Report: Welsh Cyclo-Cross League Final Round
21st December 2008 – Blackweir Park, Maindy Stadium, Cardiff
Images: Alison Wilde
Report: Liz Slater
A big thank you to Liz Slater for this, and all the other reports from the Welsh 'Cross Series, and to Alison Wilde for supplying great images throughout the season.
Race Report
The 2008 Welsh Cyclo-Cross League series came to an end with the Christmas 'Cross hosted by Maindy Flyers at Blackweir Park in Cardiff. Despite 'flu, colds, coughs and Christmas parties 104 riders took to the start-line, many to qualify for an overall League position. Such an excellent turn-out has been a feature of Welsh 'cross this season, remaining undiminished to the end. Barring catastrophes the leading positions were cut-and-dry; others still had it all to race for and rivalries to settle.
Above: The main race gets underway
Although harried early on by the promoting club's Emily Haycox, Ffion James of Abergavenny RC finally pulled away and was the convincing winner of the U12 race, retaining her U12 Girls League title in a repeat of last season's result. Welsh U12 Champion Megan Barker finished third with first U12 Boy Nathan Llewellyn (both Maindy Flyers) in fourth. Nathan had insisted on racing in spite of being unwell and claimed the U12 Boys League title ahead of Ben Beckingsale of Abergavenny RC who took the sprint for fifth place from Amy Hinchly of Maindy Flyers.
Above: Go faster tinsel
The racing was even closer at the front of the U10 field with Towy Riders' Jessica Roberts giving Nathan Ford of Abergavenny RC a hard time. Jessica just missed out on the 2007 U10 Girls League title in a sprint finish with Amy Hinchly when the two were equal on points going into the final; this time she was one point behind Megan James of Abergavenny RC. Yet another sprint finish saw her lose out to Ford but, with Joe Beckingsale (Abergavenny RC) separating her from Megan James, the U10 Girls title was at last hers; Ford took the U10 Boys title.
Above: Action from the main race
Since his debut at the BSCA 'Cross Championships at the beginning of October, William Worrall (Towy Riders) has dominated the Youth category, with only Sam Anstice (Newport Velo) able to get anywhere near him. The final went the way of previous races with Worrall taking to the front and completing an unbroken record for the U16 Boys League title and Anstice gamely trying to keep in touch for second place ahead of Luke Cornish (Towy Riders).
Above: After the racing, the presentations...
Owen James added to his unbeaten run to take the U14 Boys title and, with Carwyn Davies second U14 overall, round off a very successful season for the new kids from Towy Riders. An excellent final race moved Sam Beckingsale (Abergavenny RC) into third place one point ahead of Rowan Miller (Maindy Flyers). Rebecca Hunt of Newport Velo took a well-deserved U14 Girls title having ridden well in every race in her first season of 'cross.
Above: Clearly, the end of series presentation was an emotional experience for all.
The lead in the main race was a two-man affair with Lee Williams (Abergavenny RC) and Anthony O'Boyle (Cwmcarn Paragon) on form after the previous week's National Trophy event at Rutland Water. It was O'Boyle who took to the front off the start and opened up a sizeable gap on Williams and Veteran Ian Jeremiah (Cardiff JIF). As Jeremiah dropped back to a group containing the main League protagonists Williams set about steadily making up ground on O'Boyle. After 30 minutes of racing Williams had moved ahead of O'Boyle but the result remained in doubt to the end as the Abergavenny RC rider finished a mere 3 seconds up on O'Boyle.
It was a full 4 minutes before third-placed rider Andrew Baum (Gateway RT) crossed the line ahead of Jeremiah, both taking the League titles in their respective categories. Although the season-long tussle between Richard Bowen (Gateway RT) and Joe Lally (CC Abergavenny) was won by Bowen, Phil Morris (Dambusters) just managed to hold on to second place by one point from Bowen. Matthew Jones (Cwmcarn Paragon) took seventh place to consolidate his Junior League lead and veterans Lynn Lines (Gateway RT) and Andy Pearce (Forza Cycles) crossed the line together to end their season-long rivalry, with Lines taking the V50 title. Daughter Claire Bowen showed a return to form finishing well up the field to win on the day and overall.
A big thank you goes to everyone who has supported the Welsh League and contributed to a very successful season and to Schwalbe UK (www.schwalbe.co.uk) for generously providing the League prizes.
