Richard Robotham's images
Jacob James' images
West Midlands Cyclocross League round 7
9th November 2008, Sander Park, Bromsgrove
Organised by Halesowen A & CC
Report: Geoff Dingley - Images: Richard Robotham
Additional Images: Jacob James
With very poor weather conditions promised and on top of overnight rain the West Midlands Cyclocross League Round 7 came to Sanders Park, Bromsgrove on Sunday 9th November. Speeds Cycles Bromsgrove supported the event which was organised by Halesowen A & CC. A fast and technical course was laid out, which would test the strength and ability of all the riders.
It was great to see 282 riders sign on across the 5 categories. 66 riders signed on for the Under 10s race and they opened the day with the ground still very wet from overnight rain. Lewis Askey (Lichfield CC) showed his strength in the difficult conditions to win from Luke Turnbull (Stratford CC) 2nd and Josef Feiven (Halesowen A & CC)3rd. 
Off you go! Under-10 start above, under-12 below
The Under 12 riders rode a shortened adult course which included the two difficult technical sections. After the Under 10 race the course was beginning to get soft and with the demanding technical sections included the riders were soon strung out over the whole course. Cameron Biddle (Halesowen A & CC) won from Charlotte Broughton (Leicester RC) and Alexander Mitchell (Solihull CC)
The Youth race streams down the start straight
The Youth riders found the conditions were beginning to dry. This sounds good until you realise that this makes the mud stick to the bikes and many riders found their wheels jammed solid with leaves and mud. Some riders benefited from being able to borrow bikes from friends, parents or club mates. Luke Grevill-Mellor (Mid Shropshire Wheelers) rode away from the chasing riders to take a convincing win, from Joe Page (Worcester St Johns)2nd and Nicholas Greaves (Mammoth Lifestyle RT)3rd. 
The sun comes out for the start of the Junior, Women & Veterans' race
Before the 99 riders of the Veterans, Juniors and Ladies race started there was a frenzy of bike cleaning and adjustment of bikes that were going to used as replacements during the race. The charge from the start line along the full length of the park was a great spectacle and strung the riders out. However, the first narrow section of the course still became very congested and a number of riders fell in the confusion.
Tom Lowe claims the Junior race win
The cambered corners of the technical sections provided great entertainment for riders and spectators with many falls and mistakes. Tom Lowe (Go-Sports Spex) a Junior won overall with a very competent ride. Keth Sperry (Welland Valley CC) 45+ Vet was 2nd and Nigel Hay 40+ Vet 3rd. Leading lady was Jasmine Adams (Wyre Forest CRC)
The mud is getting worse as the seniors begin their race
The weather had been kind to this point, however as the last few finished the Veterans, Ladies, Juniors race the rain began to fall. During the 30 minute break to the Senior race the course turned from improving to wet and slippy. Ahead of the Seniors, was a race over a course that would only get more and more difficult.
The consistent Dan Booth claims the win
Well up in the leading group at the start of the race were the Wyre Forest CRC team who had 5 riders in the top ten by the end of the race. Dan Booth (Cyclingbargains) soon took control at the head of the race and when we had a hailstorm (hailstones 8mm across) he took it all in his stride stretching his lead with a polished performance in extreme conditions. Ben Roach (Wyre Forest CRC) was 2nd overall and first Under 23, with team mate Tom Payton not far behind.
Our thanks go to Bromsgrove District Council their support, allowing use of the park.
