Report: Welsh Cyclo-cross Championships 2010

Report: Welsh Cyclo-cross Championships 2010

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Welsh Cyclo-cross Championships 2010

Sunday 5th December
Glanusk Estate, Crickhowell, NP8 1LP (off A40 west of Abergavenny)

Photos: Ian Cook -  IJC Sports Photography & Picture Library

You could not have asked for a more picture perfect setting than a frozen Glanusk Estate for the 2010 Welsh Cyclo-cross Championships. The extremely cold weather did not deter the riders from making the treacherous road journey to the venue.

The Abergavenny RC promoted event used a tough, demanding course, making the most of the natural features to produce a leg sapping, technical course that had something in it for everyone. Llyn Lines the clark of the course wanted to challenge the riders with a variety of elements, combine this with the icy conditions he certainly managed to layout a course that would produce some exciting battles throughout the day of racing.

Champion System were also proud to support the event with the supply of Champions jerseys awarded to the winners of each category. http://champ-sys.co.uk

Senior Men + U23
Lee Williams of team Wiggle would go into the event as firm favourite for the Senior men's title after claiming the title no fewer than 5 times in as many years. With the temprature rapidly dropping the race was sent on its way, blasting down into the first corner it was Ben Roach who lead the field into the first technical sections of the course. Out of sight Williams moved into the lead and began to press hard to make a gap on his rivals.


Williams relished the demanding course

By the end of the first lap Williams had already established a comfortable lead and this is where he would stay for the duration of the event, building his gap with each lap passed. With the winner pretty much decided it came down to a battle for the silver and bronze medal positions. Ben Simmons, Andy Baum and Joe Lally were all in the running at the mid race stage but as the course started to soften up and ridres legs got tired it became a battle for survival. Simmons began to fade in later stages resulting in Baum gapping the Wiggle rider to claim a comfortable 2nd place by the end of the race. Simmons managed to hold on to his third place with Lally crossing the line in 4th. Ben Roach would claim the U23 title after making a strong start but fading towards the end.

   
Andy Baum 2nd place and Ben Simmons in 3rd

U23
Ben Roach made it 2 titles in one day for the Roach family by winning the U23 title. After a strong start, Roach settled into his rhythm to hold a comfortable lead over fellow rival Sion O'boyle.


Ben Roach

Vets 40+
Phil Roach claimed the Vets title with an impressive and controlled ride to see of his rival Ian Jeremiah of Cardiff JIF. Jeremiah managed to hold the gap to Roach for most of the race but closing was never going to be easy on the open course. Roach has had string of good results at National level and he will be looking to medal if not win at the upcoming National Championships in January.

Vets 50+
Graham Edwards of Abergavenny RC produced another consistant performance to claim the 50+ Vets title. Graham was followed in by Steve Taylor and Donald Grey. One race was not enough for Graham and he decided to ride the following senior event, earning himself the prize 'Hardman of the day' closely followed by Andy Baum for riding most of his event with no gloves.


Graham Edwards always gives 100%

Junior
William Worral of Towy riders was in no mood to hang around in his event. Worral rocketed away from the line and set out on a lone mission to try an lap as many people as possible before the end of the 40 minute race. Worrals power suited the energy sapping course and he ploughed away to finish well ahead of his nearest rival Luke Cornish followed by Matthew Thompson.

Women
Amy Roberts of Cardiff AJAX has been one Wales top young cross riders for many years now only recently moving into the Junior ranks. Ruby Miller has also claimed a victory in one of the National Series rounds so the scene was set for the two to battle it out for the womens title. Starting in with the Vets men and junior riders, Roberts used a good start to gap Miller early in the race. The gap was established and the course did not lend itself to allowing riders to close back the gaps easily. Roberts would maintain the early lead and claim the title ahead of Miller and Claire Bowen. Both Roberts and Miller will be looking to impress at the Nationals in January.

U16 Boys and Girls
Using the full course and the most exciting race of the day went to the U16 Boys event. Dylan Kerfoot Robson and Adam King produced a race long battle that finished with only a handful of seconds between the two by the end of the race. The riders made their way through the first of technical sections with Kerfoot Robson in the lead followed by King. Mid race and King used his power to close the gap on one of the open sections of the course to set himself up for a move on Robson. King quickly passed Robson and opened up a small gap immediately. It is unknown if Robson had a problem resulting in the pass by King but two collar bone injuries have plagued Robsons season and would not have helped him on the demanding course. King and Robson were now in a close battle for the win. Robson tried to close the gap on a few occassions but King managed to press on and maintain the gap until the end of the race, claming the Championship title with Owen James in 3rd.


Adam King tackles one of the technical sections on his way to the win

Amy Hill and Rebecca Hunt made it is 1-2 for Newport Velo in the U16 Girls catagory. Hill used the open field sections to her advantage to build and maintain a gap on Hunt. Both Girls were part of the Championship winning team on the track the night before making it a highly sucessful weekend for Newport Velo.


