2010 National Cyclo-Cross Championships 

Sutton Park, Birmingham

 

Posted: 09/02/10

Report: Liz Slater

It may have been a cold and grey weekend at Sutton Park in Birmingham for the 2010 National Cyclo-Cross Championships but plenty of exciting racing, with several Welsh riders in action, brightened the gloom.

 

The Vet 50+s kicked off the weekend’s racing and Abergavenny RC’s Graham Edwards showed that he has made a remarkable recovery from the injury he sustained in the summer, finishing a very creditable 16th and 5th Vet 55.

 

The U14 Boys and Girls were next up and Dylan Kerfoot-Robson (Rhos on Sea CC) was in a group of four at the head of the field at the end of the first lap. He was unfortunate then to take a tumble and lose touch with the leading trio but, although left in no-man’s land, he battled on to finish 4th @ 1.16. Ben Dunster (Brecon MTB) worked his way up the field to finish 21st, ahead of Sam Beckingsale (Abergavenny RC) in 25th. Ffion James (Abergavenny RC) led off the start but was unable to stay with the older girls as the race progressed. But like Dylan, she too finished an excellent 4th, only 35 seconds down, in her first year as a Youth.

Kerfoot Robson

Ffion James

 

Sporting his Welsh U16 Champion’s jersey, William Worrall (Towy Riders) wrestled his bike in his characteristic style and steadily picked off riders, finally pairing up with Hargroves Cycles rider Jonathan Dibben to contest 5th place. William looked to have the upper hand on the final lap but eventually lost out and finished 6th @1.13 to round off an outstanding season. Matthew Thompson (Cardiff JIF) was 26th. Like Ffion in the U14s, Amy Roberts (Cardiff Ajax) led the field early in the race but gradually slipped back to finish 4th @ 1.06. Fellow Ajax rider Elinor Barker rode a strong and steady race but failed to get the nod after catching Imogen Buick on the line and was 7th, with Newport Velo’s Rebecca Hunt and Amy Hill 8th and 13th respectively.

William Worral

Amy Roberts

 

The final race on the Saturday was the Vet 40+. Welsh Vet 40+ Champion Phil Roach (Coventry RC) had his usual fast start in the company of Nick Craig, Chris Young, Darren Atkins and, much to his own surprise, Welsh League Vet 40+ runner-up Mark James (MI Racing). While Craig, Atkins and Young battled it out for the podium places, Roach and James matched one another in 7th and 8th places. James eventually crossed the line ahead of Roach (who was 2nd Vet 45 behind Young) and was very pleased with his result. Donald Gray (Cardiff JIF) was 42nd and 19th Vet 45.

 

Welsh U23 silver medallist Ben Roach (Cult Racing) started well in Sunday’s first race but soon looked to be struggling (with a cold) and finally pulled out. With Ruby Miller and Lily Matthews non-starters there was no Welsh representation in the Women’s race. Welsh Junior Champion Ben Roff (Orange Monkey) and Sam Anstice (Cwmcarn Paragon) flew the flag in the Junior race, finishing 15th and 20th respectively.

 

Having been asked the day before how he thought he would do in Sunday’s Senior Men’s race, Welsh Champion Lee Williams’ tongue-in-cheek reply was that he would win it! This may have been a bit over-ambitious but he certainly came the nearest he has ever done. In 15th place after the first lap he was soon into the top 10 and, except for briefly dropping back mid-race, this is where he stayed, battling with William Bjergfelt (Sportbeans/Wilier) for 7th. After an hour of racing it came down to a sprint finish with Williams the victor. Dan Lewis (RAF CC) was 36th, Mark Davies (Cardiff JIF) 59th and Joe Lally (CC Abergavenny) 61st.