CX Update
With the road cycling season almost complete, it’s now time for off-road competition to take the lead and the North West cyclco-cross league. The first round was held at Marl Pits the previous weekend and with the majority of Rossendale riders involved with organisation and marshalling, the second round this Sunday at Leverhulme Park, Bolton, was the first chance for local riders to take part.
Horwich CC were the hosts and they had introduced a few tweaks to the previous courses, resulting in a number of dismounts were necessary on each lap, with the atrocious weather on the day not helping matters. First up with local interest was the combined men’s V50/V60 race and Helmshore’s Dave Haygarth had a cracking race to take 3dr place from local rival Phil Simcock of the Ramsbottom JMC Club.JMC had another good result from Andy Burgess in the V60 category in 8th, with Rossendale’s Derek Schofield taking 10th after an excellent race-long battle with fellow clubmate Mick Taylor who finished 12th after a fall on the final lap. Ex-Rossendale member Simon Bartram came home 20th and Graham Wright, recovering from illness, one lap down in 27th.
The torrential rain made conditions even tougher for the following Ladies race, and Rossendale’s Helen Thomas did exceptionally well just to finish the event in 27th place, from an encouraging entry list.
The V40 race was perhaps the best race of the day with Rob Jebb of Hope Factory Racing taking the win in the final sprint by just 1 second from Ramsbottom’s National Champion Lewis Craven of the Wheelbase Castelli squad.
An excellent day’s racing provided by Horwich CC in horrendous conditions, and a big thanks to the organisers and marshalls on the day.
With an increased interest in cyclo-cross and off-road cycling, Rossendale Cycling Club have now introduced a skills session under floodlights at Marl Pits which is open to all. The sessions are run with British Cycling coaches and are open to all ages, on Monday nights 7-8pm on the Top Car park and will be running throughout the winter. Further details are available from Adrian Watts via the club’s website or Facebook pages.
Photos:
Dave Haygarth taking an excellent line on the tricky descent
Derek Schofield Negotiating an adverse camber
Helen Thomas opting to run a descent