Results
Seniors/Juniors/Veterans/Women
1 Lee Williams (S) Abergavenny RC
2 Anthony O'Boyle (S) Cwmcarn Paragon
3 Andrew Baum (S) Gateway RT
4 Ian Jeremiah (V) Cardiff JIF
5 Richard Bowen (S) Gateway RT
6 Joe Lally (S) CC Abergavenny
7 Matthew Jones (J) Cwmcarn Paragon
8 Mark James (V) MI Racing
9 Phil Morris (S) Dambusters
10 Lynn Lines (V50) Gateway RT
11 Andy Pearce (V) Forza Cycles
12 Paul Bennett (V50) Cardiff JIF
13 Adrian Peall (S)
14 Ross Porter (V) Cwmcarn Paragon
15 Gareth Chislett (S) Abertillery Wheelers
16 Donald Gray (V) Cardiff JIF
17 Simon Nurse (S) Cardiff JIF
18 Chris Matthews (V) Ogmore Valley Wheelers
19 David Seward (V) Bynea CC
20 Matthew Corran (S) M & D Cycles
21 Craig Standage (S) Cardiff JIF
22 Chris Lewis (S) Port Talbot Wheelers
23 Jack Newton (J) Towy Riders
24 Claire Bowen (W) Gateway RT
25 Russ White (S) Forza Cycles
26 Sam Weaver (J) Epic Cycles
27 Ian Shakeshaft (V)
28 Tim Jones (V50) Bynea CC
29 Mike Barne (V)
30 Nathan Russell (S)
31 Paul Herbert (V50) Rhyl CC
32 Colin Miller (V)
33 Dale Thomas (J) Team Schmoos
34 Richard Tucker (V) Ogmore Valley Wheelers
35 Shaun Lewis (S) M & D Cycles
36 Phil Weaver (V) Epic Cycles
37 Alistair Morgan (V) M & D Cycles
38 Dai Richards (V) Team Schmoos
39 John Hosking (V)
40 Nick Jones (S) M & D Cycles
41 Nick Lane (V) Abergavenny RC
42 Tony Howell (V) Ogmore Valley Wheelers
43 Bryn Ruston (V)
44 Phil Harries (V50) Cardiff Ajax
45 Dave Walker (S) Cardiff JIF
46 Jeff Lewis (V)
47 Laura Williams (W) Cardiff JIF
48 Bob Jones (V) Cardiff JIF
49 Judith Oakley (W) Vegetarian Cycling & AC
50 Crad Lowe (V) Brecon Wheelers
51 Serena Wood (W) M & D Cycles
52 Carol Miller (W)
53 Jemma Nurse (W)
54 Stuart Renshaw (S) Cardiff JIF
55 Austin Heath (V50) Barclay Classics
56 Gwen Hughes (W)
Youth
1 William Worrall (U16) Towy Riders
2 Sam Anstice (U16) Newport Velo
3 Luke Cornish (U16) Towy Riders
4 Owen James (U14) Towy Riders
5 Joe Anstice (U16) Newport Velo
6 Sam Beckingsale (U14) Abergavenny RC
7 Elinor Barker (U16G) Lifeforce
8 Jack Llewellyn (U16) M & D Cycles
9 Carwyn Davies (U14) Towy Riders
10 Rowan Miller (U14) Maindy Flyers
11 Samuel Leigh-Cattrall (U16) Towy Riders
12 Rebecca Hunt (U14)g Newport Velo
13 William James (U14) Brecon Wheelers
14 Ben Dunster (U14) Brecon Wheelers
15 Owen Thomas (U14) Maindy Flyers
16 Ryan Matthews (U16) Abergavenny RC
DNF Will Davies (U14) Maindy Flyers
Under 12
1 Ffion James (U12G) Abergavenny RC
2 Emily Haycox (U12G) Maindy Flyers
3 Megan Barker (U12G) Maindy Flyers
4 Nathan Llewellyn (U12) Maindy Flyers
5 Ben Beckingsale (U12) Abergavenny RC
6 Amy Hinchly (U12G) Maindy Flyers
7 Harry Lock (U12) Maindy Flyers
8 Teifion Best (U12) Abergavenny RC
9 Jack Broadley (U12) Maindy Flyers
10 Ffion Llewellyn (U12G) Maindy Flyers
11 Scott Dunster (U12) Brecon Wheelers
12 Abigail Hawke (U12G)
13 Lydia Rees (U12G)
Under 10
1 Nathan Ford (U10) Abergavenny RC
2 Jessica Roberts (U10G) Towy Riders
3 Joe Beckingsale (U10) Abergavenny RC
