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South West Cyclo-X League
Round Four, Plympton Farm, Kingsbridge
Sunday 11th October 2009
Report: Lester Young | Images Karen Wyle Smith
The annual trip to the South Hams in Devon for round four of the Southwest league was everything we've come to expect from race organiser David Hamilton and his team. Warm hospitality, tough challenging course, dry(ish) weather, close racing, lovely cakes and, not forgetting, two bridges enabling riders to cross the traditional Devon stone walls.
Images: Karen Wyle Smith
Under 12 racing started proceedings and made light work of the grassland course and crested the bridge with consummate ease. They also did a grand job of clearing the course of dead grass for the following races, cheers kid. Charles Hough (Unattached) set his mark on the race from the off, establishing a 10 sec lead which he seemed well in control of. First Under10 rider Harry Birchall (EMBC) never lost sight of Hough and one slip by the leader and Birchall would have been onto to him! Matthew Bryant was next across the line to place 2nd in the Under 12 category with Karla Hodson (Guerciotti) snapping hard on his pedals with Karla being first girl in this category.
Sadly, a rather small entry for the Youth race, with only five riders facing the starter. Will the lure of free entry for the next round at Bodmin on Sunday bring a stronger turn out? The Youths rode the complete course, thus tackling both bridges. Adam Fursdon (Mid Devon CC) had a stormer of a start only to suffer a puncture just past the pits on the first lap. Tom Green (Mid Devon CC) inherited the lead thanks to Fursdons misfortune and rode a strong, steady race, pacing himself impeccably, to take the win. Poor Adam Fursdon ran to the pits, got a fresh rear wheel and rejoined the fray. But by now was well detached from the rest of the field.. Adam never gave up nor made a fuss, just got on with the job in hand and stormed back. He was clearly a man on a mission. By the finish the Fursdon express had got back to 2nd place and, if only another lap, well maybe? Making for a Mid Devon CC I,2,3 Will Kelly crossed in third.
There was a short break for the marshals and lap scorers to make themselves comfortable, grab a cup of tea and sample a huge variety of cakes, which would have put Jane Asher to shame. Whilst riders got in some practice and were ready to race come the 12:30 start.
After an initial charge by Southwest's stalwart Roy Wyle Smith (Shred Racing) a new name to me and Southwest cyclo-cross Chris Minter (Peadalon.co.uk) took the head of the race. I have never seen anybody make the sport of cyclo-cross look so easy. I'm sure once he'd taken control of the race he'd have had time to stop mid race and enjoy the tea and cakes stall before continuing his masterclass, ‘chapeau' Mr Minter. Mint performance! 2nd place was a close run thing. Luke Eggar (Southfork Racing) and Wyle Smith had a right old race over the closing laps, before Wyle Smith got the nod on the run to the line.
4th over the line was first vet Tim Carpenter (Empella cyclo-cross.com) who raced strong and steady throughout. Carpenter eased clear over the latter laps from fifth finisher Pete Dawe (Southfork Racing). These were the only riders not to be lapped by race winner Minter. Harry Smith (Shred Racing) was the 1st Junior racer, placing 7th overall.
Gail Aspenden (Penzance Wheelers) made the long trip from Penzance worthwhile by winning the Ladies prize from Fiona Verney (Exeter Wheelers, who dazzled everybody not just with her shining personality but with her new bike.
All in all a good days sport, and a big thank you to David Hamilton, his wife and the CS South Hams club for making us all so welcome and putting on a great event.
