Joolze Dymond's images
Andy May's images
Yorkshire Points Series Finale
Wakefield Tri/Thornes Park Cross
Sunday 21 Dec 2008
Images: Joolze Dymond & Andy May
Rob Jebb looks in good form as the nationals get closer
The Yorkshire Cyclo-Cross Points series wound up with a final day of close battles over a tricky course at Thornes Park in Wakefield. With plenty of recent rain in the ground, the parkland course was soon cutting up and, for the leading contenders at least, bike changes every couple of laps were the order of the day. 
The Youth race enters the first corner
First race of the day was the Youths and it was a cracker. Joe Moses needed to win the final round to claim the series title from Nick Barnes. The two were soon locked in battle at the front of the field. Joe looked to have the measure of Nick, but it wasn't until well into the second half of the race that he was finally able to pull clear to claim the win. Both riders finished on the same number of points, but Joe took the series on the best final event result rule.
The under-12 championship race begins
Action from the Under-10 race
Next up were the Under-10 and Under-12 races. And with the Yorkshire title at stake in both races, it was good to see over 40 riders lining up, despite the cold, overcast conditions. Nick Barnes' younger brother, Chris, duly took the Under-12 boys title, with Heather Ludvigsen taking the girls title. In the Under-10 championship, there were wins for Luke Williams and Lucy Howard.
The Vets and Women were off next and a light drizzle added to the difficulties riders experienced on the muddy parkland end of the course. Spinning tyres churned up the mud and soon wheels were jamming and riders were stopping regularly to clear the clag.
Dave Stevens takes the win as photographer Joolze Dymond catches the moment
At the front of the field, Dave Stevens and Steve Barnes both employed spare bikes and a team of eager helpers to keep the bike changes coming slickly. With Matt Denby having already sewn up the series, this race was all about pride and the pair were inseparable for much of the race, until Stevens finally drove clear to claim an impressive win. Barnes was second and Pete Wilkin was third. Matt Denby - who many will now know broke his leg at the Rutland National Trophy event - was on hand to see the final race and looked in good form as he hobbled about in the mud.
Matt Denby broke his leg last week - but had already sewn up the Vets' series title
First woman home, in a strong 19th place, was Denise Shackleton, who overcame an early crash in the woods to put in her best ride of the season.
James Sharp on his way to clinching the senior series win
The final race of the day - the Seniors and Juniors - featured national contender Rob Jebb, but all eyes were on James Sharp and Chris Young, between whom the series title would be decided. However, a detuned Young, suffering from a cold, was never in it and had to give best to Sharp who successfully sealed his second successive series title after fourth on the day and another great season of all-action riding.
At the front of the race Rob Jebb soon shook off Noel Clough and rode clear to a convincing win. Clough, who has enjoyed some great form this season, but also a lot of bad luck, was on his own in second place, finishing jut over a minute down, but some 2 minutes clear of Hamish Batchelor in third.
And finally .....the BBC Look North reporter Paul Ogden spent most of the day filming at the event. The latest is that it is likely to go out on Weds 7th, Thurs 6th or Fri 9th Jan.
More Images
Check out Ben Rathmell's rather nice images from this event and others in the area:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/paperthin/sets/
http://www.paperthinphotography.com/
Results
Seniors/Juniors
1 Rob Jebb Wheelbase
2 Noel Clough Fietsen Tempo
3 Hamish Batchelor Sandy Wallace Cycles
4 James Sharp York Cycleworks
5 Jonathan Watson www.Zepnat.com
6 Rob Thackray Bradford Olympic - Paul Milnes Cycles
