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Dixon is Shrewsbury Star
West Midlands Cyclo-Cross Round 9 - 29 Nov 2009
Report: Dave Mellor
Results: www.wmccl.co.uk
The bumper turnout for the inaugural Shrewsbury Sports Village Cyclo Cross round 9 of the West Midlands Cult Racing league were treated to a cold, windy and sunny day and the forecast heavy rain storms did not materialise. The previous two weeks of heavy rain which has left the Shrewsbury Town Centre on flood alert and with flood barriers erected meant that this was not going to be a fast totally rideable event. The course devised by the Mid Shropshire Wheelers was a mix of the road circuit, grassy banks that seperate the two sides of the circuit, playing fields and some very tricky root strewn woodland. The feedback from riders was that it was great and ought to be considered for a National Series event especialy with all the other facilities on site with ample parking and a Cafe.
Phil Dixon tops the senior race podium
As usual the u10s and u12s were very well supported and the highlight of these two events must be the fight to the front of Charlotte Broughton after her self imposed 30second handicap and then the last lap battle between her and Halesowen's Cameron Biddle with the Halesowen boy getting the better of the Leicester girl with a fantastic attacking effort. The handicap shows the determination and character of this talented young lady who is not content with just winning but is prepared to accept a challenge in preparation for the move up to the Youth category.
Jacob James (check his pictures out in the gallery above) bad luck continued with a first lap pucture which meant he ran virtually the whole of the road circuit before finally coming home in 3rd place, the runaway win of Joe Fox to add to his National Series victories and the emergence of a new talent in Lichfield's Alex Welburn who took 2nd in only his second Cyclo Cross outing were the main stories of the u16 boys race. In the girls event Beth Crumpton took a deserved win from Hannah Payton. Beth got an early lead and held it to the finish with Hannah never giving in but not able to close the gap.
Massive fields have characterised the Junior Womens and Vets West Midland League events and today was no different with local boy Luke Grivell-Mellor leading the cavalry charge up the road and onto the first bank but it was super Vet Martin Eadon who lead back onto the road with Grivell-Mellor, the normally fast starting Phil Roach, new Vet Darren Atkins and National Series podium rider Junior Perry Bowater all in close attendance. Atkins came through with Grivell-Mellor on lap two, Bowater and Roach a little way back. Atkins produced a faultless display to ride away from the 3 chasers with Perry Bowater taking 2nd and, Phil Roach 3rd and the local boy a fine 4th. Halfords rider Annie Last produced a strong display to take the Women's prize under the watchful eye of National Coach Phil Dixon.
Dixon then went on to give a masterclass of his own in the Senior event leading from the first lap from Tom Payton and George Richardson. Dixon ploughing a lonely furrow to come home almost 4 minutes clear of a determined Richardson with the u23 National Series leader Payton a further 20 seconds in arrears.
Full results are on the Cult Racing West Midlands Cyclo Cross League website which is www.wmccl.co.uk
