Preview: South of England Cyclo-Cross Championships

Sunday 7th December 2008, Lydiard Park, Swindon
Promoted by: Swindon RC www.swindon-rc.co.uk
Organisers: Andy Smith, Claire Smith and Byran Telford
Preview & Images: Graham Robins

This Sunday, the 7th December, Swindon RC will be hosting the South of England Cyclo-Cross Championships on behalf of the Wessex Region. The event takes place at Lydiard Park, which is located on the west side of Swindon just off junction 16 of the M4. The course is similar to the league race at the venue, fairly flat and fast with sections of grass across the events field and technical twists and turns in the wooded areas.

Above: Crispin Doyle (left) leads the Wessex league and Gary Allen (right) is the top vet

There is a full day's racing planned with the Under 12's starting proceedings at 11am. Entry is free and will last about 15 minutes a big field is expected after the success of the lottery grant and the link with Tregoze Primary School.

The youths follow at 11.30 11 riders have entered, last years under 12 champion Harvey Lowe (GA Cycles) steps up a category and will be looking to win this title in his first year.

The Juniors/Vets and Women follow at 12.30, this race has the most competitors with 56, Andy Shaw (MI Racing/Eas/Thule) will be looking to defend his title in the Vets' race. James Astbury (DH Cycles) will be looking to defend his title in the juniors although local riders Tom Bowering and Luke Cowley (Swindon RC) will do their best to make it a home victory. Seven women will be competing with last years top 3, Maddie Horton (Certini), Claire Smith (Swindon RC) and Lisa Parsons (Welland Valley) all back to contest the medals.

Above: Tom Dunford (left) is the second senior in the Wessex league; Andy Smith (right) is the event organiser

The main event, the senior men, will start at 2pm. This will be a closely fought battle with the leaders in all 3 local leagues competing, Tim Dunford (Hargroves)(Wessex), Scott Chalmers (Johns BikesRT)(Western) and Vin Cox (Cyclocross.com)(South West) together with last year's champion Stuart Bowers (Hargroves-Scott).

Refreshments will be on sale throughout the day with all proceeds going to the STEPS charity, All proceeds from the refreshments sold at the race will go to the charity 'STEPS' (www.steps-charity.org.uk) a small charity supporting children and adults affected by a lower limb condition such as clubfoot or a hip condition. STEPS have supported Seren Jones (Swindon RC) -  click here to read her story. Lydiard Park has a visitor centre and a very equipped children's play area

To aid the results all riders in races 3 and 4 will be wearing a mini transponder on the ankle supplied by FR Systems

Schedule:

Under 12 - 11:00am
Youth - 11:30am
J/V/W - 12:30pm
Seniors - 14.00pm

About the Venue:
Lydiard Park is a beautiful 260 acre 18th Century parkland on the western edge of Swindon. Originally a Medieval deer park, this country estate is the former ancestral home of the Viscounts Bolingbroke and is currently undergoing a £5 million restoration project. To date, many significant 18th Century landscape and architectural features have been restored including re-instating the lost lake, renovating the Grade II listed Coach House and restoring the castellated dam wall, ice house and returning the 18th Century ornamental fruit and flower Walled Garden to its former glory.

Open all year round, Lydiard Park includes the striking Palladian house with many of its original contents and is the setting to one of the country's most beautiful parish churches, St Mary's Church, richly packed with monuments to the St John family.

From the M4 Motorway exit at Junction 16. Follow the A3102 towards Swindon At the 1st Roundabout keep in the left lane and bear left. Go through the traffic lights to the next roundabout then turn left onto Hook Street. go past the main entrance to Lydiard Park and then take the next turning on your right into the events field. Follow the British Cycling arrows.

There are changing and toilet facilities located by the visitors centre behind the children's play area.

Start Lists:

RACE 1: UNDER 12'S 11.00
1 Tom SEWELL Swindon RC U12
2 Liam SEWELL Swindon RC U10
3 Tyler SMITH Swindon RC U8
4 Ellis JONES Swindon RC U8
5 Seren JONES Swindon RC U8
6 Rhianna JONES Swindon RC U12
7 Nathan JOWETT Chapel Tri-Stars U12
8 Jack PHILLIPS Chapel Tri-Stars U12
9 Conrad PITT Oxford City Road Club U12

RACE 2: YOUTH 11.30
1 Luke COWLEY Swindon RC Y/M
2 Tom BOWERING Swindon RC Y/M
3 John FRIEND Wessex RC Y/M
4 Rob YEATMAN Oxonian CC Y/M
5 Issac STAFF Swindon RC Y/M
6 Harvey LOWE GA Cycles Y/M/U14
7 Kerrie HUTCHINSON Swindon RC Y/F/U14
8 Daniel WILKINSON Oxonian CC Y/M/U14
9 Hazel JOWETT Chapel Tri-Stars Y/F/U14
10 Connor TAYLOR Private Member Y/F/U14
11 Daniel MURPHY Milton Keynes Y/M

