Steven Roach (Raleigh GAC) and Meg Backstedt (Maindy Flyers) took the senior men's and women's titles at the 2015 Welsh Cyclo Cross Championships in Parc Eirias, Colwyn Bay.
In the face of the battering from Storm Desmond volunteers and riders rose to the challenge, despite the difficult conditions, and a wet and testing Eirias Park in Colwyn Bay successfully hosted the 2015 Welsh Cyclo-Cross Championships.
Steven Roach (Raleigh GAC) retained his Senior Men’s title in imperious style, finding traction on the slippery slopes and powering across the mud, to win by more than 3 minutes. Meg Backstedt (Maindy Flyers) took the Senior Women’s title.
Andrew Parry (Urban Cyclery) secured the Veteran 40 Men’s title after a closely fought race with Andrew Baum; just 2 seconds separated the two at the line. Sarah Barnwell of the promoting club finally overhauled Janet Burthem (VC Melyd) to take the Veteran 40 Women’s title.
Philip Roach (Jewson/Polypipe/MI Racing) and Grant Johnson (Sunset Cycles) resumed rivalry in the close battle for the Veteran 50 Men’s title; again it was Roach who prevailed, finishing just 7 seconds adrift of the Veteran 40 winner and 15 seconds ahead of Johnson.
Joe Barnwell (Marsh Tracks RT) took victory by over a minute in the Junior Men’s race; Ffion Morgan (West Wales Cycle Racing) was first Junior Woman.
It was a double victory for Birkenhead North End CC in the Youth race as Craig Rogers claimed the Under 16 Boys’ title and Nicole Clarke convincingly retained her Under 16 Girls’ title. Just 48 seconds separated the top 3 in the Under 14 Boys with Towy Rider Guto Dafydd taking victory; Josie Nelson (M and D Cycles) put in another good performance to hold on to her Under 14 Girls’ title.
And it was a West Wales Cycle Racing one-two in the Under 12s race as in form Griff Lewis excelled in the muddy conditions and headed his club-mate Josh Tarling to take the Under 12 Boys’ title; Zoe Backstedt retained her Under 12 Girls’ title, though chased hard by her Maindy Flyers club-mate Ella Maclean-Howell.
Brothers Alfie and Finn Davies (Cycle-Tec) took victory in the Under 10 and Under 8 races respectively with Anwen Nesham (Cardiff JIF) first Under 10 Girl and Jessica Bufton (Hafren CC) first Under 8 Girl.
Congratulations go to all our new Welsh Champions and thanks to all who supported the event. A big thank you goes to Chris Hopkins (organiser), Mark Baker (course designer) and their team; to Conwy County Borough Council for the use of a venue worthy of Championship status; and to Paul Rutt of B2 Business Systems for generously sponsoring the prize fund.
More race images are available at Sportpictures Cymru.
Results
Senior Men
1 Steven Roach (Raleigh GAC)
2 Dylan Kerfoot-Robson (Mountain Trax RT)
3 Lee Williams (Bikesoup Test Team)
Senior Women
1 Meg Backstedt (Maindy Flyers)
2 Lucy Marshall (North Wales MBA)
3 Danielle Flawn (Tredz Bikes)
Veteran 40 Men
1 Andrew Parry (Urban Cyclery)
2 Andrew Baum
3 Matthew Beckett (Cardiff JIF)
Veteran 50 Men
1 Philip Roach (Jewson/Polypipe/MI Racing)
2 Grant Johnson (Sunset Cycles)
3 Ross Porter (Cwmcarn Paragon)
Veteran Women
1 Sarah Barnwell (Clwb Beicio Mynydd Dyffryn Conwy)
2 Janet Burthem (VC Melyd)
3 Nia Richards (West Wales Cycle Racing)
Junior Men
1 Joe Barnwell (Marsh Tracks RT)
2 Tyler Brennan (The Bulls)
3 Simon Price (Graham Weigh Racing)
Junior Women
1 Ffion Morgan (West Wales Cycle Racing)
Youth Under 16 Boys
1 Craig Rogers (Birkenhead North End CC)
2 Owain Roberts (Towy Riders)
3 Sam Beckett (Cardiff JIF)
Youth Under 16 Girls
1 Nicole Clarke (Birkenhead North End CC)
2 Katie Hesden (Dreigiau Coed y Brenin Dragons)
Youth Under 14 Boys
1 Guto Dafydd (Towy Riders)
2 Luke Simmonds (Clwb Beicio Dwyfor)
3 Benjamin Bright (Clwb Beicio Mynydd Dyffryn Conwy)
Youth Under 14 Girls
1 Josie Nelson (M and D Cycles)
2 Danielle Parker (Towy Riders)
3 Shannon Haird (West Wales Cycle Racing)
Youth Under 12 Boys
1 Griff Lewis (West Wales Cycle Racing)
2 Joshua Tarling (West Wales Cycle Racing)
3 Jack Hastings (Cardiff JIF)
Youth Under 12 Girls
1 Zoe Backstedt (Maindy Flyers)
2 Ella Maclean-Howell (Maindy Flyers)
3 Awen Roberts (Towy Riders)
Youth Under 10 Boys (non Championship)
1 Alfie Davies (Cycle-Tec)
2 Oscar Davies (CC Abergavenny)
3 Finlay Tarling (West Wales Cycle Racing)
Youth Under 10 Girls (non Championship)
1 Anwen Nesham (Cardiff JIF)
2 Layla Bradbrook (VC Melyd)
3 Faye Williams (Clwb Beicio Mynydd Dyffryn Conwy)
Youth Under 8 Boys (non Championship)
1 Finn Davies (Cycle-Tec)
2 Benjamin Wilkinson
3 Ilan Dafydd (Towy Riders)
Youth Under 8 Girls (non Championship)
1 Jessica Bufton (Hafren CC)
2 Hawys Richards (West Wales Cycle Racing)