4 Megan James (U10G) Abergavenny RC
5 Ieuan Best (U10) Abergavenny RC
6 Elizabeth Bennett (U10G) Cardiff JIF
7 Lowri Thomas (U10G) Abergavenny RC
8 Josh Hinchly (U10) Maindy Flyers
9 Huw Higgins-Worrall (U10) Abergavenny RC
10 Rhys Barter (U10) M & D Cycles
11 Emily Heffernan (U10G) Abergavenny RC
12 Ceri Jones (U10G) Maindy Flyers
13 Lewis Hawke (U10)
14 Llewellyn Price (U10) Abergavenny RC
15 Rhys Thomas (U10) Abergavenny RC
16 Fenella Rees (U10G)
17 Grace Bennion (U10G) Maindy Flyers
Final Series Standings
Seniors/Juniors/Veterans/Women
1 Andrew Baum (S) Gateway RT 311 points
2 Ian Jeremiah (V) Cardiff JIF 302
3 Phil Morris (S) Dambusters 293
4 Richard Bowen (S) Gateway RT 292
5 Joe Lally (S) CC Abergavenny 290
6 Ross Porter (V) Cwmcarn Paragon 281
7 Lynn Lines (V50) Gateway RT 268
8 Andy Pearce (V) Forza Cycles 263
9 Matthew Jones (J) Cwmcarn Paragon 261
10 Paul Bennett (V50) Cardiff JIF 244
11 Gareth Chislett (S) Abertillery Wheelers 236
12 Craig Standage (S) Cardiff JIF 231
13 Donald Gray (V) Cardiff JIF 221
14 Simon Nurse (S) Cardiff JIF 220
15 Jack Newton (J) Towy Riders 206
16 Shaun Lewis (S) M & D Cycles 199
17 Russ White (S) Forza Cycles 178
18 Dai Richards (V) Team Schmoos 162
19 Alistair Morgan (V) M & D Cycles 162
20 Colin Miller (V) 157
21 Dale Thomas (J) Team Schmoos 151
22 Sam Weaver (J) Epic Cycles 148
23 Paul Herbert (V50) Rhyl CC 140
24 Crad Lowe (V) Brecon Wheelers 133
25 Phil Harries (V50) Cardiff Ajax 119
26 Tim Jones (V50) Bynea CC 113
27 Claire Bowen (W) Gateway RT 106
28 Carol Miller (W) 87
Youth
1 William Worrall (U16) Towy Riders 175 points
2 Sam Anstice (U16) Newport Velo 169
3 Luke Cornish (U16) Towy Riders 158
4 Owen James (U14) Towy Riders 152
5 Jack Llewellyn (U16) M & D Cycles 134
6 Carwyn Davies (U14) Towy Riders 129
7 Joe Anstice (U16) Newport Velo 128
8 Sam Beckingsale (U14) Abergavenny RC 109
9 Rowan Miller (U14) Maindy Flyers 108
10 Samuel Leigh-Cattrall (U16) Towy Riders 97
11 Rebecca Hunt (U14G) Newport Velo 94
12 William James (U14) Brecon Wheelers 87
13 Ben Dunster (U14) Brecon Wheelers 84
Under 12
1 Ffion James (U12G) Abergavenny RC 140 points
2 Emily Haycox (U12G) Maindy Flyers 133
3 Nathan Llewellyn (U12) Maindy Flyers 128
4 Megan Barker (U12G) Maindy Flyers 125
5 Amy Hinchly (U12G) Maindy Flyers 115
6 Ben Beckingsale (U12) Abergavenny RC 114
7 Harry Lock (U12) Maindy Flyers 105
8 Scott Dunster (U12) Brecon Wheelers 89
9 Teifion Best (U12) Abergavenny RC 88
10 Ffion Llewellyn (U12G) Maindy Flyers 79
Under 10
1 Nathan Ford (U10) Abergavenny RC 140 points
2 Joe Beckingsale (U10) Abergavenny RC 132
3 Jessica Roberts (U10G) Towy Riders 128
4 Megan James (U10G) Abergavenny RC 127
5 Elizabeth Bennett (U10G) Cardiff JIF 112
6 Josh Hinchly (U10) Maindy Flyers 105
7 Lowri Thomas (U10G) Abergavenny RC 94
8 Hugh Higgins-Worrall (U10) Abergavenny RC 93
9 Rhys Barter (U10) M & D Cycles 80
10 Rhys Thomas (U10) Abergavenny RC 72
11 Grace Bennion (U10G) Maindy Flyers 70