos in gallery 4)
Podium after the wins race won by Sue Clark. L-R Ruby Miller, Annie Last, Sue Clarke, Nikki Harris and Louise Day.
Series leader Gabby Day was away and ready to take advantage was Science in Sport rider Sue Clarke who was lying second in the series and another rider all pumped up for the race was junior Ruby Miller, third in the series and looking for her first senior win in a trophy event. As they lined up on the grid, in the centre of the start line was favourite Sue Clarke with Miller right beside her and visitor Nikki Harris also present just behind on the second row.
It was the experienced Isla Rowntree who got her feet on the pedals and the power down first to hit the front after the first 50 metres with both Ruby Miller and Sue Clarke finding themselves being overtaken in the sprint off the line. A lap of the long course later and three riders led the race – Annie Last, Ruby Miller and Nikki Harris. All them favourites for the race in their own right but the big surprise was the gap back to Clarke in fourth place.
Sue Thomas creeping back up on the leaders on lap two as Nikki Harris leads.
The SiS girl was fired up after some shenanigans in the woods and the gap to the leaders was coming down quickly as they crossed the start/finish line for the first time. In double quick time, Sue caught the leaders and went straight through them, coming around a lap later on her own and reversing the situation from a lap before.
The pressure of the chase behind Clarke had seen the group splinter and next to come under the bridge in pursuit of the leader was Annie Last with a small gap to Nikki Harris who in turn was leading Ruby Miller by a few seconds as the rain continued to fall as it had since the day dawned. Clarke by now was into her stride and opening the gap up with every pedal stroke and led Annie Last by almost half a minute with the rest over a minute behind now.
That was pretty much how it stayed until the end as Clark won the race by 37 seconds from Last who in turn was almost a minute ahead of Harris with Miller finishing fourth, 2 minutes plus back. Miller though had won the Junior category prize while Louise Day, 9th in the race, was first veteran.
After the men’s race where Sue had been helping the team in the pits, I finally caught up with the winner and asked her about the race. “It was a bit of a funny start and I didn’t start too bad. I got a little bit caught up with a few riders in the wooded section and lost a bit of time, dropping to about fourth or fifth.”
“The key to this sort of course is not to panic though and I knew I had good form and was strong. The younger girls tend to start really fast and they formed a group at the front and were all looking at each other. I just pulled myself up to them and then sat on the back for a short time before I attacked. After that I rode my own race, and tried to recover where I could and use my technical skills on the slippery corners.”
“It was a great course. I like it when conditions are hard because it’s a challenge of your fitness and technique as well. I opened the curtains this morning and was grinning because it was raining. I rode a North West League last weekend and it was similar to this, quite a slog where you were using your strength rather than pure speed. And that suits me I think. I got a good place in that, 7th overall I think, so I knew I had good form. ”
“Its taken me a little while to get going – September was a bit early for me. I had done a lot of endurance training up until then and just had absolutely zilch speed. Now its about getting some racing under my belt and picking it up as the season goes on and hopefully hitting form when I need to.”
“It was a shame Gabby was not here today because I think we could have had a really good battle today in these different conditions so that was a little disappointing but there were other girls who turned up with a lot of talent – Nikki from Belgium, Annie and Isla is so good with her technique. My goal today was to get the yellow jersey and it worked out well and I got the win. You have to take them when you can.”
“I am going to do all the rounds now. The worst is over as far as the travelling. It is a long way to come for this but you have got to support races like this. There are not so many women doing it and we need to get as many women at races as we can.”
Looking back at her career, Sue explained “I have had a couple of years out and I thought it was game over for me but I started riding again just to get fit. I have though this competitive drive in me and I can’t keep away from competition so I am glad to be back.”
Sue now travels to Spain for a week, hopefully a week of sunshine and will then freshen up for Mallory in three weeks with the long term goal being to have a real good go at the Nationals (Bradford).
Start of the Women's race with the best at getting away being Isla Rowntree (left)
Annie Last leads the group of three after the first lap. Right: Victory for Sue Clarke.
1. Sue Clarke, Science in Sport
2. Annie Last, www.zepnat.com
3. Nikki Harris, wielerteam de sprinters
4. Ruby Millar, Junior
5. Isla Rowntree, Stourbridge cc
6. Marie Stuart, Team Chance
7. Nina Davies, Ogmore Valley Wheelers
8. Rachel Moss, Ford CC
9. Louise Day, Fat Birds CC, (Vet)
10. Anna Buik, Thetford MTB Racing
Veterans 40+ and 50+ Race (Gallery 2 & 6)
Start of the Veterans 40 Plus race.
Second event of the morning was for veterans with two races in the one event -- over 40s and over 50s. It was still raining as the over 40’s were called to the line and fleece tops and rain capes were kept on until the last minute to keep warm before the sprint up the slight drag to the first corner. On the start line for this race were all the leading contenders and because of the strength in-depth in both categories, superb races ensued.