Results
Senior
1 Dan Booth Cyclingbargins Sen M
2 Ben Roach Wyre Forest CRC Sen U23 M
3 Tom Payton Stourbridge CC Sen U23 M
4 Phil Blacker Wyre Forest CRC Sen 30+ M
5 Philip Roach Rugby Velo Sen Vet M
6 Colin Miller Cov, RC/ridecov.co.uk Sen M
7 Paul Prince Wyre Forest CRC Sen 30+ M
8 Elliot Dinsdale Wyre Forest CRC Sen M
9 Robert W Burns Wolv.Whrs/Fred Williams Sen U23 M
10 Andy Plews RNRMCA Sen 30+ M
11 Mark Leyland Wyre Forest CRC Sen 30+ M
12 Sen M
13 Dan Bill Stratford CC Sen U23 M
14 Daniel Goode None Sen 30+ M
15 Ross Dingley MJS Racing Sen U23 M
16 Jason Hawins Cov, RC/ridecov.co.uk Sen 30+ M
17 Jeremey Hicks Rugby Velo Sen U23 M @ 1Lap
18 Gary Howard WMCCL Sen 30+ M @ 1Lap
19 Jon Bowie None Sen M @ 1Lap
20 Jack Hibberd Sandwell Cycle SC Sen 30+ M @ 1Lap
21 Gary Hipwell Rugby Velo Sen Vet M @ 1Lap
22 Matthew Smart Cov, RC/ridecov.co.uk Sen M @ 1Lap
23 Thomas Hibberd MJS Racing Sen U23 M @ 1Lap
24 Mark Stedwell Mammoth Lifestyle Rt Sen M @ 1Lap
25 Salim Abuteir Wyre Forest CRC Sen 30+ M @ 1Lap
26 Simon Lees Stone Wheelers CC Sen M @ 1Lap
27 Oliver Claydon Halesowen A & CC Sen U23 M @ 1Lap
28 Richard Fairholme Retrobike.co.uk Sen M @ 1Lap
29 John Murphy Go-Sport Spex Rt Sen U23 M @ 1Lap
30 Julian Ronald Rugby Velo Sen 30+ M @ 1Lap
31 Matt Lambeth Sen M @ 1Lap
32 Sen M @ 2Lap
33 Simon Caswell Worcester Cycle Centre Sen M @ 2Lap
34 Dave Preece Worcester Cycle Centre Sen M @ 2Lap
35 Ed Jennings Halesowen A & CC Sen 30+ M @ 2Lap
36 R Cordei Sen M @ 2Lap
37 Gary Crump Team Midland Racing Sen Vet M @ 2Lap
38 Andrew Lloydlangston Birmingham CC Sen 30+ M @ 2Lap
39 Constantin Murray Redditch R & P Sen U23 M @ 2Lap
40 John Potts Redditch R & P Sen 30+ M @ 2Lap
41 Norman Buckley Sen 30+ M @ 3Lap
42 Mick Arms Sen M @ 3Lap
43 Ian Nutter Redditch R & P Sen Vet M DNF
Vets, Juniors & Women
1 Tom Lowe Go-Sports Spex Jun M
2 Keith Sperry Welland Valley CC Vet 45+ M
3 Nigel Hay Pedel Power Vet M
4 Duncan McNutt Team Midland Racing Vet M
5 Steve Whitehouse Lichfield City CC Vet M
6 Lorenzo Buratti Wyre Forest CRC Vet M
7 Andy Jones Wolv.Whrs/Fred Williams Vet 55+ M
8 Mark Garrett Cov, RC/ridecov.co.uk Vet M
9 Paul Millington Heanor Clarion Vet M
10 Tom Wieckonski Halesowen A & CC Jun M
11 Dave Garrett Rugby Velo Vet 45+ M
12 Robert L Burns Wolv.Whrs/Fred Williams Vet 45+ M
13 Kevin Payton Stourbridge CC Vet M
14 Andy Webb Kenilworth Whs Vet 45+ M
15 Shaun Hammond Wolv.Whrs/Fred Williams Vet 45+ M
16 Tim Stow MI.Racing-Eas/Thule Vet 50+ M
17 Alastair Grant Halesowen A & CC Vet 50+ M @ 1Lap