Amy Hill of Newport Velo looking smooth

U14 Boys and Girls
Alistar Williams claimed the title in the U14 boys event ahead of the strong Joe Holt. Nicholas Jones of Towy would follow the two in third place. Williams used the pace of the older riders to help pull him away from his fellow rivals. Holt was comfortable in second spot with Jones finishing off the podium in 3rd.

Emily Haycox of Maindy Flyers battled the conditions to secure the U14 girls event ahead of Tanwen Jones of Towy Riders. The absense of the James sisters due to illness meant the U14/U12 Girls event were wide open.


Emily Haycox of Maindy Flyers on her way to the U14 Girls title

U12 Boys and Girls
The U12 Boys event was dominated by Tomo's Owens. Owens shot away from the field at the start of the race and never looked back until he crossed the line. Powering effortlessly around the course Owens has proved he is as comfortable in cross as he is on the road and track. Solomon Kerfoot Robson put in a brave attempt to close the gap to Owens but the gap proved to be too big and now he was being chased hard by James Tillett who battled to close the gap on Robson in the closing stages of the race. Robson held on for a well deserved 2nd place from the hard charging Tillett.


Tomos Owens powers his was around the frozen course

Jessica Roberts was the first Roberts of the day to claim a Welsh title in the U12 Girls event ahead of Elizabeth Bennett of JIF and Lowri Thomas of Aber RC.


Jessica Roberts is following in her sisters footsteps

U10 Boys and Girls
Huw Higgins Worral of Abergavenny RC looked right at home on the Glanusk course. Establishing an early lead from the start and using the off camber section to gain time. Worral would maintain his lead until the end followed home by Owain Roberts and Rhys Thomas.

Elena Finucane of Towy riders claimed the U10 Girls title ahead Eluned King making it a Towy Riders 1-2. 3rd place went to Elena Shaw of Maindy Flyers.

U8 Boys and Girls
Joshua Tarling of Towy riders would be the first title winner of the day in the U8 boys event. Tarling put in strong performance on the frozen course to finish comfortably ahead of Bevan Smith and Aled Trott.

In the U8 girls, Isabelle Bennett of JIF battled with the cold conditions to finish in first place ahead of Evelyn Higgins Worral.

Abergavenny RC would like to thank all of the riders and parents for supporting the event, Glanusk Estate for the venue, all of the marshals and helpers who helped to set up the course and the officials. A big thank you also goes out to Champion System for their suppport of the Champions in 2010.

Full Championship results: more>>>


The Welsh Championships are open to riders who:

i) were born in Wales OR

ii) are the son/daughter of a person born in Wales OR

iii) have had their main place of residence in Wales for at least 5 years prior to 1st January 2010 OR

iv) are 1st claim members of clubs/racing teams/trade teams affiliated to WCU and have been so for not less than 3 months immediately prior to this event.

Supported by Schwalbe


Champion System Support Welsh Champs Jerseys

Posted: 29th November 2010

Champion System has joined forces with Welsh Cycling to support the Welsh National Champions' Jersey, which recognises the achievements of Welsh cyclists.

After the jersey was reinstated last year, riders will once again be able to proudly wear their jerseys in events all over the UK. The Champions jersey is important for the sport because it means that our champions get more than just title and they can be instantly recognised.

The Welsh ‘National Champion's' jersey signifies the winning athlete within their event, across the various disciplines of Welsh Cycling. This currently includes Olympic and Commonwealth disciplines of Road (circuit and road race), Mountain Bike (cross country), Track and BMX, along with Champions in Downhill Mountain Biking, Cyclo-cross, Speedway and BMX on a National level.

Past winners of the Welsh Champions jersey include World Team Pursuit (Track) Champion and Olympic Champion competitor Geraint Thomas, plus Olympic Games and World Cup Champion Nicole Cooke along with current Welsh Road Race Champion Rob Partridge. Rob has a been a regular top 10 finisher in the Premier Calendar events in 2009 and the jersey was often seen at the head of the peleton

Michael Heaven, events and communications officer said," Welsh Cycling is really pleased that Champion System has offered to support the Welsh Champions jersey in such a big way. Wearing the champion's jersey is classed as a great honour and it will give a greater incentive to the riders - especially the younger riders to succeed and gain the recognition when presented with the jersey. This investment will raise the profile of our Welsh Championship events further and also inspire the next generation of future Welsh Champions."

Ciaran Dunne, company director of Champion System UK, added "Our sponsorship of the Welsh Champion's jersey provides an excellent vehicle for Champion System to announce its arrival in the UK team wear market. The Brand is delighted to have its products associated with Wales' top cyclists who continue to perform admirably in international events."

More on Champion System: http://champ-sys.co.uk