Club CX News
The 8th round of this winter’s North West cyclo-cross series was held at the excellent Betley Park Farm venue at Nantwich on New Year’s Eve and several Rossendale riders made the trip South to take part. Although well draining, recent heavy rain made the top surface extremely slippy, making this a challenging course, fast for those with the skill and nerve to attack the tight bends and adverse cambers. The start lists were packed with many top riders from the North Midlands and North Wales and this, coupled with riders missing or hampered with illness and injuries, made good results hard to find for the valley’s team.
Bright spot of the day was the continued improvement of V40 Ashley Holt in his first full season of ‘cross’ to finish 17th, in an event won by former national champion Paul Oldham, riding for Hope Factory Racing.
Ian Taylor of the emerging Shibden Cycling Club of Halifax clearly won the men’s V50 event, with Helmshore’s Dave Haygarth taking the final top 10 spot. Tony Barlow, preparing for the oncoming track league season, took 21st, Mick Taylor 25th and Carl Nelson 36th. Riding in his first CX race, former RRC member Simon Bartram, now representing Lyme RC, finished in a creditable 41st position.
Recovering from injury, Elsie Haygarth did well to finish 5th in the U16 girl’s race, with Kate Taylor 10th in the Senior Women’s event.
In the men’s V60 race, Derek Schofield struggled to 16th place, with Graham Wright 20th, missing the V70 award by a short margin.
Next race on the agenda will be the British National Championships at Milnthorpe, on the weekend of 14th/15th January, followed by the final two rounds of the North West series.
Photo:
Ashley Holt in action at Betley Park Farm