18 Peter Bromwich WMCCL Vet 45+ M @ 1Lap
19 Michael Davies Lichfield City CC Vet 45+ M @ 1Lap
20 Nick Bosworth Kenilworth Whs Vet M @ 1Lap
21 Roger Allen Stourbridge CC Vet 45+ M @ 1Lap
22 Ewen McDonald Halesowen A & CC Jun M @ 1Lap
23 Mark Farrar Cov, RC/ridecov.co.uk Vet M @ 1Lap
24 Peter Mooney Rugby Velo Vet 60+ M @ 1Lap
25 Dave Miller Cov, RC/ridecov.co.uk Vet 60+ M @ 1Lap
26 Jim Childs Wolv.Whrs/Fred Williams Vet M @ 1Lap
27 Martin Hackley MI.Racing-Eas/Thule Vet 55+ M @ 1Lap
28 Jasmine Adams Wyre Forest CRC Lady F @ 1Lap
29 Lee Edmonds Rugby Velo Vet M @ 1Lap
30 Ed Gill Wolv.Wrs/Fred Williams Jun M @ 1Lap
31 David Watts BRAT Club Vet M @ 1Lap
32 Kevin Bodley WMCCL Vet 45+ M @ 1Lap
33 Mark Humphreys Rugby Velo Vet M @ 1Lap
34 Geoff Dingley Halesowen A & CC Vet 50+ M @ 1Lap
35 Simon Bills GS Strsds/Afford Vet M @ 1Lap
36 Craig Sketchley WMCCL Vet M @ 1Lap
37 Dave Mellor Mid Shropshire Whs Vet 45+ M @ 1Lap
38 Paul Askey Lichfield City CC Vet M @ 1Lap
39 Gary Bolton Wolv.Whrs/Fred Williams Vet M @ 1Lap
40 John Rice Beacon RCC Vet 45+ M @ 1Lap
41 John Hughes Cov, RC/ridecov.co.uk Vet 55+ M @ 1Lap
42 Elizabeth Clayton Lichfield City CC Lady Vet F @ 1Lap
43 Alex Cogswell Halesowen A & CC Jun M @ 1Lap
44 John Taylor Wolv.Whrs/Fred Williams Vet 50+ M @ 1Lap
45 Ben Goddard Newport Shropshire CC Jun M @ 1Lap
46 Peter Carman Mammoth Lifestyle Rt Vet 50+ M @ 1Lap
47 Martin Tinsley Wyre Forest CRC Vet 45+ M @ 1Lap
48 Michael Carter Walsall R.CC Vet 45+ M @ 1Lap
49 Adrian Ravenscroft Birmingham CC Vet M @ 1Lap
50 Graham Clements MI.Racing-Eas/Thule Vet 60+ M @ 1Lap
51 Lauren Creamer Wolv.Whrs/Fred Williams Lady Jun F @ 1Lap
52 Gale Taylor Wolv.Whrs/Fred Williams Lady F @ 1Lap
53 Richard Tyler Cov, RC/ridecov.co.uk Vet 50+ M @ 1Lap
54 Neil Lawford Lichfield City CC Vet 55+ M @ 1Lap
55 Tim Gordon Solihull CC Vet M @ 1Lap
56 Alex Toso Halesowen A & CC Vet 45+ M @ 1Lap
57 David Stringfellow Leamington C & Ac Vet 45+ M @ 1Lap
58 Philip Evans Cov, RC/ridecov.co.uk Vet 50+ M @ 1Lap
59 Douglas Clements Solihull CC Vet M @ 1Lap
60 Neil Armitage Cheltenham CC Vet M @ 1Lap
61 Adrian Lord Halesowen A & CC Vet M @ 1Lap
62 Mike Cooper Wyre Forest CRC Vet 55+ M @ 1Lap
63 Dave Walker Elizabethan CC Vet 45+ M @ 1Lap
64 Nick Francks Halesowen A & CC Vet M @ 1Lap
65 Ian Morris Wolv.Whrs/Fred Williams Vet M @ 2Lap
66 Paul Salkeld Redditch R & P Vet M @ 2Lap
67 David Simons Wolv.Whrs/Fred Williams Vet M @ 2Lap
68 John Claydon Halesowen A&Cc Vet 55+ M @ 2Lap
69 Terry Tuckley WMCCL Vet 55+ M @ 2Lap
