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Oxonian Cyclo-Cross

Story posted September 20, Wessex League Rd 2 | by Graham Robins

Michael Cotty (Wheelbase/ Cannondale) takes his second race win within a week to lead the league after two rounds.

The course at the Oxford Community School is laid out over a terraced course around two football pitches and a technical wooded section.  The normally muddy sections were bone dry this year and the grassed slope was for some was rideable. A dry hot sunny day greeted the riders as they lined up at the start. Unlike last week’s first round, the Seniors, Vets, Juniors and Women’s were all pitched in together.

Just after the start, four riders found themselves clear of the rest. Michael Cotty, Crispin Doyle (Swindon RT), Dan Lewis (RAF) and junior rider Hugo Humphreys, had started to pull out a large gap. These four soon started working well together with Steven James in close attention.

With half the race completed, Michael attacked and took advantage of the other rider’s mistakes. Crispin was the closest as Dan dropped back and he was soon passed by Steven, who then in turn managed to get past Hugo. Steven was now the fastest rider on the course and he soon caught Crispin.

With Michael out on his own, Crispin allowed Steven to pass him as he thought he had another lap to go and said he was confident of pulling him back on the flat fast section, however he had not heard the bell and was rather surprised to see a “funny man waving a flag on the line”.

Provisional Result

1. Michael Cotty Wheelbase/Cannondale 58min 8secs
2. Steven James Pedalon @ 43secs
3. Crispin Doyle Swindon RT @53secs
4. Dan Lewis RAF
5. Hugo Humphreys Mosquito Bikes RT/LondonCycleSport 1st Junior
6. Andrew Baum Cwmcarn Paragon
7. Paul Lloyd Banjo Cycles
8. Keith Sheridan Corinium 1st Vet
9. Lewis King Beeline
10. Sean Williams Wightlink/offshore

The women’s race was won by Rosara Joseph with Gen Whitson second. The Vets race was a little bit closer with the first three finishing within one and a half minutes apart.

Veterans
1. Keith Sheridan Corinium
2. Lewis King Beeline
3. Sean Williams Wightlink/offshore

Women
1. Rosara Joseph not known
2. Gen Whitson Swindon RT
3. Claire Smith Swindon RT

Juniors
1. Hugo Humphreys
2. Luke Cowley Dream Zero G
3. Martin Turton Beyond MTD

The morning got underway with the under 12’s race was won by Edward Gronbech (Oxford City RC) 46 seconds ahead of Emily Wadsworth (Beeline). The first rider in the under 10’s was Larrso Wirdnam-Crick (West Kidlington School). In the youth race, Hargroves Cycles pair of Harry Franklin and Matt Hargroves had it most their own way, although they were joined for most of the race by Josh Parker (VCL).

The three riders were close together for most of the race. At the midway point, Matt was showing signs of a fall as he had blood on his leg and Josh had managed to get past him. However Matt’s road race class began to show as he soon pulled Josh back and finished ahead of the young rider.

Provisional Result
1. Harry Franklin Hargroves Cycles 29min 59secs
2. Matt Hargroves Hargroves Cycles ‘10secs
3. Josh Parker VCL @11secs