Welsh Cyclo-Cross League Round 5
Pentwyn Leisure Centre, Cardiff
9 November 2008
Report: Liz Slater
Images: Alison Wilde
The Cardiff JIF club has been searching long and hard for a replacement venue after losing the popular Leckwith Stadium course under the new Cardiff FC stadium and on Sunday they hosted their first event, the Calf-Burner 'Cross, at Pentwyn Leisure Centre. After heavy rain during the night the ground was not at its best and riders were certain to find their calves aching on some unrideable climbs and their handling skills really tested on the slippery bends.
The senior race starts at the attractive Pentwyn venue
Many of the U12s had had last Sunday off while the older riders were in Leicestershire for the Inter-Area and were raring to resume rivalries, especially as a heavy shower began to chill them. However, things soon hotted up once racing began on what was the remnant of an old BMX circuit.
From the start it was Abergavenny RC's Ffion James ahead of the Maindy Flyers train. Only Emily Haycox could stay with James as Megan Barker battled to keep ahead of Amy Hinchly and Nathan LLewellyn, Jack Broadley dropped off the pace and Harry Lock took a tumble. Yet again James's pedalling looked deceptively effortless as she pulled away from Haycox to win the race and lap her team-mates Ben and Joe Beckingsale. It was a battle between the two Nathans in the boys' races as Llewellyn (U12) just managed to fend off Ford (U10) who had started 20 seconds behind. Jessica Roberts (Towy Riders) took her second win in the U10 girls.
The Youths line up for their race
After mixed fortunes at the Inter-Area the outcome of the Youth race was going to be difficult to predict. How would Luke Cornish (Towy Riders) fare in the slippery conditions and would Jack Llewellyn (M & D Cycles) be back on form on the tricky course? Gareth Sheppard (Abergavenny RC) took an early lead ahead of Cornish and Llewellyn but it was Sam Anstice (Newport Velo), in second place, who then took to the front.
Slogging uphill in the Youth race
Llewellyn briefly moved into the top three ahead of the battling U14 duo of Owen James (Towy Riders) and Adam King (Maindy Flyers) but soon fell back again behind Cornish. As the gap to Anstice widened, Sheppard was being chased down by the two U14s; he just managed to hold off a fast-finishing Owen James (first U14 boy) for second place. But Anstice was the convincing winner for the first time, taking him to the top of the Youth League table. It was a good day for Newport Velo as Rebecca Hunt maintained her unbeaten record in the U14 girls.
Ruby Miller looked on for a win, but it wasn't to be!
There was another excellent turn-out for the main race with several new faces in evidence. The series is being well-supported this season and a number of riders have taken out BC membership, so qualifying for points. The first two laps saw Luke Moseley (Climb on Bikes) out in front with Andrew Baum (Gateway RT), Julian Winn (Pinarello RT), Joe Lally (CC Abergavenny) and Junior Sam Harrison (Cwmcarn Paragon) in close attendance. However, by the third lap Moseley had gained the upper hand, demonstrating his excellent bike-handling skills on the descent to the finish line, and had opened up a sizeable gap on Winn.
Senior winner Luke Moseley
As the mud took its toll Moseley continued to look comfortable even slowing, as he crossed the finish line for the penultimate time, to remove his caked gloves. With his wife Paula leading the Women's race after Ruby Miller fell, it was to be a Moseley double. Winn finished second with Baum third. Harrison was fourth and first Junior and Lally had an excellent race to finish fifth. Graham Edwards (Abergavenny RC) was first Veteran.
More slogging uphill - it was a tough event!
Round 6 will be at Parc Bryn Bach near Tredegar (NP22 3AY). The course is not the one that has been used on previous occasions, but starts near the Visitor Centre and incorporates sections of the recreational trail.