Scott Beaumont raced to a remarkable sixth consecutive HSBC UK | National Four Cross Championship title as Tyde D’Souza won the women’s equivalent at Moelfre Hall.
The Welsh course played host to another masterclass from Beaumont, with the world number three heading into the race as favourite, despite rival Luke Cryer’s standing atop the world rankings.
But it was the Team USN man who took the win for yet another national title, as D’Souza eased to victory in the women’s pro elite race.
Sensational Sixth
Beaumont faced a stiff challenge from Cryer, but the 39-year-old excelled on a freshly dug and extended course to take his sixth victory in a row – and eighth national title in total.
He did not have it his own way all day, though, with Cryer edging him out in the day’s early qualifiers by around half a second.
However Cryer could not maintain his form and when it came to the final it was Beaumont that picked the best lines and stopped the clock ahead of his rival, with Duncan Ferris coming in third as Will Evans fell on the first bend and eventually rolled home in fourth.
“I must admit I had to check if it was six titles I was going for,” he said. “To get a fifth last year was amazing but to get six is fantastic.
A post shared by Scott Beaumont (@beaumontracing) onJul 29, 2017 at 3:22pm PDT
“This win feels a good as my first win, just to be able to compete with the young blood of the sport. To stand on the top step is always very special for me.
“I’m 39 years old and still thoroughly enjoying my racing mixing it up with the younger guys. As long as the legs still turn I’ll keep racing.
“Having the right gate on this course made a big difference, hitting that first left-hander and straight into a right I had to get the line right.
“I took that second bend in second place but it was the best line to have and it set up the rest of the race.
“It was then a matter of accelerating away and making sure I hit the final turn at the front so I could take the inside line.”
D’Souza on top
Having won the opening two rounds of the National Four Cross Series in 2017, D’Souza went into the event in form, and demonstrated her class with a faultless performance.
A fast start in the final ensured she had the pick of the lines and could ease her way through a tricky left-right section at the foot of the opening straight.
Having navigated that S-bend she could cruise to the line with the chasing pack left to fight it out for the remaining places on the podium.
In the end it was Courtney Abbiss crossing the line second and Mel Nice in third, leaving Megan Wherry in fourth and out of the medals.
Currie goes back-to-back
Charlie Currie retained his junior title from 2016 as his participation in pro elite races this year paid dividends when going back to the younger ranks.
Tightly bunched out of the start gate, Currie negotiated the opening corners better than his rivals to make the first big jump in the lead.
He and Fin Keogh then broke clear of Oscar Powell and Aaron Dalleywater as the leading pair fought it out for the win.
Currie won the battle to the line as Keogh crossed in second and Powell recovered from a collision with Dalleywater to take third, while the later was forced to retire from the race.
Results
Pro Elite Men
1. Scott Beaumont
2. Luke Cryer
3. Duncan Ferris
4. Will Evans
Pro Elite Women
1. Tyde D’Souza
2. Courtney Abbiss
3. Mel Nice
4. Megan Wherry
Junior Men
1. Charlie Currie
2. Fin Keogh
3. Oscar Powell
4. Aaron Dalleywater
Gallery