Noel Clough was in the leaders jersey in the over 40’s and winner of round two, Geoff Giddings was looking relaxed and confident. Off the line and coming though on lap one though and it was Giddings all the way. He was alone and had no challengers anywhere near him as he rode a strong pace around the wet and tricky course.
Matthew Denby was next along with Phil Roach and Andrew Shaw not far away. Meanwhile, behind these riders came a charging Chris Young who was passing David Stevens and looking to make ground on the rest of the riders.
Left: Chris Young on the charge. Right. Geoff Giddings coasts across the line.
Behind Chris, in the same group, was another rider who was to steadily make his way through the riders in front on his way to third place, Antony Green. The yellow jersey meanwhile, Noel Clough, came through well down and was not having a good race of it as he tried to defend the lead in the Veteran’s series.
Denby meanwhile was closing in on Giddings as the laps passed by and within a few seconds but Young was getting over closer too at halfway distance and was up to third just ahead of Roach, Green and Andrew Shaw. Giddings though continued on alone out front and the lead behind may have yoyo up and down, but he was yet to be caught.
Another lap and Giddings lead Denby and Young while Green was making his move now as he moved clear and was opening up a slight gap on on his rivals. Clough meanwhile was closing in on the group fighting over the minor places. It was too late for Noel though and as Giddings took the victory on his own, Young on the final lap had over hauled Denby (who punctured we believe) who dropped from second to fourth as he was passed by Green as well.
Young finishes ahead of Green for second.
Behind Green, Clough and Roach sprinted for the line for the points on offer and although Clough dropped points, he certainly rode a strong race to come back from being well down early on to finish 7th.
Afterwards I spoke to Geoff Gidding who explained “It was a very interesting start. I got to a corner near the pits and started to slide and thought it was time to put the pressure on straight away. It was a Good course and very slippery out there. Matt Denby pushed me hard but unfortunately for him I think he punctured going into the woods which gave me more of a lead.”
“The mud was okay out there. It wasn’t really sticky and the bike changes were more to do with the grit where gears were jumping and so on. I had one change as its better safe than sorry around here. I missed the steps though – with these long legs I missed them!”
“It is always good to get a good lead in the series early on. Riding these races is all about being consistent . You can’t have a bad ride especially as we’re all so close together.”
1. Geoff Giddings, Thule, EAS
2. Chris Young, JD Cycles,
3. Antony Green, GA Cycles
4. Mathew Denby, www.zepnat.com
5. Andrew Shaw, Thule EAS
6. Phil Roach, Rugby Velo
7. Noel Clough, Fietsen Tempo
8. Kenny Johnson, Science in Sport
9. David Stevens, Triangle RT
10. Steve Barnes, www.zepnat.com
OVER 50’S
Wright and Hunt battle away from the line with Barry Kipling on the right.
This too was a truly brilliant race with winners of the first two rounds Roy Hunt and Peter Wilkin on the start line along with Ian Wright who was second in the overall standings. Off the line, Wright and Hunt went elbow to elbow to get to the front of the group and establish a good line through the first corner.
The two of them came through the first lap with Wright leading them down the barriers and he and Hunt lead the race for the first few laps. For a long time, Roy Hunt has had this series to himself and only really lost races after illness or injury. At Ipswich, as Wright started to drop away, it looked like more of the same.
Hunt opened up a gap of around 20 seconds and never looked in trouble. The big battle seemed to be between Wright and Malcolm Cross until the final lap when Ian Wright came back at Hunt on his own, applied the pressure in the final section of the bell lap over the hurdles and bridge and rode clear to take a great victory. Hunt held on for second 12 seconds adrift while in third came Malcolm Cross who beat round two winner Peter Wilkin to the line.
Ian Wright was ever so happy afterwards and so he should be after an awesome ride. He was a popular winner and told me after the podium presentation “I just went out to enjoy it and really enjoyed the conditions. Roy got away at the start and we kept him in sight. Malcolm came across to me with two laps to go and then I gave it one last effort. I caught Roy, and that was it, -- it was a good race. I was surprised Roy didn’t have anything left when I caught him. When I did, I thought I’d give it shot and went past him and got a gap and sprinted for the line. The Over 50’s is very strong this year.”
A very pleased Ian Wright wins the 50 plus event after spending most of the race chasing Roy Hunt, he caught him on the final lap, went past and the rider who has dominated this category in previous years had no answer to Wrights pressure on the final part of the lap.
1. Ian Wright, Wyre Forest
2. Roy Hunt, Colnago Ergon
3. Malcolm Cross, Hargroves Cycles
Photos: (for more, see Gallery 2 at the top of the page)
Left: Rain capes the order of the day on the start line. Right. Geoff Giddings putting the power day to stay clear of challenger Denby.
