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Oldham Wins Again at Hetton Lyons Country Park

January 23, 2011 | by Keith Murray, Photos by Ben Lane (GS Metro) | |

British Champion maintains 100% record in round 11 of the CXNE Cyclo-Cross League
The latest round of the CXNE series moved to Hetton Lyons Country park near Sunderland, organised by Dave and Alex McLean. The course had been designed to fit in with the current style of racing to encourage bunched riding. With punchy climbs and technical corners, the course was quite long but there were no complaints from the 95 riders that signed on for an hour of pain.

First race of the day was the Under 12 event. On a short course to provide a test for little legs, 24 riders lined up. Thomas Mein (MTS Cycles) led from the gun, pursued all the way by Christian Worner (Teesdale CRC). Mein's smooth and stylish style shows that he is itching to take on the Youth riders next season. In the end he had a comfortable victory over Christian with Nick Hamilton from Hetton Hawks coming in in 3rd not too far behind and on the same lap.

First under 10 was Paul Errington (Hetton Hawkes) while first Under 8 was Letitia Hey (Hetton Hawkes).

Youth
Eight riders lined up for 30 minutes racing round the full course. James Edmund (Ferryhill Wheelers – Mountain High Cycles RT) fresh from his top 20 place in last week’s National Trophy at Rutland Water, put his experience to good use. Powering away from the start he looked confident with Stephen Lee (Derwentside CC) with him. The lead swapped between these two as the gap to third grew rapidly! Edmund found that bit extra on the run in to the line and accelerated clear to take the win. Lee rolled in for second with Matthew Whorton (Stockton Whs CC) first Under 14 and 3rd overall at 3:05. Laura Kotch (Cleveland Whs CC) was the first girl and 7th.

Main Event
The third and final race saw the field lined up at the bottom of the Hetton Lyons road circuit. In cool and overcast conditions, most riders had legwarmers on, but the air was not cold and with six degrees on the car temperature gauge, thermal gloves were not needed! Dave McLean started the race and as anticipated, Adam Martin (Black Hawk Down) employed his usual tactic of ‘if in doubt, lead it out’ and shot away up the initial drag and onto the course proper.

With a 15 metre gap after 300m, National Elite Cyclo-Cross Champion, Paul Oldham (Hope Factory Racing) must have wondered what had hit him as his entered the course in 8th! Behind Martin, Steven ‘Poulidor’ Ward (MTS Cycles) with five consecutive second places in the last five CXNE rounds, took up the chase. Unlike in the National Championships, when an early crash put pay to his efforts, he had soon latched onto Martin with a chain of riders on his wheel including Noel Clough (Wheelbase), Darren Binks (Hambleton RC), Malcolm Lewis (MTS Cycles) and Keith Murray (Hope Factory Racing) and his team mate Oldham.

Steven Ward.

First time up the main climb and into the headwind, Oldham showed his class. This season Oldham has had a 100% record, with six rounds contested and six victories. He easily rode through the group and passed Ward to assume the lead. Oldham later admitted he had made the school boy error of missing his pedal and not getting clipped in at the start!

Over the top of the hill, Murray moved through with Clough on his wheel and towards the end of the first lap, the pace became too hot and Lewis, Martin and  Binks were tailed off. Oldham, as ever, was giving a demonstration of why he has the coveted National Champions jersey. Looking comfortable and lapping 20-30 seconds faster than Ward who in turn was building a considerable lead over Murray & Clough. With Malcolm Lewis in ‘No Man’s Land’ behind these two, a resurgent Kenny Johnson (scienecinsport.com) had caught Binks as Martin was feeling the effects of his two hour training ride prior to the race.

As the race hit the 45 minute mark, Oldham was two minutes clear of Ward who looked smooth as he took a clean bike to avoid any mechanical mishap. As Clough did the same, Murray attacked and gapped Clough as Lewis caught the surprised Wheelbase rider. Arms in the air, Oldham completed his sixth lap in 55:55 to take his first of many hoped for victories in the Red, White & Blue of National Champion.

Keith Murray

Ward was second at 2:56. A broken spoke after having passed the Yellow Flags of the ‘Equipment Pits’ on the last lap had slowed Murray who limped in for 3rd. Malcolm Lewis had sensed his opportunity and dropped Clough but was a few seconds down on Murray as he came in 4th. Clough was first Veteran holding off Kenny Johnson. Adam Martin was first Junior in 16th. Yorkshire visitor, Nichola Butler (Pedal Sport CC), was first lady.

Thanks to Dave and Alex McLean  for organising the race.

Next week sees the penultimate event in the CXNE League. The Derwentside CX which will be held in the City of Durham prior to the BUSA championships. Usual CXNE Timings, parking will be at the Durham University car park on Green Lane, between Durham cricket club and Durham Amateur RC (postcode  DH1 3JU). The race HQ will be the Durham University Cricket Club pavilion (not the Durham cricket club one). This is in the centre of the race course.

Paul Oldham.

CXNE would like to wish new North Eastern Cyclo Cross League winner Paul Oldham and the rest of the GB Team the best of luck in next week’s World Championships, where a large contingent of league regulars will be in attendance to shout encouragement!

RESULTS

Senior/Junior/Women/Vets
1 Paul Oldham HOPE FACTORY RACING sen 7  00:55:55.95
2 Steven Ward MTS sen 7 at 2:56
3 Keith Murray HOPE FACTORY RACING sen 7 at 6:24
4 Malcom Lewis MTS sen 7 at 6:24
5 Noel Clough Wheelbase V40 7 at 6:39
6 Kenny Johnson Science in Sport V40 7  01:03:37.20
7 Darren Binks Hambleton RC sen 7  01:04:31.85
8 Richard Atkinson Hambleton RC V40 6 at 1 lap
9 Pete Wilkin Fietsen Tempo V50 6 at 1 lap
10 Vince Potter Black Hawk Bikes sen 6 at 1 lap
11 Stepen Brazier MTS V40 6 at 1 lap
12 Steven Wilson MTS V50 6 at 1 lap
13 Jonny Fletcher Dewentside CC sen 6 at 1 lap
14 Geoff Mount Westbrook Cycles Team SCOTT V40 6 at 1 lap
15 Robert Smith Dewentside CC V40 6 at 1 lap
16 Adam Martin Black Hawk Bikes Jun 6 at 1 lap
17 Tony Glover Dewentside CC sen 6 at 1 lap
18 Ken Haswell Infinity Cycles sen 6 at 1 lap
19 Cliff Featherstone MTS V50 6 at 1 lap
20 Keith Ashbridge Velo Club Cumbria V40 6 at 1 lap
21 Martin Worner Teesdale CRC V40 6 at 1 lap
22 Ian Lee Hetton Hawkes sen 6 at 1 lap
23 Simon Davison Black Hawk Bikes sen 6 at 1 lap
24 Alex Clayton Durham Uni Aura Cycles sen 6 at 1 lap
25 Mark Reed Tyneside Vagabonds sen 6 at 1 lap
26 Andy Moss Adept Precision CC V40 6 at 1 lap
27 Ian Jefferson Infitty Cycles Durham V40 6 at 1 lap
28 Mark Mitchell Godley Cycles sen 6 at 1 lap
29 Gary Worton Stockton Whs CC V45 6 at 1 lap
30 Sean Hoban VC Cumbria V40 6 at 1 lap
31 Ross Landon Teesdale CRC Jun 6 at 1 lap
32 Paul Godley Godley Cycles V40 6 at 1 lap
33 Mark Mather Westbrook Cycles Team SCOTT V40 6 at 1 lap
34 Steve Potter Cleveland Whs V40 6 at 1 lap
35 Elliott Gowland Infinity Cycles sen 6 at 1 lap
36 Andy Cosgrove Teesdale CRC V40 6 at 1 lap
37 Andrew Miles Durham Uni Aura Cycles sen 6 at 1 lap
38 Peter Young Unattached sen 6 at 1 lap
39 Paul Whitehill Infinity Cycles V40 6 at 1 lap
40 Kevin Hoban Honister 92 V40 6 at 1 lap
41 Dave Charman Unattached sen 6 at 1 lap
42 Bob Murdoch Teesdale CRC V50 5 at 2 laps
43 Rob Wilkins Cleveland Police V50 5 at 2 laps
44 Jamie Brady Tyne and W Fire V40 5 at 2 laps
45 Nichola Bukler Pedal Sport Lady 5 at 2 laps
46 Ed Cooper Tyne & Wear Fire & Rescue V40 5 at 2 laps
47 Bev Blakeman Infinity Cycles sen 5 at 2 laps
48 Andy May Unattached V40 5 at 2 laps
49 Daniel Alpin Unattached sen 5 at 2 laps
50 Darren Maddison Darlington CC sen 5 at 2 laps
51 Dawn Sherrin GS Metro Lady 5 at 2 laps
52 Aidan Macdermott GS Metro V40 5 at 2 laps
53 John Belshaw Tyne & Wear Fire & Rescue V40 5 at 2 laps
54 Lee Charlton Msteel Cycles sen 5 at 2 laps
55 Kevin Dowson Unattached V50 5 at 2 laps
56 Willie Mc Glasgow Ivy V40 5 at 2 laps
57 Simon Watson Barnesbury V40 5 at 2 laps
58 Paul Steadman Unattached V40 5 at 2 laps
59 Jason Kotch Cleveland Whs V40 5 at 2 laps
60 Jen Milsom PS UK Lady 4 at 3 laps
61 Pam Glover Dewentside CC Lady 4 at 3 laps
62 Stuart Gordon Stockton Whs CC V40 4 at 3 laps
63 Fred Quinlivan Unattached V50 4 at 3 laps
64 Steve Ross Unattached V50 4 at 3 laps

Youth
James Edmond Ferryhill Whs  - Mountain High Race Team U16
Stephen Lee Derwentside CC U16
Matthew Worton Hetton Hawkes U14
Joe Davison Ferryhill WHS U16
Elliot Davidson Hetton Hawkes U16
Jake Dobson Newcastle Phoenix U14
Laura Kotch Cleveland Whs U16
Joshua Mitchell Unattached U14

Under 12
1 Thomas  Mein MTS U12
2 Christian  Worner Teesdale CRC U12
3 Nick Hamilton Hetton Hawkes U12
4 Angus  Brown Unattached U12
5 Paul Errington Hetton Hawkes U10
6 Ben Downson Hetton Hawkes U10
7 Matthew  Eggleston Boarder City Whs U10
8 Jacob Blenkinsopp Hetton Hawkes U12
9 Rhianna Stokes One Life Kids U12
10 Ryan Abbs Hetton Hawkes U12
11 Sam Murray Westbrook Cycles - Team SCOTT U10
12 Joe Thirlbank Teesdale CRC U12
13 Helen Kotch Cleveland Whs U12
14 Lucy  Mitchell Unattached U10
15 Ben Smith Unattached U12
16 Thomas  Maddison Westbrook Cycles - Team SCOTT U10
17 Lititia Hey Hetton Hawkes U8
18 Ellis Murray Westbrook Cycles - Team SCOTT U8
19 Arran Brown Unattached U8
20 Joseph Allen Unattached U12
21 Ben Partridge Unattached U8
22 Lucy  Edmund Ferryhill Wheelers CC U10
23 Max Gizoom Unattached U10
24 Holly  Smith  U10