Senior Team on the podium at last at the Inter-Area Cyclo-Cross Championships
Luck was in short supply for Wales at the Inter-Area Team Cyclo-Cross Championships at Misterton Hall in Leicestershire on Sunday. A crash at the start of the Youth race saw Ruby Miller and Bobby Coles caught in the thick of it and last to remount their bikes. Having made a fast start Tom Walker was clear of it and looking strong at the front but gear problems slowed him on the climb and forced a bike change. Meanwhile Miller and Coles were making their way up the field but a soft tyre then brought Coles into the pits. Miller was putting in a superb effort and picking off riders in the middle of the field. Walker, however, never regained his initial momentum and finished 32nd with Miller 35th. To complete a frustrating race for the Youth riders, Jack Llewellyn punctured on the final lap.
The Under 12s race was not a Championship one but Rowan Miller (Maindy Flyers) had travelled up with his sister and, although nervous of racing against unknown opposition, was going to give it a go. He took to the front at the start, ahead of James Shaw (Heanor Clarion CC) and Jack Ravenscroft (Halesowen A & CC), but the tables were soon turned and, although he was catching them on the drag up the field, he was unable to overhaul them and finished an excellent third.
The Veteran team were always going to find it hard to repeat their win of the previous year but a medal position was looking possible as the counting trio packed into the top twenty. While the race leaders Chris Young and Noel Clough (both Yorkshire) stormed round the course Daren Williams was holding his own, with Ross Porter just two places behind. Porter took a tumble on a greasy bend but was soon back on his bike and chasing. A bronze medal was looking within reach with all three Wales riders still close together on the penultimate lap. But their early fast pace was starting to tell on Williams and Porter and they began to slip down the field and Graham Edwards rolled his rear tub and had to run half the course to the pits. Williams finished in 15th place with Porter 21st.
After some excellent results at the previous week's National Trophy event hopes were high that the Senior team would break their run of 4th place finishes. Things were looking good as Ben Simmons came into view after the first lap just ten seconds behind a leading group of six and in the company of Three Peaks winner Rob Jebb (North West) and Will Bjergfelt (Western) with Anthony O'Boyle and Lee Williams close behind. Punctures were to plague the team and true to form it was Anthony O'Boyle who was first into the pit but, with a spare bike this year, he was soon on his way again. As the race progressed, with Dave Collins (East Midlands A) and National Trophy leader Paul Oldham (North West) well out in front, Simmons remained in the top ten, while Williams was gradually working his way up the field and O'Boyle and Andrew Baum were pushing each other behind.
With two laps to go the tall, slim figure of Gareth James was seen pushing his bike through the start/finish area and the word was that Simmons too had punctured. This was confirmed as Simmons gingerly took the bend before the pits, one leg outstretched. Bikes were changed and the two were off again but could Simmons make up the places again? As the bell sounded for the final lap Simmons was closing on Williams and, with O'Boyle and Baum still racing hard, fingers were crossed that their luck would now hold out. It did with Williams finishing 10th, Simmons 11th, O'Boyle 19th and final counter Baum 29th, but would there be a podium placing for them?
Provisional results gave them third place behind East Midlands A and the North West but with the positions of two key riders in doubt it was an anxious wait for the final placings. They held on to third place by just one point from the North East!
Posted 08/11/07