70 Rob Gill Wolv.Whrs/Fred Williams Vet 45+ M @ 2Lap
71 Nerys Rolinson Halesowen A & CC Lady Vet F @ 2Lap
72 Ian Billington Bromsgrove Oly CC Vet 55+ M @ 2Lap
73 Darren Stokes Redditch R & P Vet M @ 2Lap
74 Mark Lewis Wolv.Whrs/Fred Williams Vet M @ 2Lap
75 Adrian Killworth Welland Valley CC Vet M @ 2Lap
76 Tony Horton Worcester Cycle Centre Vet M @ 2Lap
77 Tim Ward WMCCL Vet M @ 2Lap
78 Nick Barnett Rugby Velo Vet 45+ M @ 2Lap
79 Ian Forrester Kenilworth Whs Vet 55+ M @ 2Lap
80 Tony Crossland Redditch R & P Vet M @ 2Lap
81 Bob Franks Redditch R & P Vet 60+ M @ 2Lap
82 Bruce Jones Halesowen A & CC Vet 45+ M @ 2Lap
83 Peter Ovaite Royal Sutton CC Vet M @ 2Lap
84 Julian Perry None Vet 45+ M @ 2Lap
85 David Langston Halesowen A & CC Vet 45+ M @ 2Lap
86 Carolyn Rowntree Stourbridge CC Lady Vet F @ 2Lap
87 Nicola Plews RNRMCA Lady F @ 2Lap
88 Allen Doub ? Elizabethan CC Vet 50+ M @ 2Lap
89 Caryl Gibson Halesowen A & CC Lady Vet F @ 2Lap
90 Mick Gray Wyre Forest CRC Vet M @ 2Lap
91 Gordon Richards Halesowen A & CC Vet 50+ M @ 2Lap
92 Michelle Askey Lichfield City CC Lady F @ 2Lap
93 Gary Davis Redditch R & P Vet 45+ M @ 2Lap
94 Rob Cull Redditch R & P Vet 55+ M @ 2Lap
95 Debbie Salkeld Redditch R & P Lady Vet F @ 3Lap
96 Alan James Redditch R & P Vet 45+ M @ 3Lap
97 Tony Summerfield Elizabethan CC Vet 70+ M DNF
98 Martin Stephens Mid Shropshire Whs Vet 50+ M DNF
99 Harry Whitford Halesowen A & CC Jun M DNF
Youth
1 Luke Grivell-Mellor Mid Shropshire Whs Yth M
2 Joe Page Worcester St John's CC Yth M
3 Nicholas Greaves Mammoth Lifestyle Rt Yth M
4 Sam Broughton Leicestershire RC Yth M
5 Joseph Fox Solihull CC Yth M
6 Jacob James Halesowen A&CC Yth M
7 James Newey Lichfield City CC Yth M
8 Christopher Brookes Wolv.Whrs/Fred Williams u14 M
9 Chris Wilkinson North Shrop Whrs Yth M
10 Adam Lewis Wolv.Whrs/Fred Williams u14 M
11 Thomas Childs Wolv.Whrs/Fred Williams u14 M
12 Joe Bloxsome Redditch R & P Yth M
13 Jack Ravenscroft Halesowen A & CC u14 M
14 James Plant Wyre Forest CRC u14 M
15 Amedeo Toso Halesowen A & CC u14 M
16 Jacob Kelly Lichfield City CC u14 M
17 Alex Webb Mid Shropshire Whs Yth M
18 Jason Dingley Halesowen A & CC Yth M
19 Danny Fox Solihull CC u14 M
20 Matt Jones Halesowen A & CC Yth M @ 1Lap
21 Callum Ferguson Halesowen A & CC u14 M @ 1Lap
22 Sam Franks Halesowen A & CC u14 M @ 1Lap
23 Holly Page Worcester St John's CC u14 F @ 1Lap
24 Madeleine Rolinson-Lord Halesowen A & CC u14 F @ 1Lap
25 Oliver Pike Lichfield City CC u14 M @ 1Lap
26 Dominic Toner Welland Valley CC u14 M @ 1Lap
