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2010 South of England Cyclo-Cross Championships

Bicton Arena, Devon, Sunday 5th December
Report: Graham Robins () & Neil Dyas

Luke Gray (right) just out-sprints Adrian Lansley

Luke Gray from Hargroves Cycles out sprinted Adrian Lansley (Pedal On) on the line to become Southern Champion for 2010. In a hard-fought race the the two riders spent the whole hour in each other's company. The race was held in the beautiful Bicton Arena venue in South Devon on a fast sandy based track, and although the sun was out some of the course never defrosted all race and some of the course started to re- freeze towards the end of the senior race.

Slide-show

The day's racing got underway with the Youth race: with the temperatures in the minus figures twenty three young riders set out on the course for their Championships. The first to make a break was Matt Hargroves (Hargroves Cycles) and team mate Harvey Lowe; these two had a gap over third placed rider Robbie Bolwell (Team Wight Mountain). Behind Robbie was the first U14 Jack Phillips (Banjo Cycles), followed by William Kelly (Mid Devon CC), with first girl Laura Clode (Revo Racing).

On the next lap Matt managed to take a wrong course following the larger senior part and it was Harvey that was now in the lead, then once Matt had rejoined the correct course he was about 30secs down with third placed Robbie another 30secs down on him. Once Matt and Harvey had been united the two team-mates set about pulling out a large gap to the chasers headed by Robbie.

The next lap saw the two Hargroves riders split by 30secs with Robbie a further 30 secs behind Harvey, but Robbie was only 15secs ahead of Josh Hogg (Taw Velo). Robbie now seeing his lead over Josh diminishing attacked and soon manage to double his lead over the chasing rider. With just over a lap to go Matt and Harvey were back together again with Robbie now a distant 1min down, Jack Phillips was now fourth followed by Josh.

Matt came up the finish straight alone to the applause of the waiting crowd, with Harvey second and Robbie third 3mins down. Laura Clode Revo Racing finished first u16 girl with Zoe Sheehan Swindon RC winning the u14 girl Champs.
Post-Race Quote: Matt Hargroves said "I was surprised to see Harvey in front, but once I worked it out I pulled away to take the win"

Next up was the U12's race: fourteen young riders took to a shortened course which was convincingly won by Harry Birchill MDCC and first U10 rider with Harry Meredith Don't Push it Cycling first U12 with Freddy Birchill MDCC coming in third and taking the U8 Championship.

Then came the Junior Vets and Women's race. First away were the three juniors, led away by Luke Cowley (Swindon RC), with Adam Fursdon (MDCC) and Jordan Wade (Poole Wheelers). This was the final order of the three riders with a gap of over 8mins between 2nd and 3rd.

The women's race was won by Caroline Coward (Hargroves Cycles), with Claire Smith (Swindon RC) second, 2mins behind, with Jessica Steer (Somerset RC) in third

The Vet race was won by Keith Sheridan (Hargroves Cycles), who when he got a clear lead was never challenged. The race behind Keith was more interesting as it included Luke Cowley now leading the Junior race was prepared to mix it with Steve Davis (Team Endura) and Sean Williams (Wightline/Offshore RT). The two vet riders although riding together were in different classes, with the third 40+ rider Andrew Shaw a short distance behind but unable to close on Sean.

With the temperatures dropping by the minute and parts of the course beginning to freeze the Seniors were gridded and the race got underway as the sun was dropping away. First to make a move was Luke Gray (Hargroves Cycles) closely followed by Adrain Lansley (PedalOn). Next was Michael Cotty (Wheelbase.co.uk/Cannondale) together with Andrew Hargroves (Hargroves Cycles) and Crispin Doyle (Swindon RC) a little of the back. On the next lap Luke and Adrain now had a gap of 10secs over Crispin and Andy with Matt Macdonald (Hargroves Cycles) just ahead of Michael Cotty.

On the third lap the leading pair now had a gap of 22secs over Crispin with Andy just 3secs back and Michael another 7secs down. The fourth lap saw the two leaders stretching out a bigger lead, with Crispin now joined Andy with Michael on his own 15secs down then Matt struggling with a pedal seemingly unable to clip in a further 15secs down.
With the two leaders now clear, it was Michael who seemed to be on a charge and catching Crispin while Andy Hargroves seemed to be dropping back.

With just over a lap to go Adrian attacked Luke on the Derby bank, this looked like a practice for what was about to come on the last lap. As the two leaders came into view at the top of the Derby bank again Adrain made his move getting a small gap. With just a tricky wooded section to negotiate the two were back together again. As they lined up for the finish line they were side by side. The two riders raced towards the line with Luke seemingly taking the win but it took the finish line judges a few minutes to come to a final decision. After all the excitement of the sprint finish Crispin Doyle slipped in for third 30secs down with Michael Cotty 10secs in fourth. The team prize was won team Hargroves riders Andy Hargroves, Luke Gray and Matt Cotty.

Post-Race Quote: After the race Pete Hargroves said he was "happy with the days racing as they had won all that they could have won"

Results

Senior/Under-23
1 Luke Gray Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Scott UK/GSI (U23)
2 Adrian Lansley Pedalon.co.uk
3 Crispin Doyle Swindon RC
4 Michael Cotty Wheelbase.co.uk/Cannondale
5 Andy Hargroves Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Scott UK/GSI (U23)
6 Matt Macdonald Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Scott UK/GSI
7 Peter Kench GWR Team
8 Karl Norfolk Pedalon.co.uk
9 Mark Davies Revo Racing
10 Scott Easter RNRMCA
11 Edward Sneddon SigmaSport RT
12 John Peters Cycle Sport South Hams
13 Alan Sanders Cycle Sport South Hams
14 Matt Loake Southfork Racing
15 Alan Drury Mid Devon CC
16 Robin Wilmott GA Cycles (Non-Championship Rider)
17 Stephen Bale Reading CC
18 Ben Saunders New Forest CC
19 Jay Worbey Private Member
20 Peter Robinson Somerset Road Club (U23)
21 Ben Clarke Private Member
22 Neil Vingoe Yogi Cycling
23 William Hornby Cycle Sport South Hams
24 David Belcher Sotonia CC

Juniors/Vets/Women
1 Keith Sheridan Corinium CC ( V40+ )
2 Steve Davies Team Endura/Thule/24/7/Kinessis ( V50+ )
3 Luke Cowley Swindon RC ( J )
4 Sean Williams Wightline/Offshore RT ( V40+ )
5 Andrew Shaw Raleigh Racing Team ( V40+ )
6 Dave McMullen Evans Cycles ( V50+ )
7 Tim Carpenter Empella Cyclocross.com ( V40+ )
8 Antony Green GA Cycles ( V40+ )
9 Tim Fye EliteVelo ( V40+ )
10 Pete Dawe Southfork Racing ( V40+ )
11 Gary Allan GA Cycles ( V40+ )
12 Malcolm Cross Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Scott UK/GSI ( V50+ )
13 William Girvan North Hants Road Club ( V40+ )
14 Andrew Roberts Evans Cycles ( V50+ )
15 Gary Pike Shred Racing ( V40+ )
16 Peter Hutchinson Swindon RC ( V40+ )
17 Anthony Dyment North Hants Road Club ( V40+ )
18 Steve Precious Ride 24/7 ( V40+ )
19 Richard Taylor Exeter Wheelers ( V40+ )
20 Adrian Clode Revo Racing ( V40+ )
21 Tony Turner Oxonian CC ( V40+ )
22 Martyn Dymond New Forest CC ( V40+ )
23 Robin Delve Mid Devon CC ( V50+ )
24 Andy Smith Swindon RC ( V40+ )
25 Michael Alden Mid Devon CC ( V40+ )
26 Kevin Blann Team Rose Blann ( V40+ )
27 Nigel Page Private Member ( V40+ )
28 Lee Bradley www.cycle-logic.co.uk ( V40+ )
29 Adam Fursdon Mid Devon CC ( J )
30 Brian Bullen Yogi Cycling ( V40+ )
31 Jordan Wade Poole Wheelers ( J )
32 David Raymont EliteVelo ( V40+ )
33 Andrew Murphy North Hants Road Club ( V40+ )
34 Caroline Goward Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Scott UK/GSI ( W )
35 Stephen Dines Team Wight Mountain/Red Funnel ( V50+ )
36 Claire Smith Swindon RC ( W )
37 Julian Guy Sid Valley ( V40+ )
38 Jessica Steer Somerset Road Club ( W )
39 Richard Clarke Mid Devon CC ( V40+ )
40 Martin Saunders New Forest CC ( V60+ )
41 Meridith Grimsley Swindon RC ( W )
42 John Burrows Poole Wheelers ( V50+ )
43 Nicky Volley Team Wight Mountain/Red Funnel ( W )
44 Nigel Page Private Member ( V40+ )
45 Lee Bradley www.cycle-logic.co.uk ( V40+ )
46 Brian Bullen Yogi Cycling ( V40+ )
47 David Raymont EliteVelo ( V40+ )
48 Andrew Murphy North Hants Road Club ( V40+ )
49 Julian Guy Sid Valley ( V40+ )
50 Richard Clarke Mid Devon CC ( V40+ )

Under-16/Under-14
1 Matt Hargroves Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Scott UK/GSI ( U16 )
2 Harvey Lowe Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Scott UK/GSI ( U16 )
3 Rob Bolwell Team Wight Mountain/Red Funnel ( U16 )
4 Jack Hogg Taw Velo ( U16 )
5 Jack Phillips Banjo Cycles ( U14 )
6 Laura Clode Revo Racing ( U16 )
7 Joel Kelly Mid Devon CC ( U16 )
8 William Kelly Mid Devon CC ( U14 )
9 Jack Saunders Swindon RC ( U14 )
10 Harry Loader Mid Devon CC ( U16 )
11 Tom Sewell Swindon RC ( U14 )
12 Zoe Sheehan Swindon RC ( U14 )
13 Kerrie Hutchinson Swindon RC ( U16 )
14 Charlie Meredith Don't Push it Cycling ( U14 )
15 Hazel Jowett Chapel Tri Stars ( U16 )
16 Frank Alden Mid Devon CC ( U14 )
17 Rhianna Jones Swindon RC ( U14 )
18 Karla Hodson Revo Racing ( U14 )
19 Harry Clarke Mid Devon CC ( U14 )

Under12/10/8
1 Harry Birchill MDCC ( U10 )
2 Harry Meredith Don't Push it Cycling ( U12 )
3 Freddy Birchill MDCC ( U8 )
4 Harry Ewin Exeter MBC ( U12 )
5 Ruby Bond Private Member ( U12 )
6 Dom Cork Tor Velo ( U12 )
7 Sam Pearson South Fork ( U10 )
8 Conor Hutchinson Swindon RC ( U10 )
9 George Bond Private Member ( U8 )
10 Ryan Hodgkyns Poole Wheelers ( U8 )
11 Ellis Jones Swindon RC ( U12 )
12 Oscar Meredith Don't Push it Cycling ( U10 )
13 Alexandra Burrows Poole Wheelers ( U8 )
14 Hayleigh Wyle-Smith EliteVelo ( U8 )