RACE 3: JUNIORS/VETRANS/WOMEN 12.30
40 Steve JONES A.W. Cycles.co.uk V45
41 Mark CRACKNELL A.W. Cycles.co.uk V45
42 Christopher CLARK Banjo Cycles.com V40
43 Lee KING Beeline Cycles V40
44 David JOWETT Chapel Tristars V45
45 Steven DAVIES Cycle Coaching South West GUERCIOTTI V45
46 David HAMILTON Cyclesport South Hams V50
47 Tim CARPENTER Cyclocross.com V40
48 Lester YOUNG Cyclocross.com V45
49 Peter BOLKE DH Cyclesport V45
50 Andy ROBERTS Evans Cycles RT V50
51 Garry CLARK Evans Cycles RT V45
52 Antony GREEN GA Cycles V40
53 Gary ALLAN GA Cycles V45
54 Martin DYMOND GA Cycles V45
55 Stuart GRACE GA Cycles V50
56 Paul LOOSEMORE Gloucester City CC V40
57 Robert TUTT GS Europa V40
58 Martin SAUNDERS Hargroves Cycles V60
59 Ian MACDONALD Hargroves Cycles V50
60 Malcolm CROSS Hargroves Cycles V50
61 Peter HARGROVES Hargroves Cycles V45
62 Andrew SHAW M.I. Racing EAS THULE V45
63 William GIRVAN North Hampshire Road Club V40
64 Harvey PITT Oxford City Road Club V40
65 Peter GRONBECH Oxford City Road Club V40
66 Matthew ROWLEY Oxonian CC V40
67 Paul BURT Oxonian CC V45
68 Andrew CRACKNELL Pedalon.co.uk V40
69 Anthony DYMENT Pedalon.co.uk V45
70 Brian BINGHAM Reading CC V45
71 Tim COSTELLO Southdown Velo V45
72 Andy SMITH Swindon RC V45
73 Neville LUXTON Swindon RC V45
74 Michael BOWERING Swindon RC V45
75 Peter HUTCHINSON Swindon RC V40
76 Paul SEWELL Swindon RC V45
77 Peter JEANS Swindon RC V55
78 Steve MARCHANT Swindon RC V45
79 Nick MASON Swindon RC V
80 Robert HALL Swindon RC V55
81 Chris LONG T.V.S Sherbourne V40
82 Nick FRIEND Wessex RC V50
83 Stuart PICKERING www.cyclelogic.co.uk

V40
84 Vince STONE V40
85 Andrew HARGROVES Hargroves Cycles JUN
86 Tom ROBBINS Didcot Phoenix JUN
87 James ASTBURY DH Cyclesport JUN
88 Steven JAMES BOBS JUN
89 Andrea HALMAN Swindon RC WOM
90 Claire SMITH Swindon RC WOM
91 Lydiard GOULD Torq/Kona WOM
92 Maddie HORTON Team CERTINI WOM
93 Linda BURT Oxonian CC WOM
94 Lisa PARSONS Welland Valley CC WOM
95 Gail ASPDEN Penzance Wheelers WOM

RACE 4: SENIOR MEN 14.00 (2PM)
1 Stuart BOWERS Hargroves- SCOTT UK SEN
2 Michael WARNER Hargroves Cycles SEN
3 Tim DUNFORD Hargroves Cycles SEN
4 Matt MACDONALD Hargroves Cycles U/23
5 Edward SNEDDON Agiskoviner.com SEN
6 Lewis KING Beeline Cycles SEN
7 Nick WALMSLEY Corinium CC SEN
8 Mark DAVIES Cycle Coaching South West GUERCIOTTI SEN
9 Mark SUSSEX Cycle Coaching South West GUERCIOTTI SEN
10 William HORNBY Cyclesport South Hams SEN
11 Vin COX Cyclocross.com SEN
12 Roy WYLE SMITH Cyclocross.com SEN
13 Paul LLOYD Didcot Phoenix SEN
14 Chas THURSFIELD Dream CC SEN
15 Ian DAWS Dream CC SEN
16 Duncan JAMIESON Felt Racing SEN
17 Robin WILMOTT GA Cycles SEN
18 Scott CHALMERS Johns Bikes RT U/23
19 Sam ALLEN North Hants RC U/23
20 Ian LEGG Owens Cycles SEN
21 Anton BLACKIE Oxford University CC SEN
22 Karl NORFOLK Pedalon.co.uk SEN
23 Adrian LANSLEY Pedalon.co.uk SEN
24 Nick ONSLOW Pedalon.co.uk SEN
25 Stephen BALE Reading CC SEN
26 Simon BURGESS Somer Valley CC SEN
27 Jon STUMP Swindon RC SEN
28 Crispin DOYLE Swindon RC SEN
29 Darren MORRISEY Swindon RC SEN
30 Lee BRADLEY Tamar Cycling Club SEN
31 Jay HORTON Team CERTINI SEN
32 Peter SCOTT Total Fitness Bath SEN