Results
Overall
1 Christopher Minter Pedal On.co.uk
2 Roy Wyle Smith Shred Racing
3 Luke Eggar Southfork Racing
4 Tim Carpenter Empella cyclo-cross.com 1st Vet
5 Pete Dawe Southfork Racing
6 James Williams Pendragon Kalas 1 lap
7 Harry Smith Shred Racing 1st Jun
8 Garry Pike Alltrax
9 Steve Sincock Guerciotti / JJ Coach
10 Myles Gerrard Southfork Racing
11 James Birch Shred Racing
12 Matt Loake Southfork Racing
13 Lee Bradley Guerciotti / JJ Coach
14 A. Sanders CS South Hams
15 Robin Delve Mid Devon CC
16 Richard Taylor Exeter Wheelers
17 Alan Drury Mid Devon CC
18 Mark Percival Guerciotti / JJ Coach
19 Adrian Bellew Don't Push IT, Bude
20 Martin Crocker Southfork Racing 2 laps
21 Steve Whitehouse Unattached
22 Nick Percival Guerciotti / JJ Coach
23 Don Rigby CS South Hams
24 Nick Hawtin Mid Devon CC
25 Mark Deakin RAF CC
26 Will Janson Bikinmotion
27 Lester Young Empella cyclo-cross.com
28 Jay Worbey Unattached
29 Andrew Welling Somerset RC
30 Tim Bridgreen Okehampton CC
31 Tony Chope CS South Hams 3 laps
32 Gail Aspenden Penzance Wheelers 1st Wom
33 Nick Butler Southfork Racing
34 Fiona Verney Exeter Wheelers
35 Liz Tier MI Racing 4 laps
36 Declan Rodgers Somerset RC
37 Hannah Minter Pedal On.co.uk
38 Wayne Spiller Unattached
39 I. Ferguson Moge 5 laps
Shane Lawton Clevedon CC DNF
Andy Retter Okehampton CC DNF
Senior
1 Christopher Minter Pedalon.co.uk
2 Roy Wyle Smith Shred Racing
3 Luke Eggar Southfork Racing
4 Pete Dawe Southfork Racing
5 James Williams Pendragon Kalas
6 Garry Pike Alltrax
7 Myles Gerrard Southfork Racing
8 Matt Loake Southfork Racing
9 A. Sanders CS South Hams
10 Alan Drury Mid Devon CC
11 Martin Crocker Southfork Racing
12 Don Rigby CS South Hams
13 Will Janson Bikinmotion
14 Jay Worbey Unattached
15 Tim Bridgreen Okehampton CC
16 Tony Chope CS South Hams
17 I. Ferguson Moge
Veterans
1 Tim Carpenter Empella cyclo-cross.com
2 Steve Sincock Guerciotti / JJ Coach
3 Lee Bradley Guerciotti / JJ Coach
4 Robin Delve Mid Devon CC
5 Richard Taylor Exeter Wheelers
6 Adrian Bellew Don't Push It, Bude
7 Steve Whitehouse Unattached
8 Nick Percival Guerciotti / JJ Coach
9 Nick Hawtin Mid Devon CC
10 Mark Deakin RAF CC
11 Lester Young Empella cyclo-cross.com
12 Andrew Welling Somerset RC
13 Nick Butler Southfork Racing
14 Declan Rodgers Somerset RC
15 Wayne Spiller Unattached
Juniors
1 Harry Smith Shred Racing
2 James Birch Shred Racing
3 Mark Percival Guerciotti / JJ Coach
Women
1 Gail Aspenden Penzance Wheelers
2 Fiona Verney Exeter Wheelers
3 Liz Tier MI Racing
4 Hannah Minter Pedalon.co.uk
Youth
1 Tom Green Mid Devon CC U16
2 Alan Fursdon Mid Devon CC U16
3 Will Kelly Mid Devon CC U14
4 Nathan Olson Penzance Wheelers U14
Hester Stembridge CS South Hams DNF
Under 12's
1 Charles Hough Unattached U12
2 Harry Birchall EMBC U10
3 Matthew Bryant EMBC U12
4 Karla Hodson Guerciotti / JJ Coach U12 1st Girl
5 Lucy Hawtin Mid Devon CC U12 2nd Girl
6 Charlie Blazey Unattached U12
7 Freddy Birchall EMBC U8
8 Robert Waddy Unattached U12
9 Harrison Wood Mid Devon CC U10
10 Kyran Gerrard Southfork U12
11 Morgan Chope CS South Hams U8
Jack Hawtin Mid Devon CC U10 DNF
