Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay will be hosting the 2015 Welsh Cyclo-Cross Championships on Sunday 6 December courtesy of Conwy County Borough Council, Clwb Beicio Mynydd Dyffryn Conwy, the North Wales Cyclo-Cross Group and Welsh Cycling.
Conwy County Borough Council was voted Entrepreneurial Council of the Year in 2015 and is enthusiastically supporting the event, seeing it as an opportunity for the facilities in Eirias Park and Colwyn Leisure Centre to be showcased to the wider sporting community.
Eirias Park comprises 50 acres of parkland with both indoor and outdoor facilities regularly used for sports including athletics and rugby. However, cyclo-cross is new to the Park, with a North Wales Cyclo-Cross Group promotion in 2014 being the first event to be held there.
Championship entry is now closed but there is still online entry for the Go-Cross support races and there will be entry on the day in all categories, though riders will not be eligible for the Championships.
Competition will be keen as always so if you are in the area do come along and cheer on the riders. The event will be filmed once again for S4C’s Sunday sports programme Clwb.
Currently lying in 4th position in the National Trophy Series (NTS), Raleigh GAC’s Steven Roach is in good form to retain his Senior title as is father Philip in the Veteran 50+ category. Though rival Grant Johnson will not make it easy for him; the two are currently 2nd and 4th respectively in the NTS.
With 2014 Veteran 40+ Champion Tim Davies having withdrawn due to illness, a new name is set to take the title; look out for Andrew Parry, currently 4th in the NTS and Andrew Baum.
Three first year junior riders will take on the 2014 silver medallist Joe Barnwell in the Junior race, and in the absence of Senior Academy rider Ffion James the Women’s title is up for grabs.
Sol Kerfoot-Robson and Craig Rogers will resume rivalries in the Under 16 Boys’ race and with top 10 overall positions in the NTS will be favourites for the title. Under 16 Girl Nicole Clarke will be looking to retain her title.
Expect to see a much improved Bryn Davies and fellow Towy Rider Guto Dafydd at the head of affairs in the Under 14 Boys’ race and can Josie Nelson defend her Under 14 Girl title against Eluned King who was 3rd at the National Trophy in Ipswich.
Under 12s Josh Tarling and Zoe Backstedt return to defend their titles but Josh will be given a hard time by club-mate Griff Lewis.
Local business B2 Business Systems have kindly agreed to sponsor the prize fund for the 2015 Welsh Cyclo Cross Championships. Securing this sponsorship means that we can now offer prizes to the top three places in all races. We would like to thank owner Paul Rutt for this generous donation.
