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With the final event of this year’s cycling TT series now completed , it is Rossendale’s Patrick Hickey who has been crowned overall NLTTA points champion. Although he missed out on the last event due to injuries sustained in a road accident, Hickey had accumulated sufficient points to take the trophy by a clear margin from second placed Kamil Waligora of East Lancs RC. This is a fantastic achievement for Hickey and the valley club will be pushing for a team victory in 2022 to add to this.
Competitive cyclists are now looking to traditional autumn and winter events – namely cyclo-cross and the very specialist sport of hill climbs, with Rossendale Road Club being heavily involved in both.
On Saturday morning, the Crown Point hill climb took place, a lung-busting climb up Woodplumpton Rd, incorporating the NLTTA championship, and attracted the top contenders in the North West. The overall winner was Andrew Feather of HuntBikeWheels in a very quick time of 2:27:00 mins, just 10 seconds outside the course record held by former top professional Malcolm Elliot. Despite this outstanding time, Feather was only 3.7 seconds in front of second placed of Kieran Wynne-Catterach of Cycles in Motion. Better known for her fell running exploits, leading lady was ‘Scary’ Mary Wilkinson in 2:54.10 mins, some 7n seconds in front of former National hill climb champion Jim Henderson. Top Rossendale riders were Luke Dabbs in 18th (3:52:60), William Broadbent in 22nd (4:37:20) and Eve Davies-Heywood of Crawshawbooth, 3rd female and 23rd overall (4:49:00).
Off-road, Rossendale’s Adrian Watts (Event Organiser) and Dave Haygarth (Race Director) were busy hosting the second round of the National Trophy cyclo-cross series’ held over 2 days at the Westmorland Showground at Crooklands near Milnthorpe. And what a weekend of racing it turned out to be.
The opening race on Saturday was the combined Vet 50/60 event and the early morning dew and damp atmosphere made for a greasy and tricky circuit. Overall winner was Nick Craig of Scott Racing with Helmshore’s Dave Haygarth using his course knowledge to take a well earned 22nd spot. In the V60 category, Derek Schofield came through making a late charge to take 18th and Graham Wright took a fine 25th spot, one lap down. A highly competitive V40 race saw current National Champion Lewis Craven of Ramsbottom relegated to 3rd place, the top spot going to Hope Factory Racing’s Paul Oldham.
Young Elsie Haygarth rode well against girls older than herself to take a fine 15th place in the U14 class.
The following day, the drying conditions resulted in fast and close racing and Joseph Blackmore of the Rotor Racing team took the top race of the weekend, the Men’s Elite event, from Toby Barnes by the smallest of margins, both credited with identical times.
Great credit must be given to Dave Haygarth and Adrian Watts and their team of helpers for bringing such a prestigious event to the North west of England, and putting on a great weekend of cyclo-cross racing.
Photos:
Patrick Hickey, 2021 NLTTA points champion
Adrian Watts and Dave Haygarth, Nation Trophy cyclo-cross organisers on the course at Crooklands
Dave Haygarth showing his skills bunny-hopping the hurdles in the V50 race
Elsie Haygarth at full stretch on the main climb at Crooklands