27 Joe Webb Mid Shropshire Whs u14 M @ 1Lap
28 Emily Nelson Lichfield City CC u14 F @ 1Lap
29 Missing u14 M @ 1Lap
30 Alex Gordon Solihull CC u14 M @ 1Lap
31 Alex Potts Redditch R & P Yth M @ 1Lap
32 Michael Dean Redditch R & P Yth M @ 1Lap
33 Addrew Charuk Halesowen A & CC u14 M @ 1Lap
34 Ted Bate Halesowen A & CC Yth M @ 1Lap
35 Alex Watton Halesowen A & CC u14 M @ 1Lap
36 Harry Watson Midland C & AC Yth M @ 1Lap
37 Rossie Crumpton Halesowen A & CC u14 F @ 1Lap
38 Sophie Faulkner Solihull CC u14 F @ 1Lap
39 Tim Metcalfe Wolv.Whrs/Fred Williams u14 M @ 1Lap
40 Zac Walls None u14 M @ 1Lap
41 William Davies Lichfield City CC u14 M @ 1Lap
42 Steve Brown Redditch R & P Yth M @ 1Lap
43 Rebecca Keogh Solihull CC Yth F @ 2Lap
Under-10
1 Lewis Askey Lichfield City CC u8 M
2 Luke Turnbull Stratford CC u10 M
3 Josef Feiven Halesowen A&CC u10 M
4 Elliott Randall Halesowen A & CC u10 M
5 Matthew Lewis Wolv.Whrs/Fred Williams u10 8 yrs M
6 Matthew Shaw Solihull CC u10 8 yrs M
7 George Cann Halesowen A & CC u10 M
8 Ben Healy Halesowen A & CC u10 8 yrs M
9 Hartey Taylor Wolv.Whrs/Fred Williams u10 M
10 William Pederson Wyre Forest CRC u10 8 yrs M
11 Tom Biddle Halesowen A & CC u10 8 yrs M
12 Sam Morris Wolv.Whrs/Fred Williams u10 M
13 Lucy Nelson Lichfield City CC u10 8 yrs F
14 James Alexander Solihull CC u10 8 yrs M
15 Jonathan Faulkner Solihull CC u10 M
16 Oliver Evans Stratford CC u10 M
17 Fraser Salkeld Redditch R & P u10 8 yrs M
18 Eugenio Toso Halesowen A & CC u10 M
19 Xavier Sullivan-Touye Halesowen A&Cc u10 M
20 William Mitchell Solihull CC u10 M
21 Tian Franklin Solihull CC u10 M
22 Sebastian Bacon Wolv.Whrs/Fred Williams u10 8 yrs M
23 Amy Crumpton Halesowen A & CC u10 F
24 Connor Fox Solihull CC u10 M
25 Harry Bloxsome Redditch R & P u10 8 yrs M
26 Max Stokes Redditch R & P u8 M
27 Georgia Hilleard Wolv.Whrs/Fred Williams u10 F
28 Jake Phipps Halesowen A&CC u10 8 yrs M
29 Jame Graham Solihull CC u10 M
30 Andrew Wheatley Halesowen A & CC u8 M
31 Rebecca Simonds Wolv.Whrs/Fred Williams u10 8 yrs F
32 Samuel Jones Wolv.Whrs/Fred Williams u10 8 yrs M
33 Zoe Millington WMCCL u10 F
34 Abi Stokes Redditch R & P u10 F
35 Jenny Kendall Halesowen A & CC u10 8 yrs F
36 Ben Palmer Sportstest.co.uk u10 8 yrs M
37 Stewart Crossland Redditch R & P u10 8 yrs M
38 James Ralph Redditch R & P u8 M
39 Ruben Ledger Stratford CC u10 8 yrs M
40 James Pederson Wyre Forest CRC u8 6 yrs M
41 Rebecca Adams None u8 F
42 Connor Smith Lichfield City CC u8 5 yrs M
43 Lorna Sharples Halesowen A & CC u8 F @ 1Lap
44 Larish Smith Wyre Forest CRC u10 F @ 1Lap
45 Georgia Toner Welland Valley CC u10 F @ 1Lap
46 Emelia Reynolds Halesowen A & CC u8 F @ 1Lap
47 Helen Davis Redditch R & P u10 F @ 1Lap
48 Daniel Cooper Lichfield City CC u8 M @ 1Lap
49 Rory Plewis None u10 8 yrs M @ 1Lap
50 Alex Millington WMCCL u8 6 yrs M @ 1Lap
51 Josie Nelson Lichfield City CC u8 6 yrs F @ 1Lap
52 Lucie Mortill Halesowen A & CC u10 8 yrs F @ 1Lap
53 Nicholas Evans Stratford CC u8 6 yrs M @ 1Lap
54 Henry Lloydlangston Birmingham CC u8 M @ 1Lap
55 Daniel Morris Wolv.Whrs/Fred Williams u8 M @ 1Lap
56 Darcie Taylor Wolv.Whrs/Fred Williams u8 6 yrs F @ 1Lap
57 Ben Askey Lichfield City CC u8 4 yrs M @ 1Lap
58 Eleanor Ledger Stratford CC u8 6 yrs F @ 1Lap
59 Georgia Davis Redditch R & P u8 6 yrs F @ 1Lap
60 Max Preston Halesowen A & CC u8 5 yrs M @ 1Lap
61 Joe Bolton Wolv.Whrs/Fred Williams u10 M @ 1Lap
62 Eve Bellamy Stratford CC u10 F @ 1Lap
63 Alice Grennan Halesowen A & CC u8 6 yrs F @ 1Lap
64 Cerys Feiven Halesowen A&CC u8 F @ 1Lap
65 Tyler Richardson Eston Int u10 5 yrs M @ 1Lap
66 Oliver Cotter West Midlands Police u8 5 yrs M @ 1Lap
Under-12
1 Cameron Biddle Halesowen A & CC u12 10 yrs M
2 Charlotte Broughton Leicestershire RC u12 10 yrs F
3 Alexander Mitchell Solihull CC u12 M
4 Grace Garner Leicestershire RC u12 F
5 Natalie Clements Solihull CC u12 F
6 Jade Mobbs Welland Valley CC u12 10 yrs F
7 Ewan Grivell-Mellor Mid Shropshire Whs u12 10 yrs M
8 Thomas Lane Stratford CC u12 M
9 Steven Humphreys Rugby Velo u12 M
10 Ria Mobbs Welland Valley CC u12 10 yrs F
11 Sophie Capewell Lichfield City CC u12 10 yrs F
12 Ethan Davies Halesowen A & CC u12 10 yrs M
13 Ben Sherman Solihull CC u12 M
14 Daniel Chadwick Cov, RC/ridecov.co.uk u12 10 yrs M
15 Rebekeh Rolinson-Lord Halesowen A & CC u12 10 yrs F
16 Louis Killworth Welland Valley CC u12 10 yrs M
17 Joe Deakin Halesowen A & CC u12 10 yrs M
18 Marcus Hamer Wyre Forest CRC u12 M
19 Jordan Sharples Halesowen A & CC u12 10 yrs F
20 Bethany Palmer Sportstest.co.uk u12 10 yrs F
21 Morgan Smith Solihull CC u12 10 yrs M @ 1Lap
22 Eve Grennan Halesowen A & CC u12 10 yrs F @ 1Lap
23 Dominic Kilmister * Stratford CC u12 M @ 1Lap
24 Emily Capewell Lichfield City CC u12 F @ 1Lap
25 Chloe Ralph Redditch R & P u12 10 yrs F @ 1Lap
26 Chloe Potts Redditch R & P u12 F @ 1Lap
27 Olivia Salkeld Redditch R & P u12 10 yrs F @ 1Lap
28 Jordan Alms None u12 F @ 1Lap
29 Jessica Clark Lichfield City CC u12 10 yrs M @ 1Lap
30 Sarah Currid Redditch R & P u12 10 yrs F @ 1Lap
31 Thomas Milward Stratford CC u12 10 yrs M DNF