Not a good day for yellow jerseyed Noel Clough.
Malcolm Cross leads Ian Wright in the final few laps.
Denby holds on for fourth place ahead of the battle for fifth.
Wright catches Hunt under the bridge on the final lap.
And after the hurdles and before the bridge climb, he has a big gap.
Wright is all smiles afterwards.
Celebrating on the podium
But Hunt retains the Green jersey!
Youth Race
Start of the Youth race won by Max Sykes.
First event on the schedule was the Youth race with yellow jersey Max Skyes on the line along with his closest rival Joshua Papworth. These two riders were winners of the opening two rounds respectively. In the Under 14’s, series leader Harry Franklin too was present having made the journey up from London whilst his closest rival Billy Harding too had travelled all the way down from Bradford, home to the National Championships next year.
The leader of the girls series, Lucy Garner, was present too and as the rain fell lightly but consistently, the riders were called to the line and after being set free from the grid the riders from the London Cyclo-Cross Assoc lead the way up the ever so slight but slippery incline to the first corner. Under the Jewsons Bridge the first time, the son of cycle shop owner Dave Mellor, Luke Grivell-Mellor, led the way as a select group had formed at the front of the race.
Luke Grivell-Mellor leads the way early on in the race.
In the other categories, Green jersey Franklin was riding well as was Lucy Garner with the two of them close together on the course. As I moved round the course to find suitable places to get pictures, the field started to stretch out and riders were spread all around the park on what was a tough and grippy course.
At the front of the race though, the leading group had around five riders in it and Grivell-Mellor was still leading with winner of round two Papworth there as was yellow jerseyed Sykes. In the girls race, Garner was being lead by one of Isla Rowntree’s girls, Hannah Payton who was to hold that lead until the end in a brilliant ride by the youngster.
Next time round, and Grivell-Mellor was no longer leading and had started to drop back while Papworth, Sykes and Alistair Slater lead the race by a few seconds from the next set of riders chasing to get back to the front lead by Alec Briggs. The riders were by now hardly recognisable with their faces covered in mud and their numbers too.
There was no mistaking the three leaders though and as they entered the finale of the last lap, Sykes lead from Papworth and Slater with nothing separating them as they headed to the final bend which came only 100 metres from the line if that. It was to prove the undoing of Papworth who fell leaving Sykes unchallenged in the final metres to take the victory and open a small gap in the overall on Papworth. Slater was second and Papworth got back on his bike to finish third, desperately disappointed to lose the race in the final metres.
Max Sykes -- happy or what!
Afterwards, the winner Sykes explained “It was a mega hard race as every time one of them went to the front, they’d attack. Then we’d all sit up and look at each other and then it would be mega hard again. There was no-where that anyone was going to get away though. Me and Joshua were watching each other and we weren’t going to let the other get away and we were both aware of Alistair as well and we didn’t want him to get away either.”
“I knew then it was going to come down to a sprint. I went first into the last slippery corner and pushed hard out of it and everybody else pushed and just spun and Joshua came off. I am quite glad I got it though as my hold on the jersey was a bit touch and go and if Josh had won, I’d have lost it. There is hardly anything between us and every time we’re trying to catch each other out and in the end its going to come down to luck.”
Photo Gallery: First gallery of the day is the one of the Youth race (gallery 1 button at the top of the page.) Note: Due to British Cycling's policy of not publishing podiums for Under 16 riders, parents wishing to have copies of these need to contact us (larryhickmott@britishcycling.org.uk). We will need your membership number.
Alistair Slater looks round to see what Papworth and Sykes are doing as the bell rings out.
Winner of the girls race, Hannah Payton.. Right. Winner of the Under 14's, Harry Franklin
Not a good day for series leader Lucy Garner. She lead at the start but soon dropped back and out of the race.
Not a good day for Joshu Papworth. In the mix all race and then a fall at the final bend denies him the chance to challenge for the win and the lead of the series.
Youth
1. Max Sykes, VC Deal
2. Alistair Slater, Bourne Wh
3. Joshua Papworth, Wyre Forest
4. Alec Briggs, Arctic Premier
5. Luke Grivell-Mellor, Mid Shropshire Wh
6. Hugo Humphrieys, Lee Valley Youth CC
7. Sam Lowe, Go Spex Sports
8. Hugo Robinson, Ipswich BC
9. Patrick Scarboro, Citihub
10. Taylor Johnstone, Team de Ver
Girls
1. Hanna Payton, Stourbridge CC
2. Bethany Cumpton, Halesowen
3. Amy Roberts, Lifeforce
UPDATED RESULTS AND OVERALL TABLES NOW AVAILABLE: Round 3 Results and Tables.
RELATED LINKS
Preview for Ipswich National Trophy
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Ipswich National Trophy Report and Photographs