Craig & Killeen Coming to the Boil!

SRAM Notts and Derby Cyclo Cross League - Round 15
Matlock CC
Thornbridge Education Centre, Great Longstone

With riders completing their final preparations for the forthcoming National Championships, a good class field assembled for the latest round of the SRAM Notts and Derby League at Thornbridge. Nick Craig (Scott UK) and Liam Killeen (Trek), who are both contenders for the senior title, were on the start line, along with most of the Notts and Derby regulars and several visitors from the West Midlands, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire.

The weather was cold but dry, and with no rain for a fornight, the course was fast but a little slippery in places. After a trouble free start, it was Phil Roach (Rugby Velo) who led them into the woods for the first time, closely followed by Steve Adams (Plowman Craven Madison), easy to spot in his pink skinsuit, and John Shaw (Zepnat RT).

As they came through the finish for the first time, Roach had dropped back and Adams and Shaw had been joined by Ben Eedy (South Pennine RC) and Geoff Giddings (MI Racing). Nick Craig was leading a chase group at about 20 seconds, along with Jim Bryan (Zepnat RT) and Tom Payton (Wyre Forest CRC). Nick Craig could see the lead group starting to stretch away and by the end of the second lap, he had bridged the gap to the leaders on his own. Shaw had now been dropped by the leaders and was chasing alone, with a small gap to Bryan and then a chase group of three, comprising Payton, Lee Shunburne (Matlock CC) and Killeen. As the leaders entered the woods on the 3rd lap, Nick Craig attacked and Adams went with him.

At the end of the 3rd lap, Craig led by 8 seconds from Adams, with Eedy and Giddings at 12 seconds and Killeen now chasing alone at 32 seconds. The leaders were now lapping the backmarkers and Adams got delayed on a narrow section in the woods, enabling Eedy and Giddings to get back up to him. By the end of the 4th lap, Nick Craig had a clear lead of 40 seconds on the chasing trio, but Killeen was closing on them and caught them as they entered the wooded section. At the end of the 5th lap, Craig still led, but Killeen was now alone in second at 50 seconds, Adams 3rd at 58 seconds, Giddings and Eedy together at 1.08, Bryan at 1.45 and Shaw at 2.07.

As they took the bell, Craig still led, but Killeen was closing on him at 45 seconds, Adams still 3rd at 1.05 and Eedy and Giddings at 1.20. At the finish, Nick Craig took the win, but Killeen had managed to close the gap to 29 seconds to take second place. Adams held off the chasing duo to take 3rd place at 1.04, whilst Ben Eedy outsprinted Geoff Giddings to take 4th spot at 1.11.

Earlier in the day, Scott Hookway (Sherwood CC) and Arthur Green (Matlock CC) both kept up their winning runs. Hookway won the U10's race by 11 seconds from John Webster (Matlock CC), with Bailey Waters (Mercia CC) taking 3rd. Isabel Boon (Belper BC) was again 1st girl. In the U12's race, Green won by 28 seconds from William Gascoyne (Heanor Clarion), who outsprinted Tom Weeds (Belper BC) for second place. Charlotte Broughton (Leicester Off Road Club) was first girl in 5th place.

In the youth race, Sam Lowe (Go Sports Spex RT) put in a dominant performance, to win by 1.28 from Tom Young (LORC) with John Lomas (Matlock CC) in 3rd. Lucy Garner (LORC) looks in good form, taking 5th spot among the 22 finishers.

Thanks to Harry Gould and Matlock CC for putting on another excellent promotion at this superb venue.

Results

1st Nick Craig (Scott UK)
2nd Liam Killeen (Trek)
3rd Stephen Adams (Plowman Craven Madison)
4th Ben Eedy (South Pennine RC)
5th Geoff Giddings (MI Racing)
6th Jim Bryan (Zepnat RT)
7th John Shaw (Zepnat RT)
8th Tom Payton (Wyre Forest)
9th Lee Shunburne (Matlock CC)
10th James Furniss (Zepnat RT)

1st veteran - Giddings
1st junior - Tom Lowe (Go Sports Specs RT) 11th
1st lady - Annie Last (Zepnat RT) 32nd
94 finishers

Full results can be found at www.ndcxl.org