7 Paul Young JD Cycles
8 Vince Potter Scott/Wheelspincycles
9 Alan Nixon Adept Precision
10 Simon Maudsley Crosstrax
11 Will Bushby OBRI coaching RT
12 Chris Young JD Cycles
13 Craig Gath York Cycleworks
14 Robert Watson Bradford Olympic - Paul Milnes Cycles
15 Owen Mitton Huddersfield RC
16 Phil Hinchcliffe Bradford RCC
17 Kim Critchley
18 Myles Chandler Batley CC
19 Ian Chapman OBRI coaching RT
20 Mike Richmond
21 Andy Bramham
22 Neil Bateman
23 Darren Unwin Norton Wheelers
24 Paul Milsom Calder Clarion
25 Josh Senior
26 Dave Caswell
27 Dale Antcliff
Final Series Standings - Senior
1 James Sharp York Cycleworks 247
2 Chris Young JD Cycles 245
3 Tim Baldwin Bradford Olympic - Paul Milnes Cycles 235
4 Jonathan Watson www.Zepnat.com 228
5 Robin Bradbury Aire Valley RT Senior 219
Final Series Standings - Juniors
1 Thomas Moses ssc-cyclesport 49
2 Paul Young Team JD Cycles 46
3 Oliver Webster Team JD Cycles 43
4 Robert Watson Bradford Olympic - Paul Milnes Cycles 39
5 Will Bushby OBRI Coaching RT 30
Results Veterans/Women
1 Dave Stevens Triangle RT
2 Steve Barnes www.Zepnat.com
3 Pete Wilkin Fietsen Tempo
4 Charles Warren U/A
5 Wayne Nicholson K Clarke Training
6 Ian O'Brien Wakefield Tri Club
7 Graham Bird Team JD Cycles
8 Graham Piccavey
9 Ian McParland
10 Jim Shenton Paul Milnes
11 Kevin Hickie Bronte Whs
12 Andrew Johnston Clifton CC
13 Giles Bailey Hudds Star Whs
14 Shaun Davidson
15 John Howard
16 Stuart Spencer OBRI Coaching
17 Richard Burnham Condor RC
18 Dave Green Bronte Wheelers
19 Denise Shackleton Yorkshire Velo
20 Christopher Jones
21 Richard Thackery Featherstone RC
22 Steve Sears
23 Kevin Saville Norton Wheelers
24 Gary Kitching Clifton CC
25 Philip Ingham U/A
26 Gordon Dalgarno
27 Greg Parkin
28 Peter Stone U/A
29 Gary Marsh Seacroft Whs
30 Christopher Nunn Bradford Oly/Paul Milnes
31 Clare Crabtree Pedal Sport
32 Neil Pilling
33 Brian Crossley
34 Dawn Hartley
35 Mike Lowther
36 Sarah Dransfield
Final Series Standings - Veteran
1 Matt Denby www.zepnat.com RT 249
2 Dave Stevens Triangle RT 247
3 Steve Barnes www.zepnat.com RT 243
4 Steve Barron VC Lincoln 237
5 Darrell Bradbury Norton Wheelers 233
Final Series Standings - Women
1 Jassmine Manning Pedalsport 48
2 Clare Crabtree Pedalsport 39
3 Kate Whittaker U/A 26
4 Jessica Roberts Team Chance - Ducati 20
Final Series Standings - Veteran Women
1 Lynn Bland Norton Wheelers LV40 9 9 10 28 28
Final Series Standings - Veteran 50 Women
1 Sue Gill Bradford RCC 27
Results - Youth
1 Joseph Moses Bronte Wheelers U16
2 Nick Barnes Seacroft Wheelers U16
3 Billy Harding East Bradford CC U14
4 Jake Womersley East Bradford CC U14
5 Herschel Stevens Triangle RT U16
6 Thomas Warren U16
7 Tom Jolly U16
8 Oliver Wood U14
9 Seb Marsh Seacroft Wheelers U14
10 Joe Howard Wakefield Tri U16
11 Joe Dransfield U14
12 Rebecca Womersley East Bradford CC U16
13 Jess O'Brien U14
14 Lauren O'Brien U14
15 Natalie Gilli U14
16 Melissa Lowther U14
17 Mathew Jones U14
Final Series Standings - Youth
1 Joseph Moses Bronte Wheelers 95
2 Nick Barnes Seacroft Wheelers 95
3 Billy Harding Paul Milnes RT 84
4 Herschel Stevens Triangle RT 84
5 Scott Woodhead West Pennine 79
Results - Under 12
1 Chris Barnes Under-12 Yorkshire Champion
2 Reece Wood
3 Sam Dransfield
4 Jake Beech
5 Robert Harper
6 Leon Crossley
7 Joe Parker
8 Ben Morris
9 Heather Ludvigsen Under-12 Yorkshire Champion
10 Dan Shuman
11 Leon Wood
12 Holly Williams
13 Bryan Barrett
14 Ruby Pilling
15 Hannah Saville
16 Timothy Harrison
17 Holly Whiteley
18 Hannah Wood
19 Amelia Collins
20 Michael Gater
21 Nathan Binns
22 Jonathan Whiteley
23 Caitlin Davis
Results - Under 10
1 Luke Williams Under-10 Yorkshire Champion
2 Ben Dransfield
3 Joe Pilling
4 Mason Allyman
5 Jimmy Harding
6 Lucy Howard Under-10 Yorkshire Champion
7 tbc
8 Jake Morris
9 Nial Collins
10 Tom Whitworth
11 Harry Sherbourne
12 Gaetan Stevens
13 Annie Beech
14 Sophie Thackray
15 Amy Hinchcliffe
16 Sarah Harrison
17 Henry Holeyman
18 William Thackray
19 Taylor Nunn
20 Adam Bailey
21 Alex Bailey