Welsh League Round 8

Pembrey Country Park

Sunday 30 Nov 2008

Report: Liz Slater

Images: Alison Wilde

The sandpit, just one of the features of a great course

There were plenty of smiles at the Bynea CC promoted 'Cross by the Sea in Pembrey Country Park thanks to a cracking course, sunshine and NO MUD! There had been a sharp frost; molehills on the course had frozen so hard that they had to be hacked away. But this only served to make the course even faster - to the delight of the road and track riders.

Mid-race and Graham Edwards and Ross Porter are locked in battle (photo - Judith Shakeshaft)

The venue, which hosts other sporting events such as equestrian cross-country and cross-country running, promises to be a very popular one in future but ardent Swansea City supporters David and Kay Seward (organizers) will try to ensure that their team is not playing Cardiff City on the same day again.

Senior race sandpit action

The question being asked before the start of the U12s race was whether track strength would prevail over technical skill on this occasion - would this course, like the one at Brecon earlier in the season, suit Emily Haycox (Maindy Flyers) more than Ffion James (Abergavenny RC). First time along the finish straight it was U12s James, Haycox and Megan Barker (Maindy Flyers) together at the front, with Nathan Llewellyn (Maindy Flyers) slightly adrift behind.

The trio remained intact until a chain problem saw Barker dropped and fighting hard along the finish straight to get back on terms. Coming out of the looped section for the final time they were all together again but then with a long straight ahead of them Haycox pushed hard on her pedals and moved to the front. Using her track strength as in Brecon Haycox held off James and Barker and took her second win of the series; Llewellyn was first U12 Boy.

In the U10s race League leader Nathan Ford (Abergavenny RC) seemed to struggle with the course, unsure which was the best gear to be in, but Towy Rider Jessica Roberts, probably having taken a few tips from older sister Amy, had no such problems and was the clear winner.

The start of the Youth race

The Youth race - riders enjoying the sun

There was an impressive line-up of 31 riders for the Youth race with a large contingent from Towy Riders and a Go4it school group from Haverfordwest, illustrating that cyclo-cross offers the opportunity for riders of all abilities and on any bike to race. At the serious end of the field William Worrall (Towy Riders) lead a quartet of riders that included team-mate Luke Cornish, Sam Anstice (Newport Velo) and Gareth Sheppard (Abergavenny RC) on the first lap. First Cornish and then Sheppard found that he could not stay with Worrall and Anstice and dropped back. Anstice briefly moved to the front when Worrall dropped his chain but after that the gap between the two grew ever wider and Worrall won by a minute.

The Youth race - riders tackle the sand pit

First U16 Girl Amy Roberts (Lifeforce) was again well up amongst the boys in fifth place only two seconds ahead of a fast finishing Liam Lloyd (Towy Riders). U14s Owen James (Towy Riders) and Rebecca Hunt (Newport Velo) maintained their winning records. Further down the field Jack Llewellyn (M & D Cycles) may have lost out to newcomer Dafydd Davies (Ogmore Valley Wheelers) in a sprint for the line but he certainly looked happy to be back racing again after illness.

The start and the big senior race field gets underway

Lee Williams (Abergavenny RC) ploughed a lonely furrow out front in the Senior race while further back pairs and groups of riders chased one another over the flat course with sprint finishes inevitable. With Williams first over the line 1.35 ahead of Andy Baum (Gateway RT), Richard Bowen (Gateway RT) just caught Phil Morris (Dambusters) for third place. Morris later admitted to having been in the wrong gear as he turned first onto the finishing straight.

Having sat behind him for most of the race Ian Jeremiah (Cardiff JIF) took the sprint for first Veteran from visitor Nigel Hay (Pedal Power) a minute later. Ross Porter (Cwmcarn Paragon), back to form after a bad chest, got the better of Joe Lally (CC Abergavenny) and Andy Pearce (Forza Cycles) turned the tables on rival Lynn Lines (Gateway RT). In 10th position Matthew Jones (Cwmcarn Paragon) was first Junior and Claire Bowen (Gateway RT) was first Woman.