South West Cyclo-Cross Round 7
15th November Holyrood School, Chard, Somerset | Report: Vin Cox |
Photographers, film makers, supporters and the local mayor all looked on as around 40 senior, junior, women and veterans lined up for the big race of the day at South West Cyclo-Cross round 7 in Chard. Roy Wyle Smith (Shred Racing) sported the yellow jersey of senior series leader, Tim Carpenter (Empella/cyclo-cross.com) the grey of veteran's leader, and Fiona Verney (Exeter Wheelers) the pink of women's leader. Other favourites introduced to the crowd included series champions from last season; Vin Cox (Empella/cyclo-cross.com) for the seniors and the veteran Steve Davies (Unattached).
When the flag dropped it was Vin Cox who launched quickest down the tarmac start straight and led the pack onto the dirt with the yellow jersey in close attendance.
Gales and hail had been the norm for the days leading up to the event, so the course - which charmingly wound its way around a school's sports facilities on grass, tarmac and rough ground - was in a very heavy condition in parts. One of these heavy sections spiced up the action within the first minute of racing and a slight slip separated the chasers from Cox's back wheel giving him a surprise early lone lead. Cox pressed the advantage and as the first lap ended the solo lead was around 20 seconds over a large group lead by yellow jersey Roy Wyle Smith.
Then the reigning veteran champ' Steve Davies came through to lead the pack and started to reel Cox back over the next 4 laps. The group fell away from Davies and splintered, with only Adam Bright able to keep pace. Cruel luck left Bright wandering what might have been when just as he was closest to the lead his gear mechanism clogged with mud and broke off, ending his race.
Earlier in the day, Adam Fursdon had avoided the mechanical problems caused by mud and won the youth race ahead of promising under 14 category rider Joel Kelly and top girl Laura Clode in 2nd and 3rd places respectively. Likewise, ever strong under 10 Jack Hawtin won the under 12s race from Conner Cutler and Karla Hodson.
Back in the adult race, Davies and Cox shared the pacesetting during the middle section of the race and secured a healthy time cushion over an exciting four-way battle for third place. Wyle Smith was being challenged by Pete Dawe (South Fork Racing), Ben Price (Unattached), and veteran series leader Tim Carpenter. Only just behind that fight, Mark Percival (Guerciotti / JJ Coach) was running away with the junior competition. Carpenter eventually couldn't keep with Dawe and Price who were pressing on to close a small gap Wyle Smith had gained, so it would come down to a three-way sprint for third place.
A muddy cambered section approaching the finish line became the key battle ground for both the lead pair and then the chase group. With four laps to go it became un-rideable and Cox first ran past Davies, then dropped him when the mud from that section caused Davies' gear to jump when they re-mounted. Davies took his spare bike at the pits, but the gap had been got and Cox could take the win. When the chasing trio reached the muddy section on the last lap Dawe charged clear and couldn't be beaten while Price and Wyle Smith had a closer running sprint with great encouragement from the crowd at the finish. Price held off an exhausted Wyle Smith for fourth place.
29th November will see the next South West showdown, at South Dartmoor Community College, Ashburton.
Overall Result Senior, Jun, Vet and Ladies
1 Vin Cox Empella/Cyclo-Cross.com 1st Sen
2 Steve Davies Unattached 1st Vet
3 Pete Dawe Southfork Racing 2nd Sen
4 Ben Price Unattached 3rd Sen
5 Roy wyle Smith Shred Racing 4th Sen
6 Tim Carpenter Empella/Cyclo-Cross.com 2nd Vet
7 Mark Percival Guerciotti/JJ Coaching 1 lap 1st Jun
8 Adrian Clode Unattached 3rd Vet
9 Nick Percival Guerciotti/JJ Coaching 4th Vet
10 Tim Fey Unattached 5th Vet
11 Andrew Retter Okehampton CC
12 Robin Delve Mid Devon CC 6th Vet
13 Alan Sanders CS South Hams
14 Richard Taylor Exeter Wheelers 7th Vet
15 Lester Young Empella/Cyclo-Cross.com 8th Vet
16 Robert Lillicrap Sid Valley CC 2 laps 9th Vet
17 Jay Worby Unattached
18 Andrew Wellings Somerset RC 10th Vet
19 Carl Ward Somerset RC TRI 11th Vet
20 Paul Fursdon Unattached 12th Vet
21 Lee Bradley Guerciotti/JJ Coaching 13th Vet
22 Will Hornby CS South Hams
23 Tim Heal Unattached 3 laps 14th Vet
24 Fiona Verney Exeter Wheelers 1st Lady
25 Toby Gilmore 1st Chard Wheelers 15th Vet
26 Sam Hann Tiverton BMX 2nd Jun
27 Andrew Smith Somer Valley CC 16th Vet
28 Richard Water 1st Chard Wheelers 17th Vet
29 Sarah Dunn Somerset RC 2nd Lady
30 Liz Tier MI Racing 3rd Lady
31 Robin Worman RMRMCA 4 laps 18th Vet
32 Paul Barratt 1st Chard Wheelers 19th Vet
33 Stephen Rowsell 1st Chard Wheelers 20th Vet
34 Wiebke Rietz 1st Chard Wheelers 4th Lady
35 Fran Acken 1st Chard Wheelers 5th Lady
Adam Bright Unattached DNF
Michael Alden Unattached DNF
Samuel Deakin DNF
Youth
1 Adam Fursdon Mid Devon CC 29.27 U16
2 Joel Kelly Mid Devon CC 55sec U14
3 Laura Clode Guerciotti/JJ Coaching 2min40 U16
4 Will Kelly Mid Devon CC 3min29 U14
5 Charles Hough Unattached 5min49 U14
6 Aran Horton Unattached 1Lap U16
George Clews Somerset RC DNF U16
Under 12's
1 Jack Hawtin Mid Devon CC U10
2 Conner Cutler Tiverton BMX U12
3 Karla Hodson Guerciotti/JJ Coaching U12 Girl
4 Matthew Bryant EMBC U12
5 Bodhi Horton Unattached U10
6 Reece Cutler Tiverton BMX U8
