Newall Pips Dunford At Basingstoke

Wessex League Round 7 , Organised by Pedal On /North Hants RC
War Memorial Park Basingstoke, 16 Nov 2008
Report & Images: Graham Robins www.grahamrobins.net

A late change of venue was always going to cause the organisers a headache, but with the cooperation of the local council an alternative venue was found for the seventh round of the Wessex Cyclo-Cross League.

The course on parkland, skirted an active football pitch and headed towards the technical wooded area. The course designer used the available land to zig zag across the park and even managed to include a vicious climb up an embankment before heading back towards the flat. The inclusion of planks meant the riders had to dismount twice, the second time within view of the finish line. The course was wet but firm and could be ridden quite fast. There was to be a sting in the tail when it rained with about two laps to go.

The Under-12 race starts

Youth Race: The youth race was won by Rob Yeatman (Oxonian Cc) from last week's winner Charlie White (DHC). Both Rob and Charlie pulled out a commanding lead from the rest of the field and settled into a rhythm together. The lead changed hand several times throughout the race but the gap between them never went above a handful of seconds. At the bell Rob made his move and Charlie could not keep with him. Both riders finished well clear of third.

Action from the head of the Youth race

After the race, Rob Yeatman said: "That was a hard race from the go, Charlie (second) tried to pull out on me on the bank when I made to get off half way up. I managed to pull out a gap on the last lap in the wooded section".

Charlie White spoke about his race too: "I had a quick start; the course was not as soft as I thought it would be. I didn't have enough energy to get round the last little bit and just lost it."

Tim Dunford, right, and Jamie Newall lead away from the start of the senior race

Senior Race: The senior race got underway in dry conditions but a short shower towards the end made some of the course very slippery especially between the planks with crossed a tarmac footpath.

Eighty riders came to the start line including Jamie Newall, deciding to ride a Wessex round instead of his SE league race due to travel distance. A very quick run out soon spread the field out. Those who had a clean line managed to climb the bank but some were 'bulked' and had to 'crawl' up.

Father and daughter Andre and Lauren Barber sharing from family time together

By the end of the first lap Jamie and Tim Dunford had pulled well clear. Like the youth race earlier these two then stayed clear the whole race swapping places several times per lap. One would attack and the other would counter. The rest of the field seemed to be enjoying themselves in what turned out to be a different race to the leaders.

After the bell for the last lap Jamie and Tim set about their own tactics. Once over the planks Jamie pulled out a little gap and managed to edge away on the last bend and even managed to salute his victory.

Winner Jamie Newall crosses the line, with runner up Tim Dunford in red behind

At the end, Jamie Newell described how his race went: "I decided to ride a Wessex round today as the London league was too far to go to. It looked like a very good course and Nick Onslow did a very good job of designing the course, it was certainly fun. A nice fast start, quickly Tim and I got on the front and gave it full gas. No real mechanicals and the course held up really well. We both had a little testing time, attacking each other, we couldn't break each other. When it came down to the last lap Tim attacked me into a couple of corners. We were overtaking a couple of back markers and he made a little mistake, I got over the boards and rolled over the line. It was close, level pegging most of the race. That's three races and three wins so hopefully looking good for the south east Championships in a couple of week's time."