After placing eight riders in the top ten last year, the cyclists had to endure defeat in the 2012 annual Cyclists versus Harriers event in West Yorkshire on Saturday.
Thick mud on the 6.5-mile course to Baildon Moor and back meant the runners had a distinct advantage, and although cyclists Rob Jebb secured the overall victory his two-wheeled team-mates were thin on the ground behind him.
Just two riders featured in the top ten results, with the overall score of 180-71 giving the runners a clear win.
Hope Factory Racing rider Jebb – who won the classic Three Peaks event once again a few weeks ago – clocked 33-53 for the course based near the Fisherman’s Inn at Bingley. That gave him victory by just nine seconds over the best of the runners, Ilkley AC’s Tom Adams.
But the conditions were tough for all concerned, and Jebb’s winning time was around a minute and a half slower than Ian Taylor’s course record set in the 2011 event.
A large field of 120 took part – 40 of whom were on bikes – and although it was not raining during the event the preceding days of rain took its toll on all competitors.
While third spot went to Bingley Harriers runner Ian Holmes, but arguably the performance of the day came from Wakefield AC runner Anabel Mason, who took fourth spot overall with 37-22.
Crosstrax rider Andy Peace was fastest veteran cyclist, and the only other two-wheeled competitor in the top ten, but he was 13 seconds slower than twin brother Martin Peace (Bingley Harriers) who finished just ahead of him in fifth.
The next best cyclists were Dave Haygarth (Planet X) in 13th and Stefan Macina (JD Cycles) in 14th, who were second and third veterans respectively.
And a special mention must go to evergreen veteran John Dowell, the Heanor Clarion rider, who won the over-70 category at the age of 77 years old.
Results:
1 Rob Jebb (Hope Factory Racing) 33:53
2 Tom Adams (Ilkley AC) 34:02
3 Ian Holmes (Bingley Harriers) 35:50
4 Anabel Mason (Wakefield AC) 37:22
5 Martin Peace (Bingley Harriers) 38:19
6 Andy Peace (Crosstrax) 38:32
7 John Mason (Wakefield AC) 39:21
8 James Senior (Bingley Harriers) 39:26
9 Robin Lawrence (Bingley Harriers) 39:35
10 Ged Collins (Bingley Harriers) 39:24
Women: Anabel Mason. Veterans: Over-40s: Andy Peace. Over-50s: Alistair Dow (Paul Milnes-Bradford Olympic). Over-60s: Barry Peace (Bradford RCC). Over-70s: John Dowell (Heanor Clarion).
Please credit www.britishcycling.org.uk and link back if you use any of our race results.
British Cycling would like to thank the organising team, officials and everyone else who helped promote this event. Our sport could not exist without the hundreds of people, many of them unpaid volunteers, who put in many hours of hard work running events, activities and clubs.
