Welsh League Round 3  Crickhowell High School

 

For the second consecutive week, over 130 riders took part in the Welsh League. The venue for Round 3 was Crickhowell High School, near Abergavenny, one that proved very popular with riders on its debut last season. Promoters Gateway RT have designed a testing and technical course which was made even more so on Sunday by overnight rain which left the surface rather slippery.

 

It was the sand pit, however, that seemed to cause most problems, giving the commentator, who was strategically positioned beside it, endless opportunities for comment. The rain and wind held off and everyone enjoyed yet another exciting day’s racing.

 

The U12s raced on the flat playing field section of the course, giving spectators an excellent view of their progress but with sufficient banking and chicanes and, of course, the sandpit to test handling skills. And it looked as though the girls were showing the boys the way as the quartet of Ffion James (Abergavenny RC), Emily Haycox, Amy Hinchly and Megan Barker (all Maindy Flyers) headed the field. James and Haycox were again looking strong; would it be James, spinning a smaller gear, or Haycox, opting for a slightly larger one, or would a stumble in the sand pit be the decider. James had the advantage as they exited the pit on the final lap but had to work hard to hold off Haycox to the finish and reverse the previous week’s finishing order. Nathan Llewellyn (Maindy Flyers) maintained his unbeaten record in the U12 Boys just getting the better of team-mate Harry Lock and first U10 Nathan Ford (Abergavenny RC). Megan James (Abergavenny RC) again took first place in the U10 Girls ahead of Towy Rider Jessica Roberts.

 

After a below par performance at Brecon, Jack Llewellyn (M & D Cycles) was back on form in the Youth race and, with his offroad background, enjoying the technical nature of the course. However, so also was Sam Anstice (Newport Velo) and newcomer William Worrall (Towy Riders). As they started the climb up past the school buildings for the final time and disappeared from view it was Worrall in the lead, with U14 Adam King (Maindy Flyers) having an excellent race in fourth place. An exclamation of “It’s him!” from his mother heralded Llewellyn’s return to the playing fields in the lead, closely followed by Anstice; Worrall had slipped back into fourth behind King. Anstice was unable to close the gap and it was a very happy Llewellyn who took the win. A very creditable performance by King saw him hold on to third place and first U14 and finishing an excellent fifth and first U16 Girl was Amy Roberts (Lifeforce). Another up-and-coming rider Rebecca Hunt (Newport Velo) made it three wins in a row in the U14 Girls.

Phillip Roach in action early in the race

 

With the welcome appearance of visitors Duncan Jamieson (Felt Racing) and Philip Roach (Rugby Velo) the main race promised to be an exciting and hard-fought one. U23 Anthony O’Boyle (Cwmcarn Paragon) immediately took the race on leading from Jamieson, Roach, Andrew Baum (Gateway RT) and Junior Sam Harrison (Cwmcarn Paragon). The lead then yo-yoed between O’Boyle and Jamieson as Roach, Baum and Harrison dropped back. Halfway through the race Jamieson opened a gap on O’Boyle and Baum staged a recovery. Baum made up ground on Jamieson as O’Boyle went backwards but could not quite get on terms with him, finishing 36 seconds down on the winner. In fourth place just behind O’Boyle, Roach was a convincing winner of the Veteran’s race, as was Harrison in the Junior’s and, with rival Paula Moseley unable to race due to illness, Ruby Miller (unattached) in the Women’s.

 

Click link below to download overall standings and points table:

20081023CycloCrossLeagueOverallRd3

 

Anthony O'Boyle and Duncan Jamieson vying for the race lead

Graham Edwards

 

The League moves west to Carmarthen next Sunday for the debut Towy Riders promotion at the United Counties Showground SA33 5DR.

 

Photographs courtesy of:

Peter Phillips - (peter.f.phillips@btinternet.com)