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Report: West Midlands Cross Round 3

Event: Halesowen A & CC Cross, Baggeridge Park, 10th October 2010

Report and Images: Andy Whitehouse

Glorious sunshine and blue skies greeted the riders for round 3 of the West Midlands Cyclo Cross League on Sunday 10th October, a far cry from the previous week's heavy rain and mud. The original venue became unavailable for the event due to unforseen health and safety issues so Baggeridge Country Park agreed for the event to be staged there, a venue that has been used previously and always provides a challenging course for the riders with woods, tarmac, flats and a few nasty bumps to contend with. With the first round of the National Trophy being run at Abergavenny, the field was without a few championship contenders but, even so, a quality field turned out to compete for their points and provide some cracking racing.

YOUTH

Above: Wolverhampton Wheelers' Jessie Ansell makes an unscheduled dismount in the tricky wooded section.

The youth race got underway at a frantic pace and by the first trawl through the woods a group of five had already pulled a small gap from the rest of the field. Jacob Kelly (Born To Bike) led the field with Chris Brookes (Wolverhampton Wheelers) in close attention, with the average gradient through the woods going upwards and sections of deep mud it was going to be the stronger lads that were to form, even at this early stage, the winning group.

By the second time round the course Brookes had made an early move to head the field from Kelly and Haleowen's Sam Francks pulling away by over a minute on fourth and fifth place Chris Welburn (Lichfield City CC) and Tim Metcalfe (Wolverhampton Wheelers). Brookes held onto to his lead taking a fine solo win, going one place better then the previous round. Sam Francks rode to a good second spot with Jacob Kelly rolling home third. Sophie Faulkner(Solihull CC) was the first girl home crossing the line in eleventh.

Results - Youth

1 Christopher Brookes Wolverhampton Wheelers U16 5 laps
2 Sam Francks Halesowen A & CC U16 5 laps
3 Jacob Kelly Born to Bike U16 5 laps
4 Alexander Mitchell Solihull CC U14 5 laps
5 James Plant Wyre Forest CRC U16 5 laps
6 Christopher Welburn Lichfield City CC U16 5 laps
7 Tim Metcalfe Wolverhampton Wheelers U16 5 laps
8 Jack Escritt Wolverhampton Wheelers U14 5 laps
9 Amedeo Toso Halesowen A & CC U16 5 laps
10 Kelton Aldridge Solihull CC U14 5 laps
11 Sophie Faulkner Solihull CC U16G 5 laps
12 Cameron Biddle Halesowen A & CC U14 5 laps
13 James Garratt Welland Valley CC U14 5 laps
14 Joshua Gunn Solihull CC U14 5 laps
15 Thomas Lane Stratford CC U14 5 laps
16 Anthony Neave Stourbridge CC U14 5 laps
17 Holly Page Worcester St Johns U16G 4 laps
18 Abel McLinden Redditch R & P CC U14 4 laps
19 Mark Tandy Stourbridge CC U14 4 laps
20 Louis Killworth Welland Valley CC U14 4 laps
21 Rosie Crumpton Halesowen A & CC U16G 4 laps
22 Conall Halton Solihull CC U16 4 laps
23 Alex Gordon Solihull CC U16 4 laps
24 Natalie Clements Solihull CC U14G 4 laps
25 Ben Sherman Solihull CC U14 4 laps
26 Lucy Shaw Solihull CC U14G 4 laps
27 Ross McDonald Wolverhampton Wheelers U14 4 laps
28 Jessie Ansell Wolverhampton Wheelers U14G 4 laps
29 Keir Lewis Stratford CC U14 4 laps
30 Ethan Davies Halesowen A & CC U14 4 laps
31 Maisie Duckworth BCT Tri U14G 4 laps
32 Chloe Ralph Redditch R & P CC U14G 3 laps
33 Andrew Warner Halesowen A & CC U14 3 laps
34 Morgan Smith Solihull CC U14 3 laps
35 Olivia Salkeld Redditch R & P CC U14G 3 laps
36 Chloe Potts Redditch R & P CC U14G 3 laps
37 Manraj Mann Halesowen A & CC U14 3 laps

VETS, JUNIORS & WOMEN

A race that is always a nightmare to follow but always produces some great racing from all sides. With some of the league's big hitters competing at the National Trophy round,it would be the local riders looking for the points. Another frantic start with riders chasing for the gap in the fence and up the first bump before zig-zagging on themselves and into the woods.

Again, as in the youth races, a small group were heading up the race, Phil Blacker (Wyre Forest CRC), Steve Knight (Team Endura/MI Racing), Joe Page and Vince Page (Team Echelon-Spiuk) and Adrian Elson (Coventry RC/Ridecov.co.uk). By the second lap the field were sorting themselves out; Blacker, Joe Page and Knight were heading up the race, already opening out a 15 second gap on George Appleby (Stourbridge CC), Wyre Forest's Lorenzo Buratti and Vince Page.

Steve Knight always rides a measured race and as races progress he gets stronger and stronger and today was as expected, the hammer went down at the midpoint and the gap grew over Blacker, a gap which he kept to cross the line in first spot. Blacker took the second place and third place went to Joe Page, first Junior home. First 50+ Vet to finish was Peter Harris (Pearce Cycles RT) who crossed the line fourth overall, two places behind was Wolverhampton Wheeler Shaun Hammond, first 45+ vet. A fine 17th overall saw Wellend Valley CC Vic Barnett, first home in the 65+ catagory. First 55+ Vet was Andy Jones (Wolverhampton Wheelers), while Lauren Creamer (Wolverhampton Wheelers) was the first woman home and not to be out done, Kym Creamer rode into 7th place in that catorgory in only her second cross outing.

Result - Vets, Juniors & Women Ladies

1 Stephen Knight Team Endura/MI Racing Vet 40+ 7 laps
2 Phil Blacker Wyre Forest CRC Vet 40+ 7 laps
3 Joe Page Team Echelon - Spiuk Jun 7 laps
4 Peter Harris Pearce Cycles RT Vet50+ 7 laps
5 Lorenzo Buratti Wyre Forest CRC Vet 40+ 7 laps
6 Shaun Hammond Wolverhampton Wheelers Vet 45+ 7 laps
7 Ian Nutter Redditch R & P CC Vet 50+ 7 laps
8 Vince Page Team Echelon - Spiuk Vet 40+ 7 laps
9 George Appleby Stourbridge CC Jun 7 laps
10 Gary Howard None Vet40+ 7 laps
11 Paul Millington Heanor Clarion Vet 40+ 7 laps
12 Philip Bromwich Eversham Wheelers Vet 40+ 7 laps
13 Peter Bromwich WMCCL Vet 45+ 7 laps
14 Mark Garrett Coventry RC/Ridecov.co.uk Vet 45+ 7 laps
15 David Watts Here Come The Belgians Vet 40+ 7 laps
16 Simon Bills G.S.Strada / Afford Vet 45+ 7 laps
17 Victor Barnett Welland Valley CC Vet 65+ 6 laps
18 John Rice Beacon RCC Vet 50+ 6 laps
19 Adrian Elson Coventry RC/Ridecov.co.uk Vet 45+ 6 laps
20 Garry Townsend Team Endura/MI Racing Vet 45+ 6 laps
21 Ian Spark Wolverhampton Wheelers Vet 40+ 6 laps
22 Adrian Ravenscroft Birmingham CC Vet 40+ 6 laps
23 Andy Jones Wolverhampton Wheelers Vet 55+ 6 laps
24 Gareth Cann Halesowen A & CC Vet 40+ 6 laps
25 Chris Horsfield Brooks Cycles Vet 40+ 6 laps
26 Mark Stock None Vet 45+ 6 laps
27 Steve Cock Brat Club Vet 40+ 6 laps
28 Edward Smith Zenith CC Vet 45+ 6 laps
29 Lauren Creamer Wolverhampton Wheelers Lady U23 6 laps
30 Andrew Wood Welland Valley CC Vet 45+ 6 laps
31 Keith Peters Worcester Cycle Centre Vet 45+ 6 laps
32 Martin Stephens Mid Shropshire Wheelers Vet 50+ 6 laps
33 Paul Askey Lichfield City CC Vet 40+ 6 laps
34 Stephen Mayhew Solihull CC Vet 45+ 6 laps
35 Andrew Shaw Solihull CC Vet 45+ 6 laps
36 Neville Gunn Solihull CC Vet 40+ 6 laps
37 Phil Evans Coventry RC/ridecov.co.uk Vet 50+ 6 laps
38 Alessandro Toso Halesowen A & CC Vet 50+ 6 laps
39 Duncan McNutt Sportstest.co.uk Vet 40+ 6 laps
40 Jonathan Todd Rugby Velo Vet 45+ 6 laps
41 Mike Hopkins Wyre Forest CC Vet 50+ 6 laps
42 Dave Miller Coventry RC/Ridecov.co.uk Vet65+ 6 laps
43 Martin Tinsley Halesowen A & CC Vet 50+ 6 laps
44 Dave Walker Elizabethan CC Vet 45+ 6 laps
45 Alistair McAdam Macclesfield Wheelers Vet 45+ 6 laps
46 Garry Bolton Wolverhampton Wheelers Vet 40+ 6 laps
47 Josh Cashmore Halesowen A & CC Jun 6 laps
48 Paul Welsby Drag 2 Zero. Com Vet 40+ 6 laps
49 Tim Gordon Solihull CC Vet 40+ 6 laps
50 Peter Evans Stratford CC Vet 40+ 6 laps
51 Kevin Bodley WMCCL Vet 50+ 6 laps
52 Paul Salkeld Redditch R & P CC Vet 45+ 6 laps
53 Adrian Killworth Welland Valley CC Vet 40+ 6 laps
54 Andrew Kendall Halesowen A & CC Vet 40+ 6 laps
55 Michael Williams Fred Williams Racing Vet 50+ 6 laps
56 Gary Rowing-Parker Solihull CC Vet 50+ 6 laps
57 Philip Turner Elizabethan CC Vet 55+ 6 laps
58 Rebecca Milnes Cult Racing Lady U23 6 laps
59 Ian Morris Wolverhampton Wheelers Vet 45+ 6 laps
60 Nigel 0 Empella Vet 45+ 6 laps
61 Marcus Walker Bush Heath Vet 55+ 6 laps
62 Tony Crossland Halesowen A & CC Vet 40+ 6 laps
63 Mark Lewis Wolverhampton Wheelers Vet 40+ 6 laps
64 Craig Sketchley None Vet 45+ 6 laps
65 Bryan Hedges Stourbridge CC Vet 60+ 6 laps
66 Quinn Bytheway Stourbridge CC Vet 50+ 6 laps
67 David Simmons Wolverhampton Wheelers Vet 40+ 6 laps
68 Peter Parkes Coventry RC/ridecov.co.uk Vet50+ 6 laps
69 Peter Carman Mammoth Lifestyle RT Vet 50+ 6 laps
70 Chris Lowe Coalville Wheelers Vet 55+ 6 laps
71 Alex Potts Redditch R & P CC Jun 6 laps
72 Rebecca Keogh Solihull CC Lady J 6 laps
73 Dave Norton None Vet 50+ 5 laps
74 Laurence Breakwell Solihull CC Vet 45+ 5 laps
75 Wayne Geldard Lichfield City CC Vet 40+ 5 laps
76 John Potts Redditch R & P CC Vet 40+ 5 laps
77 Steve Parsons Beyond 925 Vet 40+ 5 laps
78 Adrin Leach Redditch R & P CC Vet 45+ 5 laps
79 Stuart Wildboar None Vet 40+ 5 laps
80 Pammie Murray - Hopkin Worcester St Johns CC Lady V 5 laps
81 Neil Lawford Lichfield City CC Vet 55+ 5 laps
82 Terence Tuckley WMCCL Vet 55+ 5 laps
83 Nick Franks Halesowen A & CC Vet 40+ 5 laps
84 Stuart Walters Kettering CC Vet 70+ 5 laps
85 Stephen Bullin Mid Shropshire Wheelers Vet 45+ 5 laps
86 Mike Matthews Redditch R & P CC Vet 40+ 5 laps
87 Ruth Eyles Beacon RCC Lady V 5 laps
88 Jackson McCann Stourbridge CC Vet 50+ 5 laps
89 Alastair Grant Halesowen A & CC Vet 50+ 5 laps
90 Andrew Beck None Vet 40+ 5 laps
91 Phil Metcalfe Wolverhampton Wheelers Vet 55+ 5 laps
92 Rachel Knight Solihull CC Lady U23 5 laps
93 Peter Ward WMCCL Vet 55+ 5 laps
94 Jake Blakemore Solihull CC Jun 5 laps
95 John Claydon Halesowen A & CC Vet 55+ 5 laps
96 Les Hoare Hinckley CRC Vet 55+ 5 laps
97 Gordon Hardy Redditch R & P CC Vet 55+ 5 laps
98 Allen McDougall Elizabethan CC Vet 50+ 5 laps
99 Terry Rowntree Stourbridge CC Vet 65+ 5 laps
100 Kimberly Creamer Wolverhampton Wheelers Lady V 5 laps
101 David Stringfellow Leamington CC Vet 45+ 5 laps
102 Gary Davies Redditch R & P CC Vet 45+ 5 laps
103 Bob Franks Redditch R & P CC Vet 65+ 5 laps
104 Jo Phillips Halesowen A & CC Lady V 5 laps
105 Gerald Blackmoor WMCCL Vet 70+ 5 laps
106 Paul Farmer Wolverhampton Wheelers Vet 45+ 5 laps
107 John Griffin Elizabethan CC Vet 70+ 5 laps
108 Mark Whiteley None Vet45+ 5 laps
109 Carolyn Rowntree Stourbridge CC Lady V 4 laps
110 Tony Summerfield Elizabethan CC Vet 75+ 4 laps
111 Nick Barnett Welland Valley CC Vet 45+ 4 laps
112 Steve Loades None Vet 55+ 4 laps
113 Lorraine Baker Halesowen A & CC Lady 4 laps
114 Gordon Richards Halesowen A & CC Vet 55+ 4 laps
115 Vic Coleman None Vet 65+ 4 laps
116 Erin Billington Welland Valley CC Lady J 4 laps
117 Michelle Harris Halesowen A & CC Lady 3 laps
118 Liz Franks Halesowen A & CC Lady V 2 laps

SENIORS

Again, as in the two previous events, making that gap at the start of the race paid dividends. Steve Allen (Kenilworth Wheelers) and Paul Bethall (Team Elite) both took advantage of a quick start to work their way through the narrow paths in the woods, with the ground drying after a day's sunshine, the route through the trees was quick but still caught a lot of the midfield riders who lost time on the narrow section.

Allen and Bethall worked well to pull out a twenty second lead over third placed Pete Goode (Black Cat Racing) who in turn eked-out a fifteen second lead over the chasing field. By the fourth lap the two front men were slicing their way through the field and holding third place Goode at bay. The top three places were all but sorted by the end of lap five and those positions were to remain the same until the chequered flag. A fine win from Steve Allen, improving on the previous week's third spot.

Result -Senior

1 Steven Allen Kenilworth Wheelers Sen U23 11 laps
2 Paul Bethell Team Elite Sen 11 laps
3 Peter Goode Black Cat Racing Sen 30+ 11 laps
4 Mark Allen Red Kite Cycles Sen30+ 10 laps
5 Daniel Goode Black Cat Racing Sen 30+ 10 laps
6 Robert Wimble Zepnat Sen 30+ 10 laps
7 Mark Hammond Stourbridge Velo Sen U23 10 laps
8 John Parker Wyre Forest CRC Sen 30+ 10 laps
9 Gareth Scott Beacon RCC Sen 30+ 10 laps
10 Neil Hayward Stourbridge CC Sen 10 laps
11 Scott O'Neill-Gwilliams Stourbridge Velo Sen 30+ 10 laps
12 James Green Stourbridge CC Sen 10 laps
13 Will Witterick Mid Shropshire Wheelers Sen 30+ 10 laps
14 Craig Ansell Wolverhampton Wheelers Sen 30+ 10 laps
15 Carlton Bailey Lichfield City CC Sen 30+ 10 laps
16 Mark Leyland Cult Racing Cycles Sen 30+ 10 laps
17 Ross Dingley Halesowen A & CC Sen 10 laps
18 Kevin Newbrook Fred Wiiliams Racing Sen 30+ 10 laps
19 Matthew Smart Coventry RC/Ridecov.co.uk Sen 10 laps
20 Ben Caine None Sen 10 laps
21 Jack Hibberd Halesowen A & CC Sen U23 10 laps
22 Mark Crompten Peloton Cycles Sen 10 laps
23 Kevin Allerton Stone Wheelers Sen 30+ 10 laps
24 Josh Carpenter None Sen 30+ 10 laps
25 David Mole Stourbridge Velo Sen 30+ 9 laps
26 Richard Watson Paramount CRT Sen 30+ 9 laps
27 Stacey Hubble Halesowen A & CC Vet 40+ 9 laps
28 Jethro Bartle Solihull CC Sen 30+ 9 laps
29 Jonathan Williams Fred Wiiliams Racing Sen U23 9 laps
30 Douglas Fielding - Smith Beacon RCC Sen 30+ 9 laps
31 Mark Corbett Worcester St Johns CC Sen 30+ 9 laps
32 Andrew Lloydlangston Birmingham CC Sen 30+ 9 laps
33 Matthew Harris Halesowen A & CC Sen30+ 9 laps
34 David Farmer Brat Club Sen 9 laps
35 Matt Williams Peloton Cycles Sen 30+ 9 laps
36 Ben Edwards None Sen 9 laps
37 Stephen Vanes None Sen 30+ 9 laps
38 Luke Twigg Team Monkey Mafia Sen 30+ 9 laps
39 Dave Lewis Pearce Cycles Sen 30+ 9 laps
40 Lee Plant Stourbridge CC Sen 30+ 9 laps
41 Tony Delean Wolverhampton Wheelers Sen 30+ 8 laps
42 Tim Tansley OPCC Sen 30+ 8 laps
43 Stuart Cope Stourbridge CC Sen 30+ 8 laps
44 Glynn Deakin Halesowen A & CC Sen 30+ 8 laps
45 Dean Tucker None Vet 40+ 8 laps
46 Constantin Murray Redditch R & P CC Sen U23 7 laps

Results courtesy of